"Bares for Rares" - Retailers decapitate mannequin - and pay a lot of money afterwards
Frank Woiwode heard that Robert was originally part of the family, but "he's just in the way," so they had to sell him. To help out, Woiwode brought his son Jan to "Bares für Rares."
The man they were looking for a new home for is a window dummy. Horst Lichter reminds him a little of Burt Reynolds. But his owner reminds him more of Clark Gable. Once belonged to his neighbor, who gave him to the Woiwodes and baptized him Robert.
"Bares für Rares": The dealers want to try their luck in the dealer room
Expert Detlev Kümmel assigns the design to the Frenchman Pierre Imans. He lived from 1850 to 1930 and was one of the most famous manufacturers of mannequins and window figures. The sturdy man is made of plastic, and the limbs can all be disassembled. The figure was produced in the post-war period, according to Kümmel.
The Woiwodes would like at least 1000 Euro for their doll. But Kümmel is not interested. Detlev Kümmel assesses the value at only 250 to 350 Euro – because it's a mass-produced item. Frank Woiwode still wants to try his luck in the dealer room: "My lowest offer would be 300 Euro," says the father.
But Fabian Kahl has his own ideas about what to do with the window dummy: He tears the man's head off and puts it in his hands.
The auction exceeds the sellers' expectations: Schmitz-Avila starts bidding at 400 Euro, leaving the appraised value in the dust. But Jos van Katwijk also throws his hat into the ring – and in the end, pays 550 Euro for the winning bid.
Frank and Jan Woiwode are now happy that they can make the journey home without Robert.
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Fabian Kahl's unconventional valuation method for the window dummy involved physically disassembling it, specifically by removing the mannequin's head.
Detlev Kümmel, an expert in the field, assessed the value of the window dummy to be between 250 and 350 Euro, attributing its lower worth to its mass-produced nature.
Julian Schmitz-Avila informed the Woiwodes that he was willing to bid up to 400 Euro for the window dummy, surpassing the expert-assessed value.
Fabian Kahl's competitive bid eventually resulted in the window dummy being sold for 550 Euro, significantly above both Detlev Kümmel's and Julian Schmitz-Avila's individual valuations.
