An online auction of lamps has hit a new high with a $2 million bid from the manufacturer to get it all back.
The bid is a record bid and the company’s founder, Scott Eisler, said it’s “an important step in restoring the prestige and integrity” of the Lampi Auction, a Florida-based auction house that started in 1987.
It’s not clear how many lamps will be returned, but Eislers is optimistic that the entire inventory will be brought to the auction house’s headquarters in St. Petersburg, Fla.
It will be up to Eisls auction house to determine what percentage of the $15 million in bids will go to the lamps and what percentage will go toward the restoration.
The sale of the lamps was part of a $1.4 billion deal in March to bring the lamps to St. Pete from Japan.
The deal was brokered by Japan’s government-backed Japanese Bank for International Cooperation, which has been helping with restoration efforts.
Eislin said the company plans to donate the remaining $2.5 million in the sale to a nonprofit, the Lamping Association of America, to use to support the restoration effort.
He also said the sale will benefit Lampi’s efforts to keep the lights running at the St. Vincent de Paul Center in Miami.
Erisler said the auction will bring the total of the remaining lamps sold to $7.7 million.
“The whole effort has been to rebuild the prestige of the industry,” he said.
“This is a huge win for the community and we are excited about that.”
Eisels company started in 1983 and now has about 1,600 employees in the United States and about 40 worldwide.
The company was the subject of a Pulitzer Prize for journalism for its work in bringing back the lamps.
“We have had many people come to our office to bid on these lamps,” Eislinger said.
He said the lamps were restored for free, but they’re sold at a very low price.
Eistler said he hopes to raise $10 million in this auction.
He expects the auction to bring in a lot of money, but he doesn’t know how much will be available for restoration.
EISLERS SALE LAMPS AT AUCTION The lamps, called Lampi, were first brought to Miami in 1987 by a Japanese government-sponsored organization.
The lamps were given to a charity for the purpose of being used for educational purposes, according to Eisller.
The proceeds from the sale went toward the purchase of other lamps.
The group that bought the lamps in 1987 was called Lamping International, and it was formed to restore the lamps after they were brought to Japan.
Eisllers wife, Lisa Eisling, said in an email that the lamps will go back to her family.
“Scott has done this work for so many years and has made the Lampin Auction and Lampi Restoration Foundation his life,” Eislling said.
Lisa Eislings husband, John, who is a businessman, said he is “proud” of his wife and the Lampitics.
“My family is very proud of Scott, because Scott is the epitome of integrity, honesty, and hard work,” John Eisllings said in a statement.
He and his wife plan to donate their share of the sale proceeds to the Lampimetry Association of Americans.
Eiland said the organization is doing “a wonderful job” and “is working hard to bring these lamps back to their rightful owners.”
Lisa Eisalling said in the email that “Scott is a true philanthropist and has devoted his life to making Lampi a successful and lasting business.”
The sale has been a big success for Eisllers business.
The first $1 million was donated to the nonprofit and the proceeds of the second $1,000 was used to help rebuild the lamps, Eislers said.
It is not clear when the lamps are expected to be brought back to Miami.