Wagner James Au / New World Notes

Author, strategist, virtual world reporter

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Monday Memory: This Second Life Dress Was Auctioned Off for $1700

Eshi Otawara dress SL most expensive item NFT

All the recent hype over NFT-based virtual art* speculation reminded me that Second Life, as usual, anticipated that trend well over a decade ago — for instance, this dress by acclaimed designer Eshi Otawara which was sold in 2008 at auction for L$460,000, roughly $1700 in USD, with all proceeds going to benefit the annual Relay for Life in SL, a community-run campaign sanctioned by the American Cancer Society. That wasn't even the most paid for a virtual item in Second Life, for in 2006, there was a L$600,000 bid (around $1850-1950 at market rates) in an auction of a pink Dominus Shadow muscle car, donated by engineer Francis Chung.  

Sad to say little of the NFT craze is going to benefit a good cause like that but at least (as Nettrice Gaskin eloquently explains) it does offer a new revenue stream for under-represented artists.

*If you're still wondering WTF is even an NFT, here's a fairly funny explainer from SNL:


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One response to “Monday Memory: This Second Life Dress Was Auctioned Off for $1700”

  1. Harper Beresford Avatar
    Harper Beresford

    The same thing occurred to me, Wagner. I also own one of Eshi’s one-of-a-kind dresses myself, purchased in auction for RFL for $60000L. It sits in my inventory, completely useless to me except as a memory of the first years of a long friendship (unless someone wants to purchase it from me). I texted John Zhaoying that the millenials think they invented everything eye roll when I saw the stuff about NFTs.
    Incidentally, I also just bought her RL sectional for $500 USD. That is also for sale if someone wants it.

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