From Dr. Bill [wwh]*:

"On the night of the Vernissage, which must surely provide perfect art-buying conditions - lashings of bubbles and money in the same rooms - the red stickers are going up." Michele Hewitson; Kiwi Hard-sell in Aussie Art-land; The New Zealand Herald (Auckland); Oct 10, 2004.

Dr. Bill's quote makes me wonder how "lashings" which started out as corporal punishment [from which we also get "tongue lashings"] is also associated with generous servings of money and embellishments, both culinary and festive [as in above description of a vernissage].

* Actually, the quote was supplied by Anu along with his AWAD. Dr. Bill sent it to me and I assumed Dr. Bill found it. [wwh, always a gentleman, doesn't want to take undeserved credit for Anu's research.]