«Les Echos", 4.09.2009

Zhyudit Benhamou-Huet

Some sectors of the economy less strazhayut from the crisis than others: the reason for this - the passion for collecting.

In modern times their savings to spend cautiously, is now fashionable to save. What remains of art? Contrary to popular expectations, have not stopped buying it: according to professionals in the acquisition on the art market is still allocated funds, and even quite significant. Two-sector investment in that until recently were the most productive and widely publicized in the media suffer from the crisis the most, is the art of the first half of the twentieth century and contemporary art - in both there is a strong decline in activity. But other sectors of the arts, the ones mentioned much less continue to actively develop. Among them - so nazyvaetmoe "primitive art".

From 8 th to 13th September in Paris, the gallery on the streets surrounding the basilica of Saint-Germain-des-Pres, will be "occupied" 60 traders art, come from all over the world. This event, the formula which is quite original, called "Journey to the worlds."
Paris was the epicenter of world trade in "primitive arts", and the International Salon of new type - the living proof of that. Mr. Patrick Kapyus consultant Sotheby's, in June this year auction held in Paris, told us: "Currently, we limit the number of items put up for tender, but the market remains quite satisfactory: 65%- 80%of the exposed object is a buyer. The market has become very selective. Suggested items must be of high quality and produced in very limited quantities. At the New York auctions in May and in Paris in June with a dozen lots exceeded 350,000 euros. This shows that the demand for very high quality is not reduced. But we should also be noted that at present for 5000-10000 euros you can buy absolutely wonderful pieces of art - either at auction or in galleries.

Ethnographic objects

The most interesting items for sale in the range of "primitive arts" professionals call "ethnographic". This term refers to household items, in contrast to the ritual objects of religious purpose, equated to the works of art. In order to view could be regarded as genuine, it must be established members of the tribe and used by them.

Mr. Kapyus said: "Ten years ago the price clubs originating from Oceania does not exceed 500 euros. Now they go for 5000 euros. Recently, Kenyan Kikuyu bracelet made of ivory, which we estimated based on the practices of market prices in Euro 6000, he went to bid for 20000 euro - its strongest form, and noble material drew attention to it. " This is - confirmation that the prices of such items, for a long time were considered "vulgar", while experts and have seen their obvious aesthetic qualities, is steadily rising.

Paris art dealer, Jean-Edouard Carlier, whose small gallery "Travelers and Curious» ( «Voyageurs et Curieux»), specializing in the art of Oceania, located on ul. Visconti, offers a variety of ancient objects of this type costs about 1000 euros: engraved coconuts from the Papuan Gulf, ridges of palm tree with the Solomon Islands, fabric. For 3000 euros you can buy the occipital stand from New Guinea with the decor of the masks created in the early twentieth century, or the Kanak mask with phallic decoration type. "Oceania is attracting art lovers. On the one hand, these things are full of poetry, onirichny, on the other - some buyers are extremely sensitive to the fact that by investing about 3000 euros in purchasing one of these items, they risk much less than the stock market - because the price of art is not simply may fall to 10 times! ".

Shamanic rituals

Dandrie Chantal and her husband Fabrice Dzhovanoni opened their gallery in Rome 32 years ago. They have just published a book "African art in the collections italyanskmih» (Oficina Libraria. Diffusion Vilo, 60 euros) and will be present at the Salon in Paris (9 st. Boz-Ar, rue des Beaux-Arts). In the range of "less than 10000 euro" they are very rare ceremonial weapons Macondo from Tanzania of wood and iron produced in the early twentieth century, its price - 9000 euros. "Some time ago, we lowered the prices by 20%-30%, so now we have more to bargain to buy new items cheaper" - explains Ms. Dandrie.

Brussels Wei gallery specializes in art of the Chinese tribes - is still not known and, consequently, undervalued in relation to the "primitive art" of other continents sector. At the Salon (40, str. Mazarin, rue Mazarine), she offers a series of masks Nyuo (this term means "the expulsion of evil spirits"), for shamanistic rituals. According to Ms. Paola Wei, "an art almost neizucheno. There are very few publications - is that the catalog of the exhibition devoted to this art, which was organized by the Museum Jacquemart-Andre in Paris in the spring of 2007. " Because this is not studied wood sculpture mask of Gizhu, Guangzhou, Yunna and hunna created from 100 to 200 years ago, selling now at a price between 2000 and 10000 euros. These masks deserve full attention - no need to wait, when China wakes up and will buy the product of their "primitive arts.