Форум по искусству и инвестициям в искусство

Cautious optimism 43-го Antique Salon

We already wrote so many times about Antique shops in the CHA, about their discoveries, about their closings, many times summarized the results and drew conclusions that seem to write that-то new, and even more interesting, is impossible.
What they (salons) in our reviews was! And the main event of the antique life, the determining the vector of development of the business. And small-town event, on what does not influence. And vanity fair with schizophrenic prices. And Assembly hardened crises daredevils-антикваров, which is not something that the crises, and the devil himself is not terrible.
So, maybe not write? Or, even funnier, — to grub up points from past reviews, stir, replace "since" with "till", and the whole business?..
All of this would be possible, but under one condition: that everything goes as always.
But it is not always like that. This Salon is really different from the previous one. In the first place, because, on the one hand, until the last moment was not clear, will it take place at all. And on the other hand, it truly was attended by a record number of galleries.
Strange but true: from a business point of view to the organizers of this Salon is one of the most successful. For example, in the past, 42-м, gave special discounts for members only would be solved, and this — no, there were no problems with the sale areas.
Weird, huh? The reason for this boom? Why gallery rushed to participate in perhaps the last Salon? Because it may last? If so, it is strange reason. Why to participate in the "last" Salon, in memory, or what? Then to write about it in his memoirs? Well, there's no other reason? May be, things all went uphill? Business revived, went on sale, why not take part in the Cabin, as in the good old days? Maybe, of course, but why-то no one brags about successes, on the contrary — without exception, all the galleries in one voice characterize this year as the worst in the history of business since 1995-го.

Then what is the reason for mass participation in the Salon?

Perhaps the key to the Salon? Maybe it's-то changed?
And it is this: the Salon has changed.

1. The number of participants has increased at the expense of the galleries involved in DPI. Continued flow of the "third" floor in "second", and as a result, reduced the number of galleries and antique paintings.

2. Expanded the range of painting, and "Antique shop" can be considered antique already suspended. Earlier there was a strict requirement to hang paintings over 50 years, now it is not that hard. And this time, widely paintings and nonconformists, and the Soviet period.
And rightly so, forcing life to change, not going anywhere — a global trend. Antiques becomes smaller, and it takes place post-war and contemporary art. What we see on the Cabin.
Well, you figure it out, but what we saw in those first days? Business-то how? Visitors have? What do the participants say what their attitude is? As usual, the pessimism?

And here and there, not pessimism. On the contrary, the General mood can be described as "cautious optimism" — on how!
Due to what?
First, at the expense of the visitors — they are. Not the crowd, but there is. And the prices asked and traded, and rightly so, and it was good. Because when only the asking price and only roll their eyes in admiration, it is not the buyers. Such is worldly wisdom. The moral — bargain. And what about the prices, since we are talking about trade? After all, if the price of a schizophrenic, as sometimes happened, the bargain do not bargain, nothing will. Remember in "Dead souls" bargaining Chichikov and Sobakevich?

"— now?.. — said Chichikov, waiting not without some excitement response.
— You need dead souls? — asked Sobakevich's very simple, without the slightest surprise, as we were talking about bread.
— Yes, — replied Chichikov, and again he softened the expression, adding: — non-existent.
— Are, why not be... — said Sobakevich.
— And if you are, then you without a doubt... would be nice to get rid of them?
— Kindly, I am willing to sell — said Sobakevich, some held my head and realizing that the bidder really must have here what-нибудь benefit.
“Damn it, — thought Chichikov to himself, — so this sells before I have a stutter!” — and spoke aloud:
— And, for example, what about the price? while, however, this is a subject... what about the price even strange...
— did not ask you extra, STU rubles apiece! — said Sobakevich.
— On STU! — cried Chichikov, his mouth Agape and looking him in the eyes, not knowing himself whether he misheard, or the language of Sobakevich in its heavy nature, wrong turns, I blurted out instead of one other word.
— well, is this expensive? — Sobakevich said, and then added: — And whatever, but then, what's your price?
— My price! We are right, as-нибудь made a mistake or not understand each other, forgot the subject. I guess with his hand, put the hand on the heart: eight hryvnia for the soul, it is the most wonderful price!
— Ek where enough is enough — on eight grivenka!
— well, in my judgment, I think, longer.
— Because I do not sell sandals.
— But well look at it this way: it's also not people."

Sorry for such a long quote, but it hurts in the subject. This is from you, dear customers, waiting for the least expensive antique dealers: bargain. Moreover, the prices are not so over-the-top, just-то times three times above the market. By the standards of the Salons is ugh. And the picture is very decent — such as Museum quality and size Stozharov, great Tselkov, Rabin, Polenov... so many... So who is remotely interested in — must go.

So, first results:

There are visitors and buyers. Is the first sale of painting in the range of $10 000-20 000, PDI primarily on the third floor in the range of 100 000-150 000 RUB.

So what does all this mean?

The patient was better before death, or the patient went to the amendment?

To this question the answer is no, but will see the results on Sunday.