[SergeiSK]

Interesting article in the "Results" for 5/31/1910.

"Russian Week" - the notion successful brokers domestic antique market or a new world trend?

For more than a quarter century in London in early June and late November are "Russian auction of the week. Surrounding start on June 7. Four auction houses - Bonhams, Christie's, MacDougall's and Sotheby's - put up a total of 9 trades 2,253 works of Russian art - from icons and luxurious decorative - applied to the beautiful ornaments, the so-called heavy antiques. In the phenomenon of Russian Auction Week tried to understand "Results".

parties, sir!

Venue - a comfortable London New Bond Street, sometimes called the most expensive shopping street in the world. Here is the top of the so-called Russian Antique triangle. At most New Bond Street is headquartered auction houses Sotheby's and Bonhams, and at the base of the triangle - a couple of minutes walk of each other - at Christie's on King Street and MacDougall's on the streets of Charles II. For this nemudrenoy trajectory twice a year and move up and down the Russian-speaking crowd of collectors, dealers, journalists: looking at the collection of all four houses - members of Russian weeks "; attend gala receptions (pre-and post-parties), tirelessly hang out, discuss, gossip and intrigue ... According to unofficial estimates, the "Russian Week" once there are more than 2 thousand current or former of our compatriots. During this period, in most top restaurants appears Russian menus in the windows of luxury stores - board "we say in Russian. Local galleries organize art exhibitions of Russian art. Two or three years ago, when the market is swiftly on the rise during the London "Russian week" sometimes happened to sixteen auctions. I remember in my diary were painted all the days of the week: in addition to the actual bidding, every evening I had to visit two or three mandatory events.

The recent financial crisis, of course, has made adjustments. No wonder experts are inclined to attach directly to the subjects of art oil prices. Last fall, all four major party to date the world trade in antique Russian art had only 8 Russian auctions. And the cultural program is - then died away - of course, except for the immutable pre-auction reception.

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However, it seems, the crisis of art antique - the market was in the past. Recent results of the New York auction in May Impressionist and modern art yielded impressive overall results and individual records, even the world. Overall, the auction house Christie's Impressionist and Sotheby's earned nearly half a billion dollars, and Picasso "Nude on a background of green leaves and bust" took over 106.5 million dollars to be awarded "the most expensive auction sale." During the second week in the May sales of contemporary art are the same and joined him house Phillips de Pury were still about half and also made several very large sales. "Self-Portrait" Warhol went for 32.5 million dollars and a million cheaper there, on Sotheby's, was sold to another masterpiece of Rothko.

Russian market, of course, such large rises are not waiting. Nevertheless, a number of expensive works at the June auction will appear. It said "Results", Deputy Chairman of the Board "Sotheby's Europe, Lord Mark Poltimore:" Last November we were still not very bright at the moment, as though swayed slightly in the balance - was observed, where are all the same plummet fall. Now we feel great interest and desire to see Russian buyers.

The Ninth nal

After all, really: the first violin in the purchase of "Russian" played by the Russian. Always visible to purchase such collectors, as Pyotr Aven (Russian porcelain and art of the Silver Age), and Viktor Vekselberg (Faberge, silver, and a classic turn of the century). Actively participate in the bidding Ukrainians consider Russian their art. Names of the Ukrainian businessmen Alexander Tabalova - enthusiastic collector of classics, and Viktor Pinchuk, who often takes contemporary art. In recent years, oddly enough, began to appear more and more customers from the former Soviet republics. Already seen the Kazakh capital. After all, the history of art we all have in common. The number and western collectors. I remember literally packed auction hall was British noble figures in just six months ago to "sotbisovskoy" the December sale of the collection of items belonging to members of the Russian imperial family, then sold 100 percent of lots and Auctioneer were given white gloves - the event, I must say, not very rare only for Russian trading.

Head of Russian Department at Christie's Alexis von Tiesenhausen assured "results" that "Russian art and special items of Faberge, silver and porcelain at auctions exhibited always the case. The first Russian department of Christie's was opened in the 68-m in Geneva, and the first Russian specialized trades were already in the 71-th year. However, most experts believe the starting point for perestroika Russia in 1985, when a series of Russian sales in London for the first time has the oldest British auction house Sotheby's. You can even include a specific "pioneer" - it was John Stewart, an expert on Russian icons, and while one of the leading researchers Sotheby's, practically invented the still existing structure and segmentation of the Russian market.

But you should not think that then, in the already distant 80-e, on "our" auction was a special excitement. Participants were they, as a rule, immigrants from the USSR. For example, it then began to collect his famous collection now Galina Vishnevskaya and Mstislav Rostropovich (recently, as you know, it totally was exhibited at Sotheby's, to sell the auction to Alisher Usmanov, who conveyed it in Konstantin's Palace). Either way, only towards the end of the 90's prices started increasing, and very suddenly jump up. It was at that time formed a comfortable situation for business. When the interest of collectors - and the first and only people who have little to do with art, but wanted to invest in a huge amount of free money - has stimulated the emergence of the auction premium of things and as a result, prices for Russian art worldwide.

Since then and until today a stable demand is primarily academic paintings and traditional crafts. And the "champions" here - "Shishkin" and "Aivazovsky. They actually believe almost perpetual trends, and Aivazovs'kogo antiquarians as a joke sometimes referred to as "our ninth Nal. And yet the imperial vases and eggs, and other "Faberge" of all sorts.

Genius Loci

And yet, why was the original capital of the UK top Russian antique-geographic pyramid whose base are countless antique shops and flea markets. Higher the auctions in Germany, France, Czech Republic, Hungary, Denmark, Finland and Sweden - in all these countries, Russian art is sold at international auctions, and often in a specialized Russian (Historia in Germany, Rasmussen in Denmark, Bukowskis in Finland and Sweden, Swedish Uppsala and Stokholms Auktionverk, French Tajan and Lombrail-Teucquam). Everywhere reigns the Russian and Ukrainian (increasingly) dealers. Buying our art almost wholesale. And then these pictures, vases, and silver are virtually guaranteed to appear on London weeks.

London - now the world financial center. And to get here easily from anywhere. And the language barrier is no problem. And besides, this is a conservative society, aimed at the preservation of artifacts, not experienced in the past century, the particular social and military upheavals, which, of course, contributed to the preservation of cultural heritage. By the way, it employs more than 2000 antique stores! .. In general, there is no longer in the world is no country with such a number of factors that are extremely positive effect on profits of the antiquarian market.

"Of course, once the cultural capital of the Russian was Paris - Recognizes President auction house MacDougall's Catherine McDougall. - This primarily concerns Diaghilev's seasons, to which all arriving. But now it is clear that such capital was London. And not only for Russian, but also for Impressionist and modern art, people are going to buy them in London, exactly the same as going to work on the London stock exchange. Tiesenhausen of Christie's holds another parallel British-French battle in Russia: "London became the capital of Russian art in the first place due to the fact that British companies when - then lost the right to hold auctions in France, where monopolies have become the French auction houses. Steel - and lost the battle. But Oleg Stetsyura, president of auction house "Gelos" (Moscow), said: "Customs duty on sale for importation into the UK is 5 percent. This is basically a very modest collection in the world. In addition, the attractive factor is the virtual absence of restrictions on export of art. Except for items pertaining to the national heritage - and it is literally a fraction of the force.

In general, with regard to British laws relating to the movement of cultural property, is another absolute trump card in favor of London, and for the whole world, not only for Russia. "Moreover it is the most liberal legislation, but the important thing is that it is respected. It is much tougher than in Europe, as it may seem - says" Results "collector and dealer George travelers. - Even try to break his no leaves almost no one: neither the owners of art, nor the galleries, nor auction houses. And when the trading floor is totally legal field, it is most advantageous for all. "

Surely all we need to become the world capital of antiques, and well, the top Russian antique pyramid - just to be in a secure legal field?

all the Chinese sample

Auctions with the participation of Russian art at the current Russian Auction Week is expected to slightly more than half a year ago - nine. A total of the current "Russian week" will be exhibited in 2253 a lot. For comparison: six months ago in London, offered 1559 lots.

But the events of the cultural program to accompany the upcoming week of national art in the capital of the UK, more than enough. In May, opened the London office of celebrities and one of the oldest Moscow's Regina Gallery. Exhibited painter Faibisovich, who leads in the category of auction sales, the most expensive artist, now living in Russia "(his painting" Soldiers "in 2007 went for a record 311,000 pounds). Russian-British gallery Ravenscourt Galleries will show right in this time, "Russian art of XX century, the collection of the gallery. Many local galleries of Russian origin are also getting ready for opening day and the seizure of staying out of the new Russian art lovers. And of new faces after the crisis, incidentally, is much larger.

The whole world in the first place, as usual, will focus around the pre-auction reception, which will be held on the eve of a sequence of trades. Their suit every self-respecting home. As a rule, only in keeping their own traditions. "Aristocrats" from Christie's, remember, surprised the pink champagne and strawberries, combined with a cold soup, which for some reason was served in a tall glass, and kremankami with cold, once again, dumplings. Funny picture of Russian cuisine, of course, but in any case - an exquisite courtesy to our compatriots from the "aristocrats, aspiring to become merchants" (this is from the famous antique sayings).

In any case, it is clear that the "Russian Week" has become something immutable, expected for London. "Russian Week" - the know-how of the market of domestic art. At least, according to a long-standing participants Antique Market. It is possible, the term "Russian antique auction week" - part of Russian mentality and certainly came out of Russia. None of the other national segments of the world Antique market for such concentrated Event not held. The format of this, incidentally, shows that the time was so convenient to all that would be quite surprising (and is even expected and predictable, many of the facts), if other booming art market - primarily, of course, China and India - would support and borrow such "total" week of the national art. In any case, "Asian Week" we already see in the calendar world's largest auction houses. It remains the case for small: to organize the next national festival in which the dominant role played by auction. And around itself necessarily will create an entire infrastructure. That's when a born Russian antique pyramid.

Top lots coming from 7 to 11 June 2010 "Russian auction of the week" (prices are quoted in pounds sterling)
  
Bonhams - just put up 258 lots:
Elephant made of stone with gold and stones, Faberge, master Henrik Wigstrom, 1908-1917 years, 150 000-180 000
Andre Lanskoy L'ab me du soir, the end of 1950, 100 000-150 000
Burliuk "Angle 4 th and Bowery", 1934, 100 000-150 000

Christie's at two auctions exposes 526 lots:
Mikhail Klodt "Animal Farm on the banks of the river", 1858, 700 000-900 000
Boris Grigoriev, Russian man ", 1920, 400 000-600 000
Zinaida Serebryakova "Reclining Nude", 1930, 400 000-600 000

MacDougall's holds three auctions with a total of 650 lots:
Niko Pirosmani "Arsenalnaya mountain at night, around the year 1907/08, 900 000-1 200 000
Isaac Levitan "Illuminated Kremlin, dedicated to the coronation of Nicholas II, 18 May 1896", 600 000-900 000
Nicholas Roerich "Black Gobi, 1928, 500 000-700 000
Adultery "boat on the river", 1879, 450 000-650 000

Sotheby's auction in three lots exhibited 819:
Ivan Shishkin "Forest Landscape", 1876, 1 000 000-1 500 000
Yury Annenkov Portrait Zinovei Grzhebin, 1919, 800 000-1200 000
Alexander Yakovlev, "Titi and Narang, daughter of the chief Eki Bondo, 1926, 700 000-900 000
Nicholas Roerich "City Candy", 1919, 500 000-700 000
Three-part hinged (clock and picture frame) of gilded silver, decorated with enamel and pearls, Faberge, master Johan Viktor Aarne, 1899-1908 years, 500 000-700 000

Dmitry Butkevich
(Magazine "Itogi" № 22 dated 31.05.10.)