So, my husband and I arrived before the first auction to view a collection on the subject of forgery. So many things had to withdraw - as fakes, and the icons almost completely rewritten, with the complete loss of the original painting. Maria this, unfortunately, is not enough. She's an expert on Greek icons. She has a good education, good school, but the Greek icon and an icon of Russian - are two big differences. I am a Greek icon attributing Never want. There's a completely different vehicle, other laws of the restoration, style. True, specialists and experts in the west have not considered it (Pafiti - RAM) is very serious with regard to Greek art ... Mary then we were rescued, cleaned with a fake auction.
Another thing is that in the first catalog was a lot more than mediocre things. There's even on the cover of "Patriarch Job" - cropped icon, just a piece, fragment. Price it - three and a half millennia, and it was sold for a fortune (one hundred twenty two thousand dollars - RAM). Just because on the cover. But with this McDougall began his "icon of activity".
RAM: As the chief judge you prepared two auctions - December and had just passed, June ...
ISH: You know, to each his conclusion I treated as a doctor for diagnosis. Their point of view, trying to defend to the last. Incidentally, none of my professional opinion never anyone in Makdugalls not disputed. I believe that every directory should be a serious publication, serve as inputs in the scientific work and not turn into a waste paper with the stroke of a hammer.
But there were times when I bend my arms, begging to agree on the dating. So it was with one of the top lots of the December auction, basically - the icon of the 17 th century, but much later "modified". Put it as the 17th, no reservations, so just to sell. At a very high price. I said that to put it under his name not be said that will go away.
RAM: But is not left.
ISH: to persuade. We have to hope for something. We - it's me and my husband Nicholas Zadorozhnyi, who heads a museum of Russian icons in Moscow. He was its director. Luxurious private museum, established by Nicholas at the expense of the owner (Michael Abramov - RAM) in three years. So, after the first failure (in December 2009 - RAM), he proposed to Catherine (McDougall - RAM), so to speak, to take up an auction - to sign a contract with us, on which Nicholas will be fully complete it, pick up the entire auction repertoire, and I'll deal with attribution expertise. Catherine was happy with this proposal, the contract was signed. Although it was clear immediately that it carry out its not going to ...
RAM: What do you mean?
ISH: Before the last, the June auction, I looked through all the things in advance. Some selected for the auction, some not. I come to London. And here it becomes clear that there is a certain batch of icons. Things are not interesting, unnecessarily expensive, which, in my opinion, the auction is not the place.
And I am forced to describe them and make a directory. Imagine - three days before the catalog goes to print there is a dozen icons, three of which - forgery, five - at twice the above, three - things are very uncertain! Although we must pay tribute to Catherine McDougall: commercial sense in its incredible. From this a dozen four icons were sold. But it is certainly not in it, and that these sales did not match any level, nor the price.
RAM: Who else is preparing the auction catalog?
ISH: All lots passed through me. Catherine McDougall, without any consultation with me, took office Helen Mack Ildo Jenkins. As she said "make directory". She is the hostess, her right to take anyone. Helen - a very good one. The only problem is that she did in the icons do not understand. In general. I realized it after half an hour after our acquaintance with her. Example: Lot fortieth June catalog. Icon depicting the four evangelists: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, of which Mark was written, as they say, yesterday. It's obvious. But not for Helen - for her it was a revelation. And so she sits down to "make directory", orders the photos are unknown and for some unknown reason. With me not advised no one, not the illustrations, nor the order of placing things in a directory ...
I have all the powers invested in it to defend here is this phrase in the description of the lot: "the lost fragments of the image of Mark the Evangelist in the restoration was replaced with the new." Although these words would have to be in the title, but not at the end of the text.
RAM: defend, but not completely - in the online version of the "replacement" is not a word.
ISH: You see! But most of it looks the Internet site, rather than a paper catalog!
Moreover, when he came to the layout of the catalog and there, in the description of the fortieth Lot of four paragraphs, there are only two - the first and last. The middle - as usual. Catherine decided to shorten the text absolutely nothing in the icons do not understand. I am also a professional, but never graduated from university with three years work experience. I work with the best publishers in the world! Once invited to a specialist, so surely and listen to somehow.
RAM: Is that bad?
ISH: I, on the one hand, do not want to put everything in a negative light. In the end, Catherine is doing its work, it's her "creativity" and its business. But on the other hand, we are talking about the icons - that's what sad. Of course, I try to restrain myself as I can, do not let the negatives. Although I do not always succeed ...
RAM: What do you think is comparable to the art and business?
ISH: If we - me and Nick - have made it possible to implement our plans, and the auction would have been wonderful, and the opinion of the auction house McDougall would start to change. I am convinced that the auction should be a meeting place for collectors, experts and connoisseurs of the icon. This does not diminish, but rather raise the levels of sales, attract new customers. And, most importantly, help change the view of trade in Russian art.
Interview written by Alexander von Hahn, 06/15/2010
P.S. We appealed to the MacDougall Arts Ltd. to comment on published material. This comment will be immediately posted on our website.
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Date: Wednesday, June 23, 2010 Author: Russian Art Partnership