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Suggests that the Administration create a separate forum heading "Archive", where it would be possible to place historical material about art, old auctions, buying \\ selling, etc. Think it will be interesting to read about changes in trends, prices, tastes, fashion artists, in comparison with our time. Well, or you can without the Neighbor section, is well suited to the Art Kaleidoscope ".
This article assume 13-year-old:

Russian Roulette at antique auction

Every year in December in London auction houses Sotheby's and Christie's held their russian sales. It brings together all those involved with the Russian antiques market: sellers and buyers, dealers and collectors, professionals and amateurs. It was here that are created and sold the best art collections.
On the last week in London, Russian Tatyana Markina and Julia Romanov chat with columnist of the international antique market Nadezhda Danilevich.
"Money": What makes winter russian sales?
Hope Danilevich: It was in December, all those involved with Russian art, as if going to their professional party. Well, as the Dutch are going to blacksmiths, for example, to their conference.
"D": But the Russian sales in London are still in June. In June, they did not come?
ND: In June, many of you may not see. And in December, going all. Here the largest collection. Best thing. Most of the people. Highest price. And buyers and sellers benefit to bid in December.
"D": In the preparation of the bidding for the first time not attended by former leading expert of the Russian Department Sotheby's Jon Stewart. It is believed that he left the auction house because of the failure of the avant-garde Sterling in the December auction of 1995.
ND: not because of this scandal, he was gone.
Sotheby's and Christie `s - huge factories. In a year worldwide, they sell goods at an average of $ 1 billion each. In London, New York, Geneva, Hong Kong, Amsterdam, Tel Aviv, Monaco, Milan, Zurich, etc. for the year goes by several hundred auctions.
Russian auctions in the world is held - six or seven a year, not more. Each brings an average of $ 2 million. This is a drop in the ocean.
Then suddenly in December 1995 Russian collection of Sotheby's, which brought Stewart brings $ 7 million. The result of the unprecedented. Suddenly, after this victory, Stewart leaves. This is strange.
"D" A gossip goes, that Stewart was removed because of false avant-garde.

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ND: This is gossip. In fact, more difficult. Vanguard - a minefield antique market. Building a complete retrospective of Russian art from icons XIY century to paintings Deineka, it was impossible to do without the avant-garde. And Sotheby's tried to return to the market this lucrative and expensive commodity. It did not work. But the result is something as a whole was amazing. It became clear: the Russian department of a new clientele with a lot of money. All felt the potential of the Russian market. That is why the intrigue began. And Stewart left.
Previously, on behalf of Sotheby's experts visited the Russian Department, Mr. Stewart, but now comes the director of Sotheby's Russia and Eastern Europe, Mr. Batkin.
"D": High leadership decided to throw in this department Batkin?
ND: A Sotheby's now just need people like Batkin. He knows how to talk with the new Russian. He travels to Russia and did not go to museums and collectors, as did Stewart. Batkin walks and can walk on the politicians, bankers, wealthy people. He goes to private villa. He was pleased to recall what he was served limousines. In Russia, can meet people - and he likes to be well met.
"D": And on any villas he went?
ND: For those to whom we have not happen. Batkin, at least, they do not call.
Generally Batkin not hide his interest in Russia. He brags that six years ago, he did not know a word in Russian, but now in the Metropol can order tea without an interpreter. Look at him - "our Peter." In all of our senses. Russian merchant, rosy-cheeked, always pleased with himself. Just the same, squinting pleasure.
But the main thing - he knows how to bargain! He knows how to sell crap for a lot of money.
Remember the auction at the Fair Art Myth in the Manege a few years ago. He sold the installation of "Sleeping Beauty" (resuscitation car Brezhnev plus bare plaster) - Imperial bank of 250 thousand dollars. Mad Money in those days.
Batkin was standing behind the bar with the inscription "Sotheby's. 1744. Short of stature, but with the height of this pedestal as though he felt a whole history of an auction, all 250 years. He stood, as Lenin on the dais with thrown forward hand. And the shrill shouting: "Last chance!!!"
He bruised his eyes on the victim, and the unfortunate banker, willing to justify their presence in the auction Sotheby's, was ready for everything, so as not to disgrace himself in the world.
Such merchants as Batkin, of course, search. In Geneva, Sotheby's and Christie's sell the biggest diamonds. Batkin walking on London's Bond Street, on New York's Park Avenue, on the Geneva waterfront - just like at home. The bright triangle of shirt-fronts, red butterfly, black and white shoes, chubby belly, cane. As if by chance comes up for auction. Passing through the hall. Fits to the phone. And the largest diamond sold on the phone it was through him. Such people need Sotheby's.
"D": The quality of the collection, exhibited at Sotheby's auction last December, has suffered from the change in leadership?
ND: Of course. This is another level of collection and catalog. Stewart - intellectual. He knows all about art. Batkin knows all about the clientele.
At a press conference in Moscow last December, before the auction to my question about who put the price of 80,000 pounds per Kharlamov (Russian artist of the XIX century, grew up in Paris, where famous heads nymphets, traditionally sold at auction of European paintings, portraits of faces from 25 to 35 thousand dollars), Batkin said: "Nice picture. Much." But for some reason the auction no one had bought.
If the collection was Stewart, Kharlamov would not have fallen for the auction at all, or cost is not so expensive. A section of icons in general has never been so weak. At the billboard hit the icon, which also has not been sold.
"D": What was the most expensive sale of the "Russian Week"?
ND: Record Russian auction in December - Repin Cossacks on the Black Sea. 400,000 pounds. I bought a Russian buyer.
"D": Who?
ND: Who exactly is not known. Such purchases hidden from tax authorities.
Before the auction Batkin proudly told the press that he had already found a buyer in Moscow. The man he found and bought the picture.
"D": The buyer must have some new-Russian gentleman?
ND: Most likely. Apparently the price did not meet the quality of painting.
I think the only thing he was right, so it is that this painting bought at this auction as Sotheby's.
First, because within five years the customer can return the purchase back. If you find any defects, finds that she's a fake or stolen. Sotheby's gives such a guarantee.
Secondly, if the painting at Sotheby's is already sold, it can again be sold. And the same Batkin help it sell even more.
But instead of buying one oryasinu Repin, on the same 400 thousand pounds you could buy a few things the museum class. I can show the catalog - five items Sotheby's and three items Christie's. Well, for example, "Portrait of dervish Vasily Vereshchagin, very rare on the market Solomatkin, monumental mural Yakovlev," Portrait of a son Boris Grigoriev, "Samarkand" Petrov-Vodkin ...
"D": And who bought all this?
ND: Actually, neither buyers nor sellers do not like when their names appear in the press.
I remember a funny incident. Baron Pfalz Fain introduced me to Prince Yugoslav, and his wife. Prince Alexander Yugoslav put up for auction in London, a portrait of Aurora Demidova Karl Briullov. Naturally, he did not want publicity.
And the Baron knew about it and said to him in jest:
- Did you know you will have the interest of the journalist to pay for mediation. That newspaper "Culture" on the front page - your "Aurora". Vishnevskaya writes newspaper and probably now will buy it.
Prince Yugoslav literally turned purple and said nothing. A privately Baron said:
- Over-and-a-what you are told? Now everyone will know about it!
The next day I was already in London. The funny thing is that Galina Vishnevskaya, this portrait is really bought. From Russia specifically for this painting came to two men - Valery Dudakov from corporations and banks Lyudmila Markina, representative Tretyakov Gallery. Dudakov was the most persistent rival Vishnevskaya, fought to 120 thousand pounds. And he still got Vishnevskaya - over 133,000 pounds.
"D": Who are the main actors are Russian Trading?
ND: This is, of course, museum workers. Their numbers are small, but they are steady clientele. The last three years, for example, I always see on the front row of two identical bald patch. This is the museum's director of Dance in Stockholm and his assistant. They collect the exposure of Alexander Benois and came to buy a pair of theatrical sketches.
They come dealers. Very active group of buyers. There were, for example, representatives of our leading antique structures. Alpha-Art "," Gelos "," Catalog "," Four Arts "," Magnum ". But this time they were present more in the role of observers. But it was important to attend and understand what is happening in the market that bought that rose in price that the market is gone. Are there any new buyers.
The most interesting characters in the antiques market, of course, collectors. They are the most educated and casino customers, their choice is always interesting to watch. Buy great people with great taste. This pylyaevskie cranks, crazy.
Once in the room at Christie's are Lukutin boxes, sitting in the hall only two buyers. Are silent phones, which are usually trumpeted. None of these boxes are not needed. And these fanatics - fighting. Until recently.
Most often, wins the lady from America. Big, big. He sits motionless, like a Scythian woman. Always at the center of the hall. Embosom (and her magnificent breasts) auction paddle with a number, so that nobody saw except the auctioneer.
The most expensive caskets, she buys it. And in December, it bought the best stuff.
"D": Is this auction for two?
ND: It is for them Christie's exhibits each year, such a collection. To the auction, two clients is enough.
"D": And who of famous people is a Russian week in London?
ND: Tatiana Faberge, a pianist Victoria Postnikov, which buys small things, but tasteful, Galina Vishnevskaya. It is the best buyer - the prime minister of the antiquarian market.
Often, it is dependent on her earnings Russian auctions Sotheby's and Christie's. She buys herself, dealers do not want her, she understands everything myself. Two pairs of glasses looking for. And fighting it is useless - Vishnevskaya always goes to the end. Per lot, which she liked, can put a fortune.
"D": And what she bought this year?
ND: Best miniature has ever Sotheby's and Christie's for sale. Lifetime portrait of Peter the Great in his jewelry decor (not dropped any diamond). Thing - the museum class. Fighting for her was serious. Went twice estimeyta (alleged evaluation). Vishnevskaya bought it for 20,000 pounds.
Once at Christie's for a china box featuring Grigory Orlov, Catherine's time, which fits in the palm, Vishnevskaya laid out the amount for which you can buy an apartment in London, somewhere in Portobello.
"D": What other famous people buying?
ND: In these auctions took place this story. At Christie's, when carried to sell the silver ikornitsu with pike on the lid. Fought two anonymous by phone.
Price has doubled, behind zashushukalis.
- Slava Zaitsev went!
- This is Vic from Aeroflot!
After the auction said that the couturier Slava Zaitsev wanted to surprise on Christmas ikornitsey their guests. Two pounds of silver! She left it for 42,000 pounds (70,000 dollars).
"D": A surprise some in the auction were?
ND: Among the three Aivazovsky at Christie's - the two were false. They were removed from the auction.
"D": sold at this time, some extraordinary things?
ND: Cristie `s put on the sale of linen with the Royal provinansom (origin). Tablecloths and napkins with a double-headed eagles, belonging to Nicholas I. Unique things. They found Tiesenhausen, head of the Russian department.
And we say: "Oh, who will buy it, no one is needed. Stains, holes." For Russian is not a luxury item. Durty.
Suddenly the fight went. Pilfered literally everything. Prices rose in dozens of times, with five hundred to seven thousand.
"D": At the auction, as we know, practice arrangement between collectors for low price. At Sotheby's and Cristie's possible?
ND: Shared some items before the auction - it's natural. Problem dealers - buy as cheaply as possible, and sell expensive.
Dealers from Germany, of Russian origin - the most noisy. You often hear how they were talking, straight through the ranks. "It's yours or mine?" Typically, they buy small things, cheap.
"D": And what specialists think about the appearance of buyers from Russia?
ND: Alexis de Tiesenhausen - head of the Russian branch of Christie's ability to buy Russian said without much optimism: "In Russia, between public museums and collectors empty, emptiness."
This is true. You can add the obvious thing that our museums are the poor and buy often. A range of collectors is too small for such a big country. And such major figures as Zilberstein or Kostaki, today no. In the city of Moscow - one of Valery Dudakov, whose collection is listed on the international level. All others involved in the accumulation of physical things.
Dudakov, incidentally, was also at these auctions. He wanted to buy a portrait Tropinin at Sotheby's. Due to the fact that the preliminary assessment of things was too low - 15-20 thousand pounds, he had doubts about the authenticity. This Tropinin is much more expensive. The painting went for 13,500 pounds.
"D": What other connoisseurs of antique market, except for Mr. Tiesenhausen, spoke about the purchasing power of Russian? On one view Tiesenhausen difficult to build.
ND: Many people talking about it even more skeptical. For example, Prince Nikita Lobanov-Rostovsky. He has the world's largest private collection of Diaghilev's artists. 35 years to buy Russian stuff. He lives in London and never misses a Russian auction.
On the buyers from Russia, he advocated a rather sarcastic: "Russian auctions in 1994 and 1995 grounded all indiscriminately. Such prices on Russian sales had not been seen. However, the choice financially gifted Russian people is difficult to explain in a logical way. They paid dearly for things unattractive from the point view of art. Just pointless throwing money. In other words, came to London and a well-walked to the counter. Russian market in London there are at least twenty years. In addition to Sotheby's and Christy's Russian goods trades are 15 galleries. He created and maintains a handful of western collectors. And regardless of what happens in Russia, will arrive whether or not the Russian Auction, the market in London will continue to exist. "
"D": Is it difficult to get to the Russian auctions?
ND: Our first Moscow auctions were much more closed . Sotheby's and Christie's are open to all. The only exceptions are superdorogie Auctions (jewelry, Impressionists). This special requirements.
"D": You can sum up? What are the records set last year?
ND: Russian auctions are held in the three capitals of the antiquarian market. London set a record at the painting - it Repin Cossacks on the Black Sea - 400 thousand pounds. The most expensive painting in recent years after a recession.
In Geneva and New York set records for Faberge. One of them - mantel clocks made of silver from the blue room Anichkov Palace - belonged to Alexander III, sold at Christie's auction in New York for 1,5 million dollars.
Another record set in Geneva, at Sotheby's - Easter Egg, owned by industrial magnate Alexander Kelekh. (Only he and Nobel, except the emperor, had the privilege of ordering a Faberge Easter egg). Egg "apple blossom" sold in November for 1.5 million Swiss francs.
But Faberge bought by foreigners.

Tatiana Markina, Julia Romanov
(Journal of Money »№ 3 (111) of 29.01.1997)