Examination of art treasures from the standpoint of antiquarian

[Евгений]

In the past few years, examination of artistic treasures has become one of the most acute problems in Russia's antique market. Once in 2004 at auction Sotheby's scandal was removed bogus work of Ivan Shishkin, accompanied by expert opinion of the Tretyakov Gallery and in 2005 launched high-profile case of Antiquaries Preobrazhensky, also associated with counterfeit products, confirmed by government experts, the credibility of the museum's expertise has suffered greatly . To this day, the decision on how to change the existing system for years, has not been fully accepted. Questions answered, vice president of the expert work of the International Confederation of antique and art dealers Viktor Lebedev.

 

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- Victor, now Russia's antique market was a difficult situation with the examination of artistic values, often called a crisis, even expertise. What happens in your opinion?

- In my understanding, we have no expertise at all, we have a business to issue special documents. And business has its own laws, a business seeking not the truth, and profit. This situation is still in the early 1990's. In Soviet times, things are bought privately and mainly on the recommendation. When the market began to evolve rapidly, there are many non-professional antique dealers who did not want to take responsibility and seek a third party. Thus was born Institute of Museum and expertise, that is, collective responsibility and, therefore, no liability at all. This was largely connected with the economic condition of people who work in the museum, with a small state salary. I know a specialist in Paris, which acquired privately infrared installation and works with museums and collectors. The man who seems to be interested that appealed to him as much as possible, because it is his salary, said - do not need my help to you in 90%of cases. We have the chase for profits. Expertise done literally everything, even on minor things that generally do not need them. Given the vast flow of work is great and the error in determining authenticity. For instance, bought three etudes, which together in 1938 were in the exhibition - one gave positive feedback on the two - no. How can that be? How do you can give expertise on the sketches? Levitan, for instance, wrote a great number of studies, their quality is no different from the average artist.

Unfortunately, many antique dealers and collectors continue to cultivate a museum expertise and now, when it is clear that this is a dead end road. The overall result is not the expertise, and the issuance of certificates. And on one sheet you will receive and artistic, and technological research. For example, the expert wrote, that the signature is false. Why, then, no one shows the picture which, for example, the ink flow into the craquelure? We do not have separate laboratories, which would carry out only technological expertise. In the West you can get a detailed study of the content of pigments, metal, different shots - everything you need. But no technology lab does not take the responsibility to say, whether it is a genuine product or not.

- You started talking about how the examination is carried out art treasures in Europe. As far as I know, the state examination there does not exist.

- In all countries where developed antiques market, have long recognized that people working in public institutions should not engage in commercial expertise. If it becomes known that a museum staff member has written examination, he was immediately fired, not figuring. My London colleagues say that, when museum workers simply go to the gallery to see they are afraid to say something to someone when something they are not referred. Because people involved in other matters - improving, study, increasing the state assembly. They are engaged in science and should spend on it all the time. If government officials are beginning to issue examination, they not only once to do science, but they often begin to develop a pseudoscience.

- Perhaps, then in Russia needs private experts?

- Top experts from around the world - it ourselves antiquarians. Museum workers - in fact only theorists. What they can not refuse, so it is in the ability and opportunity to work with files, documents, art history with the material. All that concerns the practical side of the question, any person who works in the market, risks every day, understands much better than government employees. When you follow his every mistake to pay a lot of money, you learn very quickly. But in Russia, now in pursuit of money and antique dealers do not always want to learn. Many prefer to work as intermediaries. At the same time they themselves have no idea how the world works in general, antiques market, but a pleasure quick profit. In Europe, each person knows all of the world, working in its narrow field.

- In 2006 Rossvyazokhrankultura banned museum expertise, announcing that it will replace the private experts who receive state licenses. Most recently, the first 418 people received such certificates. Will this change anything?

- When Rossvyazokhrankultura initiated this process, all were in favor, everyone understood that this is necessary. But if you prohibit the state examination, then disable all. Why ban the Tretyakov Gallery and the Russian Museum, but allowed Grabar Center? As a result, the ban was simply not working, and the Russian Museum examination still issues, but calls them in another way - advice. Obviously, if you enter a private examination, it will raise the material standard of museum staff. But in terms of market licensing sense. For licenses issued the same state in the same museum staff. They have not increased from that neither knowledge nor the money to bear the financial responsibility for their detention. Art critic - is not an expert, and expertise - this is not a business. It is needed in a small number of controversial cases. And for this to be created private structures. So the situation is still deadlocked.

- How this situation is reflected in Russia's antique market in general?

- Due to problems with the examinations, but also because of scandals involving inflated counterfeiting and customs difficulties, we get only what the market is gradually shifting to the west. Even 4-5 years ago the Russian Front was only at Christie's and Sotheby's, auctions are held once a year and to work up the catalogs. Now the Russian bid is already going on throughout Europe. Why? Simply dealers here carry Russian art has become unprofitable, too many complications. It is much easier to pass it to the European auction. That's why Russian sales in the same London or New York since soared. Among the antiquities market even has a fantastic view that all the difficulties of Russia's antique market held by order of Christie's and Sotheby's. This is a joke, of course, because of our troubles, too, are not needed. They are attracted by rapidly developing Russian market, bringing considerable benefits.

- But somehow need to go out of this impasse?

- I do not think that now something can be dramatically changed - requires time. Unfortunately, it is not just about making any decisions, but also about the psychology of Russia's buyer. The credibility of the document goes back to Soviet times, and change is not easy.

Do not think that the situation with Russia fakes - some kind of exception. Entire world market overloaded wrong things, like roll cake. If I see an auction where 10%of unnatural things, this is a good auction. A reaches 80%. The auction does not guarantee - given the tremendous amount of work he simply can not ensure it. That is why the West customers rarely buy yourself stuff at auction. Only if he is knowledgeable and enthusiastic collector or it is a very serious investment in the tens of millions. Most customers buy in galleries: they are the principal guarantors of authenticity. Literally next door to the London branch of Sotheby's Old Masters gallery is located, in which the same work as in the auction, there are twice as expensive. But it has existed for many years, precisely because it is for the client filter, do not let the low-quality stuff. Customers trust the gallery, and the crucial role is played by such a thing as reputation. And I think we also need to move in this direction. At that time itself will natural selection professionals who can be called experts antique market.