Not an easy life traders primitive (and other) art or morals)))

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An interesting story recently befallen us in Paris: in 2006 one of the art found at the Paris flea market at Vanves (a suburb of Paris where the flea market chic and far less expensive than in Saint-Ouen) sculpture Uli origins of New Ireland. He spoke about his discovery to his friend, art dealer, specializing in primitive (or, if you prefer, original) art of Asia, Africa, Oceania and Central America, who together with his partner visited the booth, which was exhibited this sculpture. Look closely at it, they decided to buy it for 10,000 euros, especially since the seller said that this sculpture is from the collection of Maurice Vlaminck, and to confirm his words showed them the catalog printed on the occasion of no discernible sale in Orleans, where he bought it for 3 penny.

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The newly minted owners of the sculpture promised his friend and art to pay him a commission to its sales and to look for buyers. They hoped to gain for her no less than 150,000 euros. However, we can assume that they have committed a tactical error by showing its acquisition of the right and left, so that the speed of all the specialized traders from the left bank of the Seine have learned about this discovery. As a result, some competitors have begun to publicly express doubts about its authenticity.

Our heroes, determined to prove the authenticity of the sculpture, put it in a gallery on Avenue George V, and then to cut the ground from under the feet of them that reproached his rivals produced a solid record, containing, inter alia, the results of tests ordered, which confirmed that tree, from which this sculpture was made is really from New Ireland, and that it was made more than 100 years ago.

It is interesting to note that the couple is constantly telling us to art, what to do with sculpture, they do not move that experts are repairing them every obstacle, and that there is a risk that they will not sell the ill-fated sculpture. When he had to learn that a trader with market VANVES pervonachatlno tried to put this sculpture at Christie's, auction house, but the expert considered it questionable, and it was rejected, he believed it to your friends.

Anyway, during his three years were fed these tales, and then he was surprised to learn that the 1 st July 2009 it will be put up for auction at the Hotel Drouot, and that immediately after the auction catalog of it provoked a lively debate among the most prestigious Parisian dealers primitive art.

Some of them loudly proclaim that in their opinion, this sculpture is not more than a copy, made to order Vlaminck. Others were based on the results of tests performed and considered it a unique museum thing. The amazing part: the expert Alain de Montbrison limited to that confirmed in the catalog that she really belonged in the past Vlaminck, but gave no Svoge views on its authenticity.

Meanwhile, the art historian, assisted in purchasing the sculpture, he tried to find out the conditions under which it was put up for auction. And what happened? It turned out that the owners, desperate to find her a decent buyer, a few months ago, lost one of its eminent Chilean collector who by virtue of his position was much easier to obtain a certificate of authenticity, which he did, after having saved the statue from the plinth time Art Deco and carrying out some -What 'ukrashatelno-restoration "work.

Annoyed by the fact that the sale of her sculpture of the former owners have forgotten about the promised him the commission, an art historian has stated publicly that the behavior of a pair of owners indicate that the authentication of unique works of art, now need to enter the narrow club of the most prestigious dealers - if so, nothing good for the Paris art market this does not augur.

Immediately after a tender was announced that the sculpture was sold for 250,000 euros, according to rumors, the Museum in Hanover. But later came the announcement that the sculpture was left unsold. Finally, some argue that Chilean acquirer would prefer to sell it outside the auction, secretly, to put an end to the hype around the sculpture ...

The first image - sculpture before lifting, the second - after