Faberge clock, or the sad story of a collector

[LCR]

Libération, 8.08.2008

Borrow a desk clock for the exhibition and get them back broken unpleasant. Especially when it comes to hours of Faberge, court jeweler of Imperial Russia - dissatisfaction can be very alive. And if in addition to all the above, the organizer of the exhibition, the carrier, insurance and campaign experts shy away from responsibility and blame each other, this incident could become a real nightmare.

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In 2000, Michel Kamidian lent his collection of Russian decorative art objects independent curator of the exhibition in Uimlingtone (Delaware, USA). The centerpiece of the collection have been jade desk clock ornamented with flowers of Carl Faberge, insured for 3 million euros. Transportation and insurance were to be paid by the organizer of the exhibition, by Broughton, who soon after the opening of the exhibition has declared itself bankrupt. Insufficient carefully wrapped Fabergé masterpiece was brought to the exhibition with injury - had lost one of the flower bud.

Neither the organizer nor its curators - Alexander von Solodkoff and Geza von Habsburg - not deemed it necessary to inform the owner of the damage hours, attended the opening day. He learned about it much later, when it is time to turn to insurance campaign.

Watches sent back to London, packed them even more carefully, and they returned with additional damage: two flower stems of gold-plated bouquet, decorating clock was broken. Organizers were willing to pay for restoration, but the owner of the object thought, not without reason, that a watch belonging to partially depreciated. Then began a real mess. Supervisors, representing hours as the work of Faberge "suddenly questioning the attribution: indeed, these watches were purchased in 1991 at Sotheby's auction at a very modest price, with the name of the previous owner were not made public. Of course, since well-known experts have confirmed their authenticity, but still ... Insurance Campaign Lloyds, at the time of receipt of the insurance premium was not asked any questions about the authorship of hours now announced its disagreement with attribution.

Michelle Kamidian went to court, demanding that he be paid 30%of hours. However, the London judge who considered his claim, did not understand in the eastern eloquence of Mr. Kamidiana stemming from its Armenian origin, and took his colorful turns of phrase in an attempt to impose justice astray. As a result, the case: in his extravagant opinion in 143 pages, sprinkled with caustic remarks, the judge ruled the plaintiff to pay 1200 euros to repair hours, noting that there is no reason that they were created by Faberge. In addition, Mr. Kamidian was supposed to cover legal costs, which reached a not so modest figure of 1.7 million euros.