Back to the gallery of Russian art in New York filed a multimillion-dollar lawsuit

[uriart]

A third!
Two copies please.

[NATA NOVA]

Сообщение от ABC

Seriously, I think that the catalog would have been very successful and you would not have problems with its implementation ..

English version (though brief) is mandatory.
But if the Chinese can do, great!

[Евгений]

In the continuation of the theme:

Сообщение от USD; 1706653"

Such is the theme today is published by UNIAN http://www.segodnya.ua/news/14268096.html

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The name of People's Deputy of Regions, the President "Azovmash" and millionaire Alexander Savchuk was in the center of the scandal involving multi-million dollar deal to sell paintings. It has been called the biggest swindle in modern history, the art market of Russian art!

Savchuk, bought in 2008 for the Luxembourg company Arthur Properties (they say he owns it) the owner of the New York gallery ABA, the former Leningrad, Anatoly Bekkerman 18 masterpieces of Russian painters of XIX and XX centuries for more than $ 9.5 million may Savchuk got a picture for her daughter who, according to media reports, is the owner of a private gallery in Paris.

According to the company, the examination showed that the four paintings - a fake, and the price of the others - is overstated. But that's not all. According to the "Today" in New York counsel for the plaintiff, Oleg Rivkin, the authenticity of another picture, too, is questionable. Now she runs the examination. Sam Alexander Savchuk declined to comment yesterday. The lawsuit says that on the whole gallery allegedly overstated the value of $ 4.1 million Bekkerman refused to return the money and now Arthur Properties through the Federal Court for the Southern District of New York wants to charge him $ 6.5 million
Read more <a href=http://www.segodnya.ua/news/14268096.html"> Source </a>
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"In the forest," Shishkin. Forgery of the work he bought for $ 1 million Savchuk

[Евгений]

Art dealer Bekkerman Anatoly, who lives in the U.S., and belonging to him ABA Gallery, located in New York, accused of selling forged paintings, as well as inflating the price of sold works. This information has already passed a number of publications have confirmed the "Voice of America" ​​Oleg Rivkin, a lawyer for the plaintiff company Arthur Properties.

"The extensive and versatile ..."

[SPOILER] This is a company registered in Luxembourg, has filed a lawsuit in Federal Court for the Southern District of New York, arguing that in 2007-2008, acquired from Bekkerman 18 works by Russian artists, four of which presumably were fake, and prices for most of them much higher than average. Defendants in a civil lawsuit figure Mr. Bekkerman, ABA Gallery, and as long as one hundred unnamed individuals, according to American legal practice known as "John Doe".

The petition alleged that Anatoly Bekkerman and ABA Gallery conspiracy carried out in order to conduct "an extensive and multi-faceted fraudulent" by the sale of 18 works of Russian art XIX-XX centuries. It works by artists Ivan Aivazovsky, Ivan Shishkin, Konstantin Korovin, David Burliuk, Mikhail Larionov, Natalia Goncharova, Alexander Archipenko, and others.

In the lawsuit appear in figure 9 million 580 thousand dollars, of which plaintiff estimates the total transaction, and the figure of $ 6.5 million, which it assesses the damage.

Last sum of two numbers. $ 2.4 million paid for the plaintiff alleged "fake pictures" "The Roman family on vacation," Henry Semiradsky, "The Forest" by Ivan Shishkin, "Dinner" Stepan Bakalovicha and "Magnolia" by Natalia Goncharova. At 4.1 million dollars, he estimates the "overpricing" in the rest of the work. According to plaintiff, the price of the painting by Ivan Aivazovsky, "Seascape with Peter the Great", bought for $ 4 million is overstated by about 80 percent, while prices of other paintings too high in the range of 20 to 68 percent.

Arthur Properties accusing Anatoly Bekkerman of conspiring with others to mislead the purchasing agent Arthur Properties Olexandr Savchuk.

"To participate in this scheme - said in a statement of claim - Bekkerman attracted persons who knowingly or unwittingly helped him to carry out fraud. These individuals - Michael and Sorin Abramovich, wealthy former residents of Russia, now living in Paris, their daughter Regina Abramovich, who lives in New York and has served as a consultant on Russian art, "Sotheby's" in the department to work with private clients, and a daughter Bekkerman Sonya Bekkerman, who lives in New York and served as senior vice president, "Sotheby's" in Russian art. "

At the same time attention is drawn to the fact that among the respondent for the lawsuit, in addition to a hundred "Locations Loading," does not appear Bekkerman daughter, nor anyone else, but not among the plaintiffs, Mr. Savchuk.

"A thorough examination"

Oleg Rivkin's lawyer, speaking in Russian and works in New York law firm of Fox Horan & Camerini. Specializes in international legal disputes and matters related to art. Over the past 18 years several times represented in the courts of museums, artists and collectors, in particular, defended the interests of Michael Goldberg, the last abstract expressionist of the New York schools, until his death in 2007.

«Arthur Properties is not an art dealer, as stated in the press - said Oleg Rivkin, answering questions from the" Voice of America. " - This is a Luxembourg corporation, which owns the rights to the picture, originally purchased for personal use Savchuk family. "

The lack of a number of defendants in the lawsuit mentioned persons, including defendant's daughter Sonja Bekkerman, counsel noted that "we currently do not have enough information to make such allegations."

"European experts specializing in authentication of works of art, a thorough forensic examination - said Oleg Rivkin. - They came to the conclusion that the four works are not authentic. They (the experts) continue to investigate the authenticity of even a single picture, which is not included in the statement of claim. "

As for "excessive pricing", that, as emphasized by counsel, the basis for this statement were the "false assurances" Mr. Bekkerman that exposed them to price match the "market value" of these paintings.

Assuming that the forgery took place, and Bekkerman just did not know about it, actually losing ground on the plaintiff's assertion of conspiracy to commit intentional fraud.

"If Mr. Bekkerman convince the court he did not know about fakes - has commented on this yet purely hypothetical scenario variant court Oleg Rivkin - he probably will not be responsible for the fraud. But both he and the ABA Gallery will continue to be responsible for breach of contract, which is the first point of our lawsuit, and will have to return the amount paid for the purchase of paintings. "

"Gallery is closed for the summer"

According to the website ABA Gallery, for over thirty years, she "can not find and publicly represent fine examples of Russian painting and sculpture of XIX - early XX centuries." The site reports that "thanks to the collaboration with the gallery, many large public and private collections in Europe and the U.S. have been able to replenish their collections significant works of Russian art."

The correspondent of "Voice of America" ​​has repeatedly appealed to the Anatolia Bekkermanu by phone and e-mail ABA Gallery seeking comment. However, the response was silence. Arriving at the address listed on the site gallery, the correspondent found the door locked at eight-story building, and listened for an answer intercom unnamed employee picture that Bekkerman at work there, the gallery is closed for the summer and will open on September 15.

Site ARTINFO, one of the first to disseminate information on the lawsuit, said he had received from the auction house, "Sotheby's" explanation: "The mention of" Sotheby's "and its employees in this lawsuit is unjustified and unsubstantiated, since the lawsuit has nothing to do with "Sotheby's" or its employees. No, "Sotheby's", nor any of its employees are not subject to suit, and the statement of claim there is nothing that would indicate exposure or the actions taken by them which are relevant to the lawsuit contained allegations, and we do not have any or relevant to the case information. "

Several members of the Russian art community in New York, which were accessed by the correspondent of "Voice of America", the situation around to suit declined to comment Bekkermanu.

Margo Grant, one of the leaders of the Museum of Russian Art (MoRA) in Jersey City, expressed the opinion that the claim to the defendant in terms of overpricing is questionable.

"If you think the price is too high, check out the market - she said. - Market prices fluctuate in recent years is unbelievable. At one time I bought a painting by Natalia Nesterova for 100 thousand dollars, begged to sell, but I refused. And now for the 20 000 have yet to search the buyer. "

With Margo Grant agrees her colleague MoRA, a New York collector Boris Belenky.

"As for the over-pricing on Aivazovsky, it is absurd - he said the" Voice of America. " - The transaction took place a few years ago, when a peak in prices for Russian art. Also, size matters. Aivazovsky painting - a large format, but all things being equal this increases the market price. In general, Anatoly Bekkerman good reputation. In this I have never had a doubt. "

[OlegTsi]

Pictures:

Henry Semiradsky "Family on vacation," m /x, 65 x 110 cm

and

Natalia Goncharova "Flowers magnolia," m /x, 61 x 50 cm

Both are named in the bogus lawsuit.

[Мира]

"In general, Anatoly Bekkerman good reputation. In this I have never had any doubts"

And I have my doubts.
 I think this story - just the tip of the iceberg.
 
 His father owns a gallery of Russian art, the daughter of - commander of the Russian department of Sotheby's, do not you think that here there is some conflict of interest?
If, of course, assume that interest in Sotheby's to conduct a fair and open business.

On the New York Sotheby's I had such a strange case.
I called them and said that I wanted to sell two paintings (the artist of the early 20th century, a great provenance, purchased it in the same Sotheby's), leaving the secretary post. Do not call back. I send them e-mail, do not respond.
I called again, the fifth factor found Sonya Bekkerman, which says that work will not be watching, because the auction this artist is not interested, because he does not demand, right, and says in that work the same author, has sold well half a year ago.
I had to send pictures to London Joan Vicari, where they were safely gone far above the estimate.
A similar thing happened with a friend collector, who decided to sell the boring picture. As long did not answer, then refused to look because the alleged "lack of demand."


We have the impression that the Russian Sotheby's in H-Yoke has a channel for the sale of paintings and extraneous to the feeder does not admit.

[Ukraine]

You are not original, there moaning examples when Joanna Vikkeri like throwing feints!
There are even rumors that without a rollback in the London office of a decent job is not to sell!

[Vladimir]

Сообщение от Ukraine

There are even rumors that without a rollback in the London office of a decent job is not to sell !!!

That's interesting.
In general, the potential corruption opportunities there are.
Has anyone actually encountered this practice?
Only with Sotheby?

[Мира]

Сообщение от Ukraine

There are even rumors that without a rollback in the London office of a decent job is not to sell !!!

We at the London office everything went flawlessly.

By the way, we and our friends , too old Sotheby's clients , several times received from Joanna official postcard with a message that the market is on the rise , and if you decide to sell , now is the time .
 It was just about decent jobs, but about the " kickbacks " in the cards said nothing >

[artcol]

Сообщение от Vladimir

Interesting.
In general, the potential corruption opportunities there are.

They are always and everywhere where there is a monopolist.
But how are they realistic?
Apparently so, how real the risk of losing reputation, to catch a lawsuit in his address, etc.
Vekselberg is out, of course >