Vekselberg has accused Christie's in counterfeit trade

[SergeiSK]

Today's "Kommersant". Opinion Andrew Ruzhnikova, expert and partner fund Aurora Fine Arts Investments.

- What is caused by your decision to go to court against the auction house Christie `s?

- The story stretches nearly five years since, as in summer 2006, our fund has received the first examination did not confirm the authenticity of a painting by Boris Kustodieva 'Odalisque'. 18 December 2006 I sent the head of the Russian department of the auction Christie `s Alexis Tizengauzenu formal letter of demand to cancel the sale and put it to him two negative examinations. No reply to my letter, I never got that quite in the style Tiesenhausen .
In December 2008, reached the correspondence of our lawyers with lawyers Christie `s, which has accumulated hundreds of pages, but it did not budge. Could not even begin meaningful negotiation. Lawyers for Christie `s constantly finding different meaningless excuses and reasons, delaying and postponing the solution of the problem, wasting your time and our money. Clearly, challenge the auction house is to pull this thing indefinitely, so that we simply brush aside both the flies.

- Your fund has four negative findings of the main Russian experts. Is this enough to show that "Odalisque" is written not Kustodiev?

- From the perspective of a reasonable approach certainly enough. But in this case these are neither common sense nor on the ethics of doing business. In the lawsuit of "Odalisque" the case is that under no circumstances did not admit their mistakes and as a result did not return the money. Read at the end of the auction catalog Christie `s" Terms of sale ", and in particular paragraph 5" Limited Warranty ". That's the notorious paragraph, which describes the procedure for cancellation of the sale in case of falsification of a subject of art. These rules are written in such a casuistic language that Machiavelli compared with Christie `s just a child. Nevertheless, if he broke through the ranks of obscure phrases are reduced to the fact that the provision of two expert evidence in support of forgery, Christie` s undertakes to consider the cancellation of sale. However, the question of "Odalisque" Paragraph 5, for some reason does not work. First, Christie `s demanded that the examination had been certified by the Ministry of Culture. Then he rejected the examination Petrov because he no longer works in the Tretyakov Gallery, although by this he not ceased to be an expert of the highest level. Then he rejected the expert GRC behalf Grabar on the grounds that it "restoration" center, not an expert. Further, counsel Christie `s said that they needed an opinion from the State Tretyakov Gallery as" the most serious source of knowledge and information on Kustodiev, knowing full well that at that point museums in Russia has been forbidden to do business expertise. However, we appealed to the Ministry of Culture, and such approval has been received. But the conclusion of the State Tretyakov Gallery, the same negative, as all previous, Christie `s refused to accept, citing the fact that we are themselves now in the State Tretyakov Gallery, ostensibly to" own expert ". And they could be attributed to "their", although TG is, of course, only one examination department, and all the issues there are resolved collectively.

- you mentioned in "Terms of sale" refers to the need to provide written evidence issued by two recognized experts in the relevant field, mutually acceptable to Christie `s, and for the buyer.

- We are ready to consider any candidate, but after giving expert advice from three leading Russian museums, such as the Tretyakov Gallery, Russian Museum and Center Grabar, and such well-known experts and collectors, as Pyotr Aven, Vladimir Petrov, it is difficult to imagine who would else on this planet can make a credible and competent opinion on the work of Russian artist Boris Kustodiev. However, almost two years we're trying to obtain from Christie `s answer to the question: who are these unknown, mutually acceptable expert? and the WHO, and now there.

- What do you expect from the court?

- Confessions of a picture of a fake, cancel the transaction and return to our fund of funds spent. But apart from that I think is important and necessary to draw attention to the working methods of the auction house Christie `s, which I think is unacceptable and an insult to the customers. Moreover, in recent years, Christie` s strongly trying to establish the primacy in Russia and former Soviet republics in connection with the rapid development of Russian art market.
Tatiana Markina
(Kommersant »№ 132 (4432) on 23.07.2010 http://www.kommersant.ru/doc.aspx?DocsID=1473572)

[Wladzislaw]

Сообщение от artcol

Here is respected forumchanin Eugene believes that Vekselberg bought a picture of a talented author

Eugene expressed his private opinion estimate. Do you write about certain investments (for you is a financial mechanism or what?).

Can not tell the investment of crazy shopping. And that picture of that kind of money in particular.

[Кирилл Сызранский]

ANDREW Ruzhnikov, partner and expert fund Aurora Fine Arts Investments.

good "posherstiv" auctions, the representatives of Aurora began to apply directly to the owners of objects. Sometimes they were buying entire private collections - for example, a collection of John Traina (John Traina) from San Francisco (several hundred cigarette cases, many of which are made by Faberge). The ability of the company "accumulate" high quality work and even monopolize some niche has not gone unnoticed among competing dealers and collectors. «Aurora a big influence on the market - choosing his words carefully, said Alexis de Tizenhauzen (Alexis de Tiesenhausen), head of Russian art Christie's. - In its first year, they made an impression on everyone. Without a doubt, the Ruzhnikova good nose for things ».

http://artinvestment.ru/news/artnews...ents_fund.html

[artcol]

Сообщение от Wladzislaw

Eugene expressed his private opinion estimate. Do you write about certain investments (for you is a financial mechanism or what?).

Can not tell the investment of crazy shopping. And that picture of that kind of money in particular.

In my words on investments was sarcasm, sorry that you did not see it.
I just like Eugene, to express his personal opinion in this case of of certain investments . As can be seen (veryatnee all assume) from the title of plenipotentiary of Vekselberg Aurora Fine Arts Investments, the reason was a desire to purchase invest, rather than any aesthetic predilections, Mr. Vekselberg.
Rights must be matched by the capacity to protect these rights, with this, I hope you will not argue. This is about such people even .
serious collectors the scandal may not be deterred, but unless serious invested in art?
Hence, the question was: Are you with me diskutiruete?

[Кирилл Сызранский]

Сообщение от artcol

... hardly be called a crazy purchase.

I do not know how crazy, but some hasty, vanity, ill-I would, as time passes and Knowing now the reaction to the thing itself of Russian expert workshop, it is to call.
It seems that this fund Aurora in its quest to get more masterpieces himself of this "investment" and punished.

[Eriksson]

As a man purely practical, I can see for the whole story, only one thing - driving desire to prove Vakselberga 'kid-oligarchs "that he not goof. Unhappy" Odalisque "he strongly podkuzmila - reputation" brilliant kolektsionera and yaytsenostsa "impossibly stained. Obmishurilsya, one word.
In this environment do not spare money to clean up the reputation. I think that he is a surcharge for these two and a half million, just to overcome the auction. Money is not the case - in principle!

[Кирилл Сызранский]

In that year, Christie `s comment on the situation with" Naked in the interior "/" Odalisque "as follows:
 

We know the results of examinations conducted by GRC behalf Grabar and Vladimir Petrov, according to the buyer. We are very seriously considering any assumptions about the authenticity of a work of art sold at our auctions. In this case, we would like to conduct their own investigation, but to date we have been denied access to the picture. Once we even get a chance, we carefully consider all available evidence and to be able to make an objective conclusion.

One could, in my opinion, to solve all peace and quiet. No?
And it was not necessary to prove "kid-oligarchs" that he not goof ".
 If only grinned and Victor stepfather in his gray mustache cleverly-enigmatic, and answered all questions would be, his eyes gazing downward: "I decided it's all long ..."

[Eriksson]

I do not see anything criminal or suspicious to answer the auction.
It is a legitimate interest in only one - why they were "denied access to the picture? Oh is not there a double or even triple play?
Inflate this matter is not in the interests of Christie `s. Consequently, his "selfish" interest in pursuing the plaintiff.
And the fact that Christie `s rejected expertise Petrova - this is natural. After all the scandals, his reputation in the West strongly raised questions, to put it mildly.

Incidentally, the material in Kommersant much sin that demonstrates the opinion of only one side of the process. Bad journalistic tone. Previously, this newspaper does not allow this.

"Especially in recent years, Christie` s persistently trying to establish supremacy in Russia and former Soviet republics in connection with the rapid development of Russian art market. "

But whether the plans of Mr. Vakselberga to pull the plug western auction houses and to establish their own home? Denigrate competitors and other people's bones to build their empire? Why? With Skolkovo not work out, so why not trample down the art market? Close to the Kremlin, as one of the collectors, organizational abilities are present, and the other competitors do not see - well, not counting the same "Gelos" for a competitor?

[dedulya37]

[Кирилл Сызранский]

Сообщение от Eriksson

It is legitimate interest in only one - is why he was" denied access to the picture "?

Yes, that kind of "victim" is dark.
And just in worldly logical reflection: what for so long, then all runs? Are there such problems with "access to the picture?
Give me where I got and wait for a refund. Suppose that there is now proof that it was a genuine Kustodiyev if they can. All would be quickly ended.