In Europe, held this year in final Russian bid

[Евгений]

Scandinavian and French auction houses held this year in its latest Russian bid. Typically, they put up for sale by Russian subjects with low to medium price ranges. In a crisis risked auctions, given the recent experience of their colleagues, trades, many of which were unsuccessful, although the recall would be most deplorable results of the auction houses of the American Heritage. Experts predicted that the current situation in this market segment is particularly affected, and will be purchased only favorites, expensive and non-risk in terms of investment items. Nevertheless, the last trading year have shown if not brilliant, but quite decent results. Despite concerns, it seems that low-cost items, lost, of course, some items are still in demand.

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centuries-old ties between Sweden and Russia in the Nordic countries have provided a large supply of Russian art, which Bukowskis and Uppsala Auktionskammare sell is not the first year. Most items offered for auction come from old collections of Swedish and Finnish and Russian heritage, looted from Russia before and immediately after the revolution. Russian art has always assigned a separate day in the so-called international bidding, and Bukowskis sells it at two venues - in Stockholm and Helsinki. Collection Bukowskis - this is usually a creative mix, where the classical art of the XIX century punctuated sixties, graphics - a bronze sculpture, icons - products of Faberge. It is in this kaleidoscope can usually find something interesting and inexpensive that will miss the competition. So tender are very popular with dealers, even in times of crisis.

At the auctions in Helsinki, this time it was exhibited slightly less than two hundred lots, including the most significant paintings and items of Faberge. Of the 45 paintings sold half of the lots, the most successful - the landscape of Mikhail Klodt (155 thousand euros), "Golden Autumn" Julia Klever (92 thousand euros), a marine species Lev Lagorio (60 euros). But Aivazovsky painting, valued at 800 thousand - 1 million euros, remained unheeded.

All six main lots Faberge found their buyers. Price of a small gold decorated with enamel and diamonds for a bottle of spirits of Michael Perkhin in original case has increased from 35 to 102 thousand euros, a silver button-call - from 5 to 15 thousand euros. In addition, a miniature jade cup of Henrik Vigstrema was bought for 40 thousand euro, gold frame decorated giloshirnoy enamel - for 38 thousand euro, gold pillbox - for 9 euros.

The collection also includes decorative arts, furniture, jewelry and weapons, and Marine award dirk St. Stanislaus has risen in price from 4 thousand to 48 thousand euros. Total has sold about 65%of the exposed lots.

Trades in Stockholm were slightly less successful - sold 55%of lots, but that in the current difficult situation on the market in general is a good result. Greatest demand to use the subject of arts and crafts, good to buy china. For example, for a military plate Imperial Porcelain Factory of Nicholas II paid 20 thousand euro, and a rare dish of its own porcelain factory Prince Nikolai Yusupov in Arkhangelsk - 8,6 thousand euro. Both the cost of slightly lower estimate: declared. But there were items that had exceeded the estimated cost. Thus, Empire style cup and saucer from Berlin with the image of Alexander I went up from 3 to 16.5 thousand euros.

Of the paintings were sold successfully painting Igor Grabar Kremlin and new construction "in 1929, participated in the exhibition" Artists and new construction, as evidenced by the label on the back (44 euros), as well as work with the image of Nicholas II by an unknown artist which employees of the auction attributed to Alexander Makovsky (price rose from 9 to 31 thousand euros).

At the auction were also exhibited two photo albums containing a total of 136 images from the life of the Romanov family. Albums belonged to who went in 1920 in Finland, Anna Vyrubova, court lady and friend of Empress Alexandra Feodorovna (15 euros). Separate lot to sell photos of five children of Nicholas II with their personal signatures (15 euros).

Auction house Uppsala auctioned nearly 250 lots of which have sold more than 60%. The most expensive lot was the work of Valentin Serov, sold slightly less than 400 thousand euros. The canvas "The Cossacks in the steppes. Taras Bulba and his sons, "written in 1889, when the artist, inspired by a trip with their teacher Ilya Repin in the Ukraine, has created several works on this theme, including a picture in the magazine Niva. Work is in an old Swedish collection since 1916 and is the son of the artist's signature, confirming authenticity.

In addition to this work successfully sold cloth Alexei Bogolyubov "The waves" coming from the collection of Alexander III and stored in the Tsar's palace. The painting was purchased by the then Prince, Alexander personally from the artist for 1000 francs, and in 1930 sold at auction. Now the work was back at the auction, its new value - 140 thousand euros. In addition, over 180 thousand euro was bought by Parisian nightlife landscape by Konstantin Korovin.

The sixties and contemporary artists in great demand not used, but arts and crafts sold relatively well, silver and porcelain to buy at or above estimate: for example, a pair of vases of production of the Imperial Porcelain Factory, with a handle and copies of paintings by Claude Vernet was sold for 30 thousand euro .

The French Commissioner-medalist Coutau-Begarie and auction house Tajan also conducted in the past two days, Russian auction. Unfortunately, at the time of the signing of a room in print results of the tenders were not known, but nevertheless both exhibited collection worthy of attention. Coutau-Begarie is not the first time exploits the theme of the Romanov family, which remains popular. He put about 180 very low-cost lots estimate only 15 of which exceeded one thousand euros. Photos, silver, numismatics, printed graphics, weapons. In the past Russian auction, which took place just a month ago, Coutau-Begarie managed to sell 60%of more than 320 lots.

Tajan put 420 lots, even more eclectic than in the Nordic bid. Classical painting was not here, graphics - mostly printed. But it is possible to find items of military history, icons, silver, a large supply of orders and medals, including the Order of the White Eagle (estimate 18-20 thousand euros). And also a good selection of books, which highlighted the publication of Grand Duke Nikolai Mikhailovich, "Russian Portraits of XVIII-XIX centuries" - five volumes, issued in the years 1905-1909 and containing over a thousand images of the most illustrious personages in Russian history of two centuries (20-23 thousand euros). Was at the auction, for example, the Arkhangelsk bone carving and even pointe shoes ballerina Tatiana Riabushinskii (1,3-1,5 thousand euros). In short, everything that could bring with fleeing immigrants from the Soviet authorities, since it was out of their heritage and are the majority of Russian affairs, appearing on the French bid.

Also in December, was going to hold its first Russian auctions and other French auction house - Artcurial, but apparently in connection with the crisis delayed the project indefinitely.

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Mikhail Klodt. Landscape with a cart. 1896. Bidding Bukowskis. Photos from the catalog Bukowskis