Results of Russian Week at international auctions

ARTinvestment.RU – 19.12.2010,10:53

past from November 29 to December 2, Russian sales in London were the last major event in the Russian art market in 2010. As always, they looked forward, hoping to understand the current mood of consumers.

Christie's

first hammer blows were heard in the morning November 29 at Christie's. Hall was at first, surprisingly, half empty, and only to the middle of the auction empty seats there are not more than a dozen. Bidding on virtually every item began with the lower half of the estimate, and often lots of customers were given less than the estimated lower plate, which, however, was not then in the other auction houses.

Within estimeytov gone top lots "Lady in white, sitting in the garden» , «Versailles. Alley » (892 and 881 000 pounds, respectively). (All prices except where noted, are considering the auction house commission. - Ed .) Slightly exceeded the upper estimate work "On the beach" brush Levitan , sold for 690,000 pounds, although the significance of the investment, it was more interesting than the paintings Korovin and Konchalovsky. But it was not, unlike in past years, the fight bright, ready to fight to the last customer. Trades were moving slowly, thoughtfully and without prior hype on such lots. It should be noted that the past on the same day auction arts and crafts brought Christies about the same as painting and drawing, ie, about 7.5 million pounds. Significant part of the success of applied art is owned by two Imperial porcelain vases, sold for 993,000 pounds, and the imperial gift gold snuffbox with the image of Nicholas II, departed for 937,000 pounds. This is perhaps one of the rare cases where the objects of applied art are the most expensive lots, and prevail in the total amount of most expensive (out of 10 top-selling Christie's five owned arts and crafts).

Over 241,000 pounds were sold to the most beautiful museum work I. Pohitonova «Castle of Uras Angelo, near by. " In one of the best things in the works of miniaturist fought at least five customers, and therefore two-fold excess of the estimate is absolutely logical and expected, however, difficult to explain the sale of his works as "The Garden": care for 10,000 pounds at an incomparably more expensive low quality. Work Pohitonova require immediate viewing the picture to the right conclusion is extremely difficult, and if the cost of the first market, and investment is absolutely justified, then the second picture was to go cheaper by 30-40 percent.

Unreasonably expensive work sold Nikolai Bogdanov-Belsky, N. «peasant girl Bridge "and" Boys rybachaschie from the pier "(349 and 313 000 pounds, respectively). According to the database ARTinvestment.RU, these results have occupied the 4th and 5th place ranking in the price of his works, but the investment prospects of these purchases is very vague. These things can hardly be called the best in the artist, in addition, his works are generally overpriced today, so the owner to resell their purchases will be difficult. Incidentally, two days later at an auction Bonhams like a "boys-fishers' picture of" Best Friends "went a little smaller for just 38,000 pounds, which indicates a lack of clear criteria for evaluating the work of Bogdanov-Belsky.

The most fierce battle at Christie's was developed for the costumes and scenery Alexandre Benois for the play "Petrushka ". The results were at the upper estimate, and sometimes exceeded them in two or three times. This artist will be discussed below in the auction Sotheby's.

twice the lower estimate for 51,000 pounds, left work "Portrait of Nicholas Magallanes» Paul Chelishchev . In general, consider the results of sales of works by this artist is difficult, because his stuff is clearly the subject of actively promoting some of the participants of the art market and is currently sold far above fair market value.

sure it is worth noting the "abstract composition» L. Masterkova , sold for the same 51,000 pounds, but much more significant from an artistic point of view, and investment, rather than a portrait of Chelishchev . "Abstract Composition" took the 5th place ranking in the price of the artist, and it talks about preserving the interest of collectors and investors to the best works of non-conformists. In general we can say is moderately conservative attitude of buyers in the market with these artists. Their works are sold, but without much fuss, and at prices significantly below pre-crisis. In any case, investors are worth paying attention to the Sixties and try to buy the best things are the first names, because doubt that their prices will recover and surpass the values ​​of 2007, no.

Among the unsold works at Christie's would like to acknowledge the work Maria Vasilyeva «A little girl with a cat "did not find a buyer because of too high estimate 300-500 thousand pounds; landscape - small size and dull colors, and a few landscapes Konchalovsky, which, apparently, did not remain customers after work "Versailles. Alley ».

summary, Christie's auction may be held and considered successful. With a fairly average selection of works sold 308 works from 509 (60.5 per cent in the general sense) the total amount of 14.9 million pounds, 2.6 million more than in June 2010, and 5.6 million more than in November 2009. For the first day of Russian Week, when all are looking at and cautious - it is a decent result.

Sotheby's

It What happened in the first half of the next day at Sotheby's, disappointed bidders and led them in bewilderment. Sad «Unsold», which was accompanied by an auctioneer, Lord Poltimore lot of lot from the start of trading, it was quite unexpected, since selection of works at Sotheby's was generally better than at Christie's. Perhaps it was "revenge" for the customers a cocktail of vodka and champagne, which were fed the day before at the evening reception of the pre-auction Sotheby's.

first major sale was the picture of A. Bogolyubov, "Basilica Maria della Salute on the eve of the festival, "pushed for 750,000 pounds (without the auction house premium). Prior to her demand was only a picture and N. Dubovsky , sold, or the upper estimate, or slightly above it. Works Constantine Constantine and Vladimir Makovsky , , A. Kharlamov been almost completely ignored by buyers.

It is worth noting that among the bidders There were many collectors, gallery owners and art dealers from Ukraine, enthusiastically bought the work of their fellow countrymen.

most expensive work of the auction was expected first-rate picture of Alexander Yakovlev « Dance of the Cooley-kuta. Niamey, "sold for 937,000 pounds Estimé 0.8-1 million. This result is quite adequate, and even two-fold excess of the lower estimate is quite consistent with a quality product. Canvas Museum Quality (that works Yakovlev always guarantee increased attention), a beautiful object for investment. No doubt, over time the price rises above 2-3 million pounds. The best works of this artist has crossed the bar at 2.5 million pounds (for example, « portrait Basil Shuhaeva in studio » or « Titi, and Narang, daughter of Chief Eki Bondo »), so this purchase justified and reasonable in all respects.

successfully for 121 000 pounds was sold to another job Yakovlev - "Portrait of Usaemona" (estimate of 80-120 thousand pounds). I can not say that this thing is one of the best works of the artist, but it is distinctive and recognizable artist's hand, so a slightly inflated the sales price may be considered adequate. A much weaker work "Fishermen on the Calvi" and "Standing Nude" no one interested - despite the fact that the interest of market participants to the works of Alexander Yakovlev, as seen from the (Fig. 1), recovered and rest on our laurels is not going to. Thus, once again confirmed the postulate that the buyers are always interested only in high-quality works of art, regardless of the current relationship of the market to their authors.

Fig. A. Schedule for the product index ARTIMX Yakovlev

revived with the advent of the participants in the hall sculpture "Assyrian» ; Estimé 30-50 thousand pounds, she went for 181,000. The fight was between several active buyers in the hall and on the phone, but the victory went to the well-known dealer who seems to calm and confident speculations, was ready to go to the end. That works very hard to give any estimate, since they are almost there on the market and the price can be any - its boundaries are determined solely by the desire and capabilities customers.

I would like to congratulate the new owner of "Spring» Natalya Goncharova . Final price of 120 thousand pounds for a great fun of our compatriot oil (whose work, incidentally, holds the world record price of works by artists) not only matches the market, but even, perhaps, a little below it. The buyer is not just lucky, got a great collector's item, but also very well invested. Sotheby's offered two Goncharova still-life, but they were not sold.

quite curious big job George Artemov «The hunt for buffalo," went for 40,000 pounds, which was the third result in the sales statistics of the artist. The work is interesting first of all that is done on the panels of carved mahogany. Bright, a significant work of art created at the height of the artist, is a successful investment funds, although the impression was soon acquired a collection of avid hunter. ARTIMX Artemov (Fig. 2) shows that prices for works by the artist are at 2007 levels, and their sharp rise in late 2009 due to the sale of the canvas loud « Nude with veil ».

Lover public Konstantin Somov this time was left unattended. No graphics or gouache did not attract buyers, although attempts to hold on to at least the lower estimate still had.

Unlike Christie's auction house Sotheby's has successfully sold some of the sixties. For example, over 42,000 pounds left an interesting metaphysical still life Krasnopevtseva , although some members of the art market were doubts about its authenticity, for 55,000 pounds was sold to a picture M. Schwartzman «Habitat." Unfortunately, a great investment work O. Tselkova «A woman with a candle" (estimate 60-80 thousand pounds) did not find a buyer.

transactions among the first session would also like to note, "Autumn Landscape» Brodsky , sold for 85,000 pounds at the bottom estimeyte 100,000," Delphiniums » I. Grabar for 150,000 pounds and the "abstract composition» A. Bogomazova 120 thousands of pounds.

second session, which opened after 2.5-hour break, began without much enthusiasm and was mediocre. More than half the lots were not sold, and the rest left within the estimate, with occasional bursts of fighting. The only serious interest in the majority of bidders led four sketches of scenery Alexandre Benois , two of which went to two times higher upper estimate, and the other two - in the estimeytov.