< p class = "mat2"> at the conference "The Future of an auction in Russia: the French experience" in the arcade French guests arrived at the invitation of the "Russian auction house" (RAD). Director General of RAD, Andrey Stepanenko at the beginning of the conversation has announced that he heads a public company with the participation of Sberbank in the near future is going to form the Confederation of Russian auction houses. Among the many ambitious goals of future union - lobbying changes in legislation, including the liberalization of import-export procedures. And just at the planning stage, it became worthwhile to learn from foreign colleagues from SYMEV - National Syndicate of auction houses in France. What has been very helpful.

Looking ahead, the French liked. The format did not provide for sharing of experiences, rather it was a tight course of lectures, but at the same time - no snobbery, missionary and instructive intonation turned out quite good and frank talk about money, personnel, cost, expertise, internal market issues.

And what can there be a sharing of experience? Our countries are not comparable either in infrastructure or in the tradition of the auction trade. In France, the auction system was established in the XVI century, the monarchy is almost a monopoly. And do not say that for four years, its logic somehow changed dramatically. Now the country has about 400 auction houses (half of them - members of the syndicate). And the potential of upgrading their shows, in particular, the statistics given by President SYMEV Herve Shayettom: only 46 percent of French auctions have their own websites and only 14 percent exercise on-line sales.

In Russia on rough estimates, there are about 30 auctions, of which only 5 are working on a regular basis, and the rest spend more situational bidding. On the degree of connectedness we learn nothing from the French: sites in varying degrees, fitness is all Russian houses. But France gives another invaluable experience - a living example of what to bring tight custody of the state. To its credit ratings, they did not gloss over the French situation. Monsieur Shayett, recalled that in 1950 France ranked first in the world by auction turnover. Country has historically been an auction superpower. But after half a century artificially favorable conditions (the state protected its market from competition from the "Sotheby's, Christie"), France slid to 4th place in the world. Its high tax burden and complex legislation, which creates excessive burden on business, have become European byword. As a result, as told Herve Shayett in England now sell 20 times more Picasso and Matisse, as in France. A "Sotheby's, Christie's," now go on weakening of the European auction market as bulldozers.

Realizing the danger of the situation, the French were forced to make substantial liberalization of the market. I hope I have correctly understood by interpretation, that from 1 September 2011, under the new law of auction activity in France, any person having a degree can open the auction house without special permission. Trading platforms, the new rules, will be able to sell not only used but also new things, expand the range of positions, admitted to trading. The hammer will go even property rights. They say that will sell everything - right down to the domain name. Wholesale and retail.

But the famous French droit (drouit de suite, the obligation to pay interest on the amount of the transaction artist or his successors in public resale of works) is not going anywhere. Although, as they say, and because of him, including many worthy things "run away" for sale in the U.S.. "Royalties" up to 3 percent (it uses a clever scale, but not more than 12.5 thousand euros) rely only artists from the EU. That is, in particular, the Russian these benefits do not apply. However, if the "neevropeets" lived in the EU five years, it is possible to secure a right. Ironically, the droit de suite, designed to give authors do not remain in poverty, protect the artists mostly been successful, established. Because of the work cheaper than Euro 7500 contributions are not made.

From the practical work of the usual French auction participants familiarized Claude Agyut - Managing Director of a well-known auction company in Russia Aguttes. 27 people involved in his state, manage to spend about 3 trades a week (on-site Hotel Drouot, which serves up to 6000 customers on a daily basis). At the antiques "Agyut" earns 18-20 per cent profit, and on contemporary art - 10-12 percent. Recipe for success - specialization in the middle segment, the flow of inexpensive things, plus a massive advertising. And the ads do not give a fashion, but it is applied orientation. For example, in the original newspaper Drouot take on 10 pages the price of 1,500 euros each. On each page can hold about 100 descriptions of objects. And that advertising works. In addition, they effectively give the advertisement in the American press - the ocean is also very zhaluyut nerazoritelnye French bid.

lot of emotions aroused by the Russian participants of Jean-Michel Renard, President of the French National Chamber of experts and specialists ( Perhaps because the still fresh in the memory of the scandals with the book and catalog Bazetu Parton). Himself an expert on expensive musical instruments, Renard told a lot about the tradition of expertise in his country: according to him, in France, any man who calls himself an expert, is a professional responsibility and must provide a guarantee. And all this seriously, because in conflict situations, the French courts often side with the buyer, and to the verbal tricks are strict. We have both done? Go excuses: "It was just my opinion, I was wrong and do not in deeds." A French expert opinion assumes its responsibility. Under French law, the examination should be insured for 5 years and an expert jointly and severally liable to the auctioneer. And if a private examination, the period of insurance (if I understood correctly) is increased to 25 years. Not surprisingly, experts, practitioners are forced to buy expensive enough insurance coverage. For example, a person working with expensive musical instruments, insurance can cost about EUR 10 000 per year (depending on the package of insurance services). But there's an insurance payout and the case could reach several million. But if the judge made three errors, the fourth time it just no one will insure. In this sense, the system regulates itself at the level of insurance companies and do not need any "list MKAAD," as we do.

Curiously, 99 percent of the experts in France - is not museum workers, as We, as practitioners merchants. French museum workers are reluctant to engage the expertise, because they often do not understand the prices. A judge normally performs the function of the appraiser.

Obviously, the Russian-French event, except education, was also a marketing goal. So, November 26, 2011 was originally from St. Petersburg "Russian auction house" will hold its first auction in Moscow. So that the guests of the conference was an opportunity to assess new luxury auction site in the arcade, which is really impressive. It seemed that even the French have envied. EDA began working with art recently (he's basically been successfully involved in real estate). Over the past year, "Russian auction house" only twice held the auctions with antiques, the total revenue which amounted to EUR 2.5 million. Down and Out the trouble started. On the other hand, the auction starts later, the less he has chronic diseases and reputational encumbrances. Still, the market is now much more civilized, you can work on a new qualitative level, in accordance with the principle of "take care of the honor in his youth».

Abstracts of the conference recorded by Vladimir Bogdanov, AI
photo graphy Constantine and Babulina, AI