Contacting antique gallery - this is one of the most comfortable option for the buyer, not a risky sverhvygody seeker. In contrast, the same auction purchases are made in a less bustling mode, there is a time to reflect, consult and bargain. In addition, the fact held on the purchase relationship with the gallery, as a rule, does not end there. That is, once when the subject is suitable for "ripening period", the buyer will know where to go for resale. However, in order to make this scenario come true, a certain caution in the selection of galleries.

Tips ARTinvestment.RU, traditionally made in a series of questions and answers that will help you be more vigilant and balanced approach to purchasing .

What are the sources and how to evaluate a class picture?

a) Visit Russian Antique interior and /or meet with his documents

With rare exceptions, the strongest antique galleries twice a year participate in the Antique Salon - the main show of our market. This already implies the property and organizational requirement: participation in the Salon are quite expensive and requires continuous system operation. In the central zone of the most prestigious Salon anyhow who did not take, there are filters in addition to cash. The right to exhibit it must be earned. Therefore, the "ephemeral" and galleries with a reputational system lesions on the second floor of the Salon, usually does not happen. Find a list of galleries - participants Antique shops and top-sheets (participants and experts) can Salons on Forum AI (on the official website of the Antiquarian Salon them in the best traditions not found). In the top list of participants pay attention to the range: the fact that the normal picture is a specialization (usually coinciding with the expert profile of the owner). If the range of galleries like the flea market, when, together with proposed XIX century and modern art icon, it should alert the buyer's true: the gallery is taken for all. Top experts, which lists the best work of this salon and gallery, which they exhibit, - a good guideline for selecting a possible partner.

In addition, the archive site Salon You can view a list of galleries that have received certificates for their projects - also a definite confirmation of the class . Finally, the buyer should determine whether a member of the gallery MKAAD - International Confederation of antique and art dealers in Russia and CIS ( a list of members MKAAD ). Why does it matter? The fact that accession to the Confederation of the gallery again, have to go through a network of reputation filters. So it's also a certain indicator of its level. The rest of the class are clear criteria for the level of common sense: how many years there is a gallery, in a suitable room is located, if the seller owns the material on your topic or "floats" on the issue. The latter quickly becomes clear in a conversation.

b) Check the gallery on the Internet

Practice antique market is such that Internet will help us, probably poorly, although neglect this source of information is not necessary. Gallery is not an insurance company or tour operator about the awkward "situations" that people are willing to tell the Web. His disagreements with galleries clients are reluctant to share, the public can not stand the dirt, so the reputation of the gallery on the Internet does not squeeze out a lot. To order, of course, try to "punch" through the reviews of the gallery search on our AI , but is unlikely to find something disturbing or laudatory. Trouble with galleries, even in anonymous mode rarely discussed.

It is believed that an objective indicator of the level of the gallery is the state of her official site. This is often the case. But not always. In practice, in Russia, even in quite respectable galleries too often disgrace or half-dead sites. Qualitative updated site - it's very good. And if the gallery is also published on the website prices, it at least suggests that it carries a clear sensible pricing policy, and not put a price depending on the client's wealth. Unfortunately, the Russian art dealers rarely make public their financial offers, but ARTinvestment.RU believes that it is only a matter of time .

De facto, the only thing that can be checked via the Internet - is involved in the Antique Salon and membership in MKAAD, as discussed above.

Although there is another side of gallery activities, which support the Network will be very useful - the exhibition and their own group. Even if the picture is not of the site, the information on its exhibitions for several years will be found. Look subject exposures (mainstream or random), if the exhibitions were catalogs or other publications about them will also be mentioned. Here - as in the case with the publication of prices: not all decent picture put up, but if this information is - it is very good.

How to recognize unfair gallery? What should be alerted?

Fair unleashes gallery is not around the fog. Suspect is the lack of information about it online (participation in fairs, exhibitions, etc.), the absence of an exact address and landline phone (cell only). Hurry and bustle to create a normal gallery would not be. Mode "Soon, soon" - a convincing reason to guard. Very strange if gallery requires money up front and immediately.

in good galleries are relatively expensive items are often accompanied by expert opinions. The potential buyer is not just his show, but will make a copy (so that the buyer has contacted an expert - everything is understood.) If we say that the conclusion is, but do not show - so dark. Why - is understandable. Incidentally, in the class of the document to the buyer will also have to understand: that the expert was credible, but concluded it was very fresh. Securities can not blindly believe, unfortunately, a lot goes on the market "drawn" and compromised opinions. And certainly, the alarm should be activated if the gallery refuses to review the work at your location.

Must a gallery to provide expert advice on selling things?

Formally, no obligation. But expensive things without a reliable expert opinion today does not sell - so that the gallery with a reputation for providing a set of papers and creates favorable conditions for the buyer who wants to make his examination. The work of the initial price range, for which the expertise to make economically feasible, the gallery is usually accompanied by proper certificate. It is issued on the letterhead of the gallery contains a complete description of the purchased work (photos, dimensions, year of creation, provenance, etc.) and confirmed its authenticity.

As usual, the question is if the buyer wants to make his examination before buying things in the gallery?

According to established practice for things mid-range buyer the full amount of leaves and takes the job with the condition of the possibility of return over what- a short period. Usually it is a week. This time is enough to consult with the experts, whom he trusts. In the case of more expensive works gallery is not ready to give the work a long time, but ready to give it up for examination in the Grabar Institute, or in the center of the Tretyakov in his own name.

How to check the adequacy of the discussion with gallery prices?

's what the gallery, there was a possibility that when he returned home, quiet to think and make an informed decision. You can try independently assess the work of art with the base ARTinvestment.RU . Not to the penny, but the order to determine the price certainly will. The fact that similar work in Russia, more than auctions overseas, should not be surprising. Beyond the Sea heifer - mite, but the road transportation. Actually, this is often the business of galleries: searching for and buying products abroad and sell at a premium here.

What guarantees the buyer a right to expect from the gallery?

Gallery is to ensure the authenticity of the certificate of conformity and its gallery, and a full refund when an inconsistency of the certificate.

Can after a certain period of ownership prior to return to the gallery bought the work for resale?

Yes, respectable gallery may at any time to take the job for resale at a bargain price. By the way, this time it is advisable to discuss another phase of deciding on a purchase. This is also evidence of a class picture. Normal gallery willing to go to meet their customers. They do not like the other: when the buyer "changed his mind" and demands to return the collateral in the transaction.

As usual today, the question is if a buyer for some reason decided to return to work gallery? For example, in the case of "got sick»?

Here it is necessary to separate motives. If the reason for return in the detection of problems with authenticity, we do not have options. Normal gallery is obliged to return the money. If the work is simply lose one's attraction to the buyer after the purchase, return the money is not obliged to gallery. But in this case, respecting the gallery can go forward. For example, offer to leave the work to implement in the gallery or in some cases exchanged for another job. However, here we are not talking about the duties, it is a voluntary gallery.

Compliance with safety precautions and knowledge of the customs gallery allows the buyer to make secure transactions, protect yourself from future headaches and not to remain a One of the problems. In this main recommendation ARTinvestment.RU remains the same: if there were any doubt better to abandon the purchase. Remember that it is always better to overpay for the very high quality item than "advantageous" to buy a questionable work in a strange place.

Vladimir Bogdanov, AI