Towards the antique shops. Repeat tips for beginners
ARTinvestment.RU   15 октября 2012

Is there a point to attend a beginner collectors Antique Salon? And how! Without euphoria, reasonable and balanced - but it is one of the best ways to get into the spirit of the antique market and get to know some rules of the game

From 20 to 28 October in the CHA will be 33rd Antique Salon - our main show of antique galleries.

In what circumstances is opened the current salon? Objectively, the crisis in our art market is not over, but it is gradually getting better. In particular, ARTinvestment.RU can attest to the growth of consumer activity. And this is perhaps the most important indicator of the industry, on which the price movement. How do we know? We visit almost all the important auctions in Moscow and see: if last year the rate of sales in the auction was about 30%, but this year - already 40-50%. This opens new auctions and increases the density of trading on the exchanges have been working.

What else is good? This year, I recall, had set a world auction record for Russian art market both abroad and in Russia. "There" a new record updated native Russian Empire Mark Rothko Mark with the result of the beyond $ 89 million, and the record was held in Moscow sale of works Igor Grabar and Nikolai Fechin - both at 36 million rubles. In general, according to statistics, a thousand dollars invested in the Russian segment of the art in 2011, in 2012, became in 1348 dollars. This figure takes into account the spectacular sale of Russian art in Russia and abroad. Part of it is dispersed with record sales of masterpieces - that is, if you take the sale only in Russia, the statistics will be less impressive.

What else to add to the current characteristics of the market? Yes, that's at least what our antique industry long ago (pah-pah, touch wood) is not shaken by any scandals. Have not heard about any falshaki, nor about the other negative. All key galleries continue to work. Some of the smaller rolled activities, but these "loud" reformatting, as in neighboring segments of modern art - not even in sight.

world situation also favors the gallery owner. In the past, the world's fair TEFAF, ArtBasel and Frieze were marked record attendance - more than 200,000 people (Deloitte and ArtTactic). Return on investment in art grew all the last five years with a small break in the crisis. It is at times outpaced the return on the stock market. In the past year, according to our calculations, a thousand dollars invested in the segment of the world of art has evolved over the year in 1210 dollars.

Does it make sense to attend a beginner collectors Antique Salon? And how! Without euphoria, it is reasonable and prudent, but it is one of the best ways to get into the spirit of the antique market. In general, all their tips for novice collectors and investors in the complex gave ARTinvestment.RU article "Russian Antique Salon. Instructions for Use ». Rules of the game since then has not changed. In fact, to add or improve. Therefore, it makes sense only to repeat our previous recommendation, abridged:

Do try to get to the antique shops, galleries after work all year round?

necessary. It is to the antique shops leading galleries are trying to reserve their new, masterpieces and most interesting work. Collectors come to the Salon just to see first nezasvechennye things. In normal times, these are stored in the gallery "closed fund", do not set up in the main hall and guard for "their". In addition, the salon - it's a rare chance to talk with about fifty of the leading galleries in a single platform. To bypass alone Moscow galleries at their permanent address, you need about a month. Not surprisingly, no one is doing - collectors cherish power and save money for the Salon.

true that at antique shops prices are higher than at the usual time

It happens. But in general, the fact that in the Salon Gallery stupid bully the price - it is rather a myth. Another thing is that in the Salon Gallery trying to show the best, and masterpieces in short supply, and because they are usually made for "premium for quality." If people do not understand, they may mistake to compare prices on a completely different class of work, even if the same author. And was surprised that the prices "Zadran».

Also in Salon common practice when gallerists Beauty (for increased exposure) hang masterpieces that do not intend to sell. Because I do not want to. For example, the work of his own personal collection. That's just things like that can be installed fabulous "prohibitive" prices - to scare away customers. And ignorant people can make wrong conclusions.

true that a lot of fakes in the Salon?

Such Today most cases are rare, and the chance to meet with a fake antique shops is much less than the market in general. The fact is that for several years the organizers of a policy of "purity ranks." Advance, even before the opening of the cabin, stands bypasses the advisory council, which experts may be required to remove fake or questionable things. And at the galleries themselves have long been some "self-censorship" - who today want any trouble and a bad reputation?

Here, it is important to consider that all of the above to the second floor - there is quite reliable: the status galleries, expensive rent and you can go relatively smoothly. But on the third floor of the need to keep your eyes open. The situation is like a "nest": there is no rigorous selection and often met phony "Zverev" and "Yakovlev" in stock.

Should I trust top list Antique Salon

Watching what. They have two. Appears first Top of participants Antique Salon. This list is known as the rule, even before the opening. Its mission - to advertising. Galleries include in it the most striking things to attract the attention of the public, "deals" at its discretion. It's their choice, and only. This list is quite suitable as a guide for the first day in order to quickly "run" on a potential masterpiece. But on the third or fourth day there is much more significant Top Expert Council. This is the choice of artists and experts - they tend to pay attention to things not flashy, but rare and valuable for the history of art. This top list is far more important.

Which days is better to schedule a visit Antique Salon?

Depends of your tasks. The day before the official opening of the Salon organizers arrange VIP-show. Formally, guests have the opportunity to visit the exposition a little earlier than the rest. Does this mean that all the fun is the official opening will receive a "red dot"? It is highly unlikely. Should not be afraid.

By experience, the opening day and first weekend means for the visitor parking problems and confusion in the stands. Gallery owners themselves are working rhythm, will close with the prices. The opening and the first weekend of valuable because in the stands galleries probably will attend their first persons who during the week you can not always catch. On weekdays, the Salon is usually calm reigns - a good time to communicate in a calm atmosphere.

How to find out the prices for the Salon?

In most cases, prices will have to ask the representatives of the gallery on the stand. No need to be shy. Normal gallerists these issues are not just not bother - they are waiting for them. On the contrary, even upset, if the visitor is modest - say, "bad, even they do not ask the price».

But the practice of price lists and price lists public until it caught on. I must say that almost all the galleries have price lists for internal use - they are reconciled with them, but the visitors did not show. Probably because the initial price may be adjusted depending on the situation of the Salon. The initial price is usually laid "play" on the auction, but it's like everywhere. When bargaining for discounts such as 30 percent expect hardly worth it, but 10-15 percent - really.

Can you see the antique shops in the works neantikvarnyh artists - for example, the work of the sixties?

Under the rules of the Salon, can participate in the work over 50 years, that is, get started until 1962. But the rule is not strictly enforced. Therefore put on the salon nonconformists big problem there.

Can the Internet for prices at the Salon?

On the official website of the Salon price not. And in other sources - is problematic. But what exactly can you expect - it's our photos with prices. Operational information is published online forum.artinvestment.ru , and Randomness antique shops - for example, report from the previous Salon - keep records on the number of visits .

How to check the price, called the Salon? Expensive or not?

One way - see static sales of comparable works in the database ARTinvestment.RU. To learn how to do this in detail in the article «How to independently assess the product with ARTinvestment.RU» .

advisable today to invest in antiques or makes sense to consider other market segments?

Alternatives to be considered is always useful. However, be aware that it is now an antique key focus segment cash flow and collected most of the actual buyers. Speaking about the Russian art market, we have so far only antique trade relies on a stable system of repeat sales. Here the objective price not confirmed opinion gallerist, and the real deal to resell specific products.

go by car or subway?

Not so long ago, CHA chop off a large piece of parking - the part that was before the new Tretyakov Gallery. Entry there is now a pass. In addition, more than once in a weekend at the main parking lot near the CHA conducted unauthorized rallies. As it was at Art Moscow, for example. In such cases, the entrance to the parking at all close, leading to a collapse. So during the week, and you can drive, but the risk of getting stuck in the output with parking too long.

Vladimir Bogdanov, AI
Photo by the author, 2012