The market of Russian classical works of art long ago, but in order to present his main investment advantages not too much

recently published an article by AI « 10 reasons to buy contemporary art ». Send a question: why only modern? We started with contemporary art because of classics, antiques, everything is obvious, "campaign" is not necessary. As lawyers this long-functioning market, in contrast to the market of contemporary art does not need. But to formulate another major investment merits of works of Russian classics is still not out of place. In contrast to the "Contemporary", for balance. So, agreeing that a classic in this article we will understand antiques (works more than 50 years) and the work of the sixties the first series, whose market is already operating almost at an antique rules, list of at least 10 reasons to buy the classics:

1. High definition investment , ie there is no risk to buy a dark horse. Antique artists are time-tested, their place in art history has been defined and the risk of "not guess" small. Investors who are prone to moderate risk, no need to wrestle with, how there will be a career artist, whether he will enter the textbooks, whether assessed by the professional community. All is clear.

2. The presence of sales history - reliable auction information . Even in the sixties of the first and second row there is a minimum three-five year history of sales in international auctions. All this allows the buyer and the seller rely on the price-argued, and not taken from the ceiling.

3. the current established market re-sales . For the market of contemporary art "repeat sales" - funny word. Bought in the gallery, used, and then again took on sale in the gallery - it's some exotic. But in antiques, on the contrary, a common practice. People are so doing. And antique dealers willing to accept work on commission, because of the normal time of possession (2-3 years) have time to significantly grow the price and you can start working again on the resale.

4. Availability of infrastructure expertise . Recent television horror stories have all been trained to treat the issue of authenticity is especially cherished. Five years too late, and nothing else. Today in the attribution of the situation is quite working, far from dramatic. The authenticity of the works of most of the first names can be confirmed by strong experts have earned the trust of the market. In Russia there is a formation of funds artists. The other day, for example, started fund Alexander Labasa . And this process is gaining momentum.

5. A well-developed information infrastructure. According to an antique artists published numerous books, monographs, catalogs. New collectors prepared a huge field of exciting original research. Read a book about the artist, looking at his work on the wall, a very special pleasure.

6. Entrainment of status. Buyer antiques in contrast to the collector of modern art deliberately gets into a more comfortable atmosphere. Owner of the classics do not need to prove anything to his guests, to defend their choice to teach visitors the language of contemporary art. Classics of the fact and the classics that will not cause the unprepared people are no embarrassing questions. Buying antiques in our latitudes, which is cunning, a respectable occupation, stressing the status of the owner. If contemporary art is on the bottom edge is available, for example, young professionals, the antique budgets - it is tens and hundreds of thousands of dollars.

7. Resistance to the manifestations of the crisis. There was a moment of euphoria, when it seemed that the art market crisis will not affect. But no, the crisis has affected everyone - but said differently. Classics, but the actual work of the highest quality, have proved far more high stability in a period of financial instability. Antiques less sunk in value, and upscale work and does have good box office at the auctions.

8. There is an opportunity to discover new names of the second and third row, enter into new areas of active turnover. Let place in the history of art have already been identified, but a chance to transplant someone from the third row of the second is even possible. Perhaps a combination of business with pleasure: interesting work on the promotion, which gives a lot of information events, but still allows, if desired to monetize the increasing role of the artist through a rise in prices for its work. Research and implementation of antique exhibitions traditionally fall into the area of press attention and cameras. And this is again a transition to step 6.

9. Higher absolute profits. the antiques market of high-operate with budgets. And the growth in percentage, which occurs with a high initial base, provides an important figure in the money. For example, an antique work worth 200 thousand dollars add 25%per year. In the money is obtained, plus 50 thousand dollars. Work of contemporary art, worth 20 thousand dollars, which will add let those same 25%will only 5,000 dollars in profits - about 10 times smaller. That is, to obtain the same profit to the investor in the contemporary art have to operate a fleet of ten pieces instead of one antique. Ceteris paribus. On the one hand, the high price of admission narrows the range of consumers. And on the other - asset management becomes easier and more predictable.

10. Versatility and comfort of ownership. In practice, many people versed in the art simply can not tolerate aggressive good modern art. At the level of optics. May even love him and understand, but coexist with it - no. Emotional charge, who are looking for one, completely unsettle others. Some are looking at the art of thrills, and others - finding inner comfort and coziness. Just for the past antiques, classics - a natural choice. And in general, more universal. Do you know many people who can not tolerate the classics?

In general, over a range of factors, antiques (especially in Russia), certainly much more suitable for investment with a predictable risk. Objectivity price predictability, higher liquidity are attracted to collecting antiques is quite pragmatic people. The overall investment attractiveness - is not the eleventh reason to buy a classic?

Vladimir Bogdanov, AI