begin with sincere congratulations. No options: 73%of sales for the first time - a phenomenally good result. We had previously noted the high quality of the material but predicted care only at the level of 30-50%. And then won both. All's well that ends well.

While all started like a fool. This is the first in recent memory auction in which the public is not allowed to sit upon availability. Shortly before the start of trading security separated the spectators and journalists from customers, and for the most part - from people representing buyers. Anyone who signed up and took a numbered, moved into zagonchik-pit with chairs. And those who honestly outlined his intentions, carried out over the railing to watch and offered a standing ovation. It is, of course, I am not made of salt. But the public on the outside of the fence for a long time discussing a strange circus. Similarly epithets could not hear, but some rude people called for some reason this circus "gadskie." Well, that stood for an hour, the benefit of lots was little more than fifty. I do not know where the organizers have seen enough of this, but such practices in our latitudes are exotic. Compete with this can only "chudinka" another new auction house, which introduced a dress code for shoppers in the spirit of "no jacket can not be».

Photo by Vladimir Bogdanov , AI

However, this criticism in form but not in substance. And in fact Ovcharenko did it right. First, do not succumb to the temptation to thee, my God, that I was not unseemly, he exhibited the choicest things. Second, with few exceptions, put them at the right prices, cheaper than they were at foreign auctions. Third, invited friends of the gallery, old customers to image and wallets to support the first auction. Instead of relying on luck and some tricks (although it is for the first time could be forgiven). And this rate worked.

presses were a lot - is subjective, more than the last news shows "Sotheby's" and "Christie". Speculative interest.

situation, of course, is two-fold. At the rate on friends, by definition, lies the greater vulnerability. Yes, for the first time allowed everything and composure, and familiarity of the "Igor, 15000 is not the money. Igor, let's do the stakes. " But then as the system business is not scalable. It is necessary to set the task to go to a wide customer, not the cabal.

On the other hand - can be done differently and better? No. In this situation, everything was done correctly. The first auction need a success, but without the clumsy manipulation. The organizers sometimes think that you can catch up on the nominees girls 25 years of age who haphazardly mimic the purchase, and no one will notice. This is not the case. I Ovcharenko, in this sense it was a noble cause and without juggling. In the stalls sat the real collectors, which many know: Cukanov, Bondarenko, Aksenov, brooches, etc. The hall has bought about 10 people (that much). Bought even Sviblova. In fraud suspect no one can.

say that the auction was a mortal combat, ie fought to the death - is a stretch. Traded quietly, helped by a phlegmatic tone auctioneer (conducted himself Vladimir Ovcharenko). Someone had pougovarivat and weird, but it worked (on other auctions does not work). But somehow silently for an hour or sold 39 of 53 lots - 73%. The top three most expensive lots sold included paintings of the sixties Ivan Chuikov (Lot 16. 85,000 euros), Oleg Vasiliev (Lot 19. 80,000 euros) and Victor Pivovarova (Lot 29. 45,000 euros). In this work Chuikova left with almost two-fold excess of the estimate.

CHUIKOV IS No title. 1971 wood, hardboard, enamel. 80 x 57 VLADEY. May 23, 2013. Lot 16 Estimate: 50 000-70 000 euros Result: 85,000 euros Source: vladey.net

Vasiliev, OV Night road. 2001 Oil on canvas. 122 x 107 VLADEY. May 23, 2013. Lot 19 Estimate: 70 000-90 000 euros Result: 80,000 euros Source: vladey.net

BREWERS VD And so kazhdyĭ evening. 2009 Oil on canvas. 160 x 115 VLADEY. May 23, 2013. Lot 29 Estimate: 45 000-50 000 euros Result: 45,000 euros Source: vladey.net

record-holder is on exceeding the estimate was, apparently, Mamsikov . "Football" the young artist (lot 38) from the start about 1000 euros left for 6000. Itself, the availability of work on the last auction was Lot 52 - «Untitled» Oli Croitor for 600 euros.

All trading results can be found in our database and website www.vladey. net . The next auction will Ovcharenko in October on the same site, in the "Red October».

Vladimir Bogdanov, Konstantin Babulin, AI