Boris Kustodiev painting sold at Christie's for $ 3 million, was included in the “Directory fakes”
ARTinvestment.RU   09 мая 2009

Experts State Tretyakov Gallery, State Russian Museum and VHNRTS them. Grabar acknowledged the work of false

last month released Rosohrankultura next, fifth volume «top fakes». Tuda includes 900 works of art, 100 of which were not mentioned in previous editions. One of the major unpleasant surprises was the inclusion in the catalog pictures «odalisque», attributed Boris Boris Kustodiev . In November 2005, this work became the top-fathomable «Russians bid» Christie's. When estimeyte 180-220 thousand pounds sterling, it had 1.69 million (2.93 million dollars for the then exchange rate).

According to the publisher's «top fakes» Vladimir Roshchina, there is no doubt that «odalisque» is false. This was confirmed by specialists of the State Tretyakov Gallery, State Russian Museum and VHNRTS them. Grabar, as well as the independent expert Vladimir Petrov.

In the Christie's auction catalog says that «odalisque» was written by a famous artist in 1919. It is a sign in Cyrillic «Kustodiev B., 1919.». The basis for the painting of the legend, as a charcoal drawing of 1915 «was uncovered». The first owner was a kind of canvas Maskovsky Leo, who lived in the 1920's in the Baltic.

Representatives of Christie's said that they were aware of the examination center Grabar, Vladimir Petrov, but in order to cancel the transaction, they need to conduct its own examination. But so far, they said, to keep painting them.

Auction House gives customers a guarantee of 5 years. If during that time, two experts recognize the product of false and their conclusions will be approved by the buyer and Christie's, then the money paid for the work will be returned.

In «Catalog of fakes» joined another job, sold at Christie's, - landscape «Winter sun in the pine forest», presumably written by the artist Andrew Shilderom . Landscape has been sold for 8.5 thousand pounds at the tender held in July 2000. Shortly after the auction of the new owner is in doubt as to the authenticity of the painting, and he turned to the experts. 30 May 2001 Christie's sale annulled.

Other falshivok - «Summer fishing on Forest Lake» Ostroukhov , sold at Sotheby's in May 2002. Representatives of the auction house said that over the attribution of the painting to him, no one asked.

The problem facing the majority of counterfeit dealers of Russian art. «Every month, I asked to see the 10 paintings and 9 of them are false - lamenting the London dealer James Batteruik (James Butterwick). - Many Russian collectors shop, no consultation with competent experts. If the work is credible, then it has provenans that you can easily check ».

Many of the works «top fakes» - «turned» picture of the Western European artists of XIX century. Some pictures of Russian realist it is difficult to distinguish from the canvases of their foreign counterparts - artists follow the same trends, even studied under the same masters, so the experts make mistakes in the attribution. Sam compiled directory Vladimir Petrov in 2005 reported that 20 false calls authentic paintings. He urged his colleagues not to ashamed to acknowledge their errors.

Representatives of the Moscow Confederation of antique and art dealers have stated that the directory «destabilize the market» and «undermine confidence customers».

Material prepared Yulia Maksimova, AI

Source: bloomberg.com , artinvestment.ru