13-14 March 2008 Stockholm auction house held one of two annual auctions of Russian, which was sold for a total of 8 800 000 euro. The now traditional (even though they are outside the «Russian Week» and far from major centers of commerce auction) auctions of Russian art have confirmed the continued interest in the works of classical Russian school, such as paintings by Konstantin Makovsky and Ivan Aivazovsky, as well as the works of jewelry Faberge.

Perhaps the main feature of recent trades was that they were the first result of cooperation with the auction house expert in Russian art by Martin Sanders-Rawlings (Martin Saunders-Rawlings), collaborated with a lot of Sotheby `s and Bonham` s as well as Ivan Samarin, director of the Resource Center of Russian art in London. This expansion «Russian Division» Stockholm auction house, of course, reflects the ambitious plans to compete «Russian Trading», held in London and New York.

According to the level of works presented at auction, it is the last bid to compete with auction houses Sotheby's and Christie's: among the top lots were represented by several works Aivazovsky, Konstantin Makovsky unknown painting, works Sychkova, Malyavina, Kustodiev , Jakovleva Watercolor Surikov, as well as a number of works of Soviet unofficial art - the work of the sixties Krasnopevtseva, Zvereva and Unknown.

Arsenii Meshersky. A boat from the shore. 138 000 euros

The main event at the last bid was the appearance of paintings by Konstantin Makovsky «Mother and daughter», sold over 790 000 euros, more than twice estimeyt picture (320 000 euros). This work is one of the most popular Russian salon painters still had not been known to researchers or the artist or collector. She was in a private collection, Sweden (Stockholm) from 60-ies of the XIX century, and only a few months before tendering its owner contacted the auction house, wishing to sell the picture and expecting to get for it only about 30 000 euro. In the catalog description of this lot was accompanied by a lengthy article Elena Nesterova, the author of a recent book on Constantine Makovsky (St. Petersburg, 2003).

sensation of the auction in terms of precedent has been taking care of sales unexpectedly high price of two Russian seascape landscapes Prince Arseniy Meshersky found in the attic at home in Norway, personally, Ivan Samarin (works were sold for 117 and 138 thousand euros).

Otherwise, the outcome of trades can be considered legitimate: Landscapes Aivazovsky went for an average of half a million euros (a small, but a classic story and execution of marine species «The scene in the Turkish Bank» was sold for 468 000 euro, and a great landscape «Winter wagon in the Ukrainian steppe», with the not-too-typical of the artist's subject, had reached 520 000 euro).

From the works of decorative art, the struggle to have occurred on the second day of trades, traditionally the most expensive Faberge works were: a statuette of a group of three puppies (170 000) and silver desk clock, inlaid with enamel, the wizard Henrik Wigström (128 000 euros). Also, for 128 000 euro went decorated with gold and enamel snuffbox of the main rival of Carl Faberge, St. Petersburg jeweler Carl Hahn.

Manufacturer Carl Faberge St. Petersburg. A group of three puppies. 170 000 euros

unofficial art works of Dmitri Krasnopevtseva, Anatoly Zverev, and Ernst Neizvestny more can be purchased at an auction on the Stockholm relatively low (compared to the works of Russian artists of the XIX century) prices. Thus, the picture Krasnopevtseva gone for 71 000 euro ( «Still Life with Flower») and 38 000 euro ( «Kubisticheskaya composition»). Graphics Zvereva, executed in mixed media and typical master expressive manner, be sold in a range from 1.5 to 5 thousand euro (the most interesting work, «Cyclists» reached 5 300 euro). Regarding graphics sculptor Ernst Neizvestny, these lots were sold for 3 200 and 4 800 Euro.

• «Cyclists» Anatoly Zverev was sold for 5 300 euro
  

According to the representatives of the Stockholm auction house, has already begun preparations for the next, autumn, «Russian» auction. Given that countries in Scandinavia and Northern Europe is still a lot of works of Russian art, the demand for which is steadily growing, the success of the following trades do not have doubt.

Source: http://www.auktionuosverket.se/