Correction in prices in the highest segment of the art market began
ARTinvestment.RU   07 ноября 2008

5 and 6 November in New York were trading works by Impressionist and Modern Christie's, the results are impressive not call. It sold a lot of work, but almost all have gone for an amount not below the lower limits of estimeytov

5 November in New York was held auctions of works of the Impressionists and modernists from the collections of Rita Hillman (Rita Hillman) and Alice Lawrence (Alice Lawrence). The results of the trading is not pleased: they had only 47 million dollars, with estimeyte at 102-149 million. However, in the past few weeks, the outcome of such tender no surprise. Remember auctioned Impressionist and Modern Sotheby's November 3 , the results of which are not reached the lower limit of estimeyta. We can say that now the auction houses Transition: estimeyty and reserve prices are still very high, but buyers are not willing to part with such huge sums. For auction November 5 Christie's started training during the summer, when the art boom was still in full swing, but now the situation on the market quite different. The fact that the organizers of the auctions will have to adjust to the current economic situation is already not in doubt.

At the two auctions were exhibited 58 works of art. Top-lot sale of the collection Hillman was to be painting by Claude Monet (Claude Monet) «Girl on bench», estimeyt which was 18 million dollars. But no one is interested in this canvas. Auction organizers hoped that the meeting Hillman will bring 87 million dollars, but the results were disappointing - only 28 million. The majority of works were sold well below estimeytov. The most expensive piece has become a mysterious painting by Giorgio de Chirico (Giorgio de Chirico) «metaphysical composition», pushed for 6.1 million dollars at the bottom estimeyte to 6 million. This canvas is very decent provenans: first it belonged to the artist dealer Paul Guillaume (Paul Guillaume), after its owners were some famous artists and writers, including Paul Elyuar (Paul Éluard). Scene de Chirico became one of the few lots, several interested buyers.

Of course, at first glance the situation seems quite frightening, but it is actually not so bad. Buyers at the auction is Lot 41 of 58 - that is left unsold just 29 percent of products that the current situation very well. Many did, and left the auction room in high spirits, because they were able to прикупить very nice product, but still at a relatively low price. Catch at Christie's was really a lot. For example, someone was able to buy «Portrait of Henri Noka» painted by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec) for only 4,45 million dollars, with estimeyte 6 million. London dealer Houi Libby (Libby Howie) has acquired two works on paper: «The three naked women» Pablo Picasso (Pablo Picasso) of 578.5 thousand dollars (estimeyt 0,7-1 million dollars) and «Model» Henri Matisse (Henri Matisse ) of 362.5 thousand (estimeyt 600-900 thousand). A dealer from New York Benrimon David (David Benrimon) bought «Still life with fruit basket» Marriage Georges (Georges Braque) of 842.5 thousand dollars (estimeyt 1,2-1,8 million) and «Woman and bird in the sun» Joan Miro (Joan Miró) for 2.1 million (estimeyt 2,5-3,5 million). He also acquired the gouache «Empire Light» Rene Magritte (René Magritte), one of the few works outside estimeyt. It has been estimated at 2-3 million dollars, and paid for it Benrimon entire 3.5 million. This too can be called a bargain: according to the dealer six months ago, gouache would cost 4 million. In fact, 3.5 million - a record for the graphic works of Magritte.

Other bids were devoted to works from the Collection of Alice Lawrence, and it all looks bad. The works of its collections were estimated at 44-66 million dollars, but had only about 19 million. The major setback was the failure of the bidding picture Mark Rothko «№ 43 (Lilac)», estimated at 30 million dollars. Lawrence bought the work at Sotheby's auction in 1988, paying a 1.5 million. They say that one reason for the failure of the picture was that it was dark. Almost all the canvases Rothko, bringing to auction tens of millions of dollars, done in bright colors. Among other works, is not found a buyer - picture of Alberto Giacometti (Alberto Giacometti), metal sculpture by John Chamberlain (John Chamberlain) and Willem de Kuninga Figure (Willem de Kooning). That works from the collection of Lawrence Christie's has given a guarantee, obviously, does not add to the auction house a good mood.

6 November held another tender pieces of Impressionist and Modern . Before estimeyta again dotyanuli (146.7 million during the preliminary assessment 240,7-337,2 million), but overall it looks better. At least, the auction house is not lost on safeguards. All six lots, which had been given assurances, found buyers. At the auction were exhibited 82 works, of which 36 remain unsold. However, 46 of those that did were purchased, 27 have excess of one million dollars. «It is still warm life in the market», - encouraging the auction house said Edward Dolman (Edward Dolman) after the auction.

The most important success of the auction was a masterpiece GRIS, Juan (Juan Gris) «This book, glasses and tube», sold for 20.8 million dollars at estimeyte 12,5-18,5 million. He bought the New York dealer Franck Giraud (Franck Giraud). The crisis of crisis, a picture similar to this work GRIS appear at auction is very uncommon. For the picture fought several buyers. «This shows that the market is smart, - said Giraud - [despite the crisis. - Ed. ] rare thing many want to buy. And if the thing is not unique, then you can wait until it becomes cheaper ». Cloth «book, glasses and tube» was the most expensive paintings ever sold at public auction.

Other sverhdorogie paintings, «Study for Improvisation number 3» Vasily Kandinsky and «Two figures (Marie-Therese and her sister reading) »were sold for the bone: The first - for 16.8 million (estimeyt 15-20 million), second - for 18 million (estimeyt 18-25 million). But «Three-reaching Rights I» Giacometti had only 11 million, although it is expected that they would go for 14-18 million. Although it is too well: since they can not buy.

«Obviously, the prices have changed - said auctioneer Christopher Berdzh (Christopher Burge). - You should be very foolish to have not seen».

Material prepared Yulia Maksimova

Sources: bloomberg.com , artinfo.com , artknowledgenews.com , artinvestment.ru