Due to the harsh climate on the eve of Russian sales, which will be held April 23, 2010, the system of the online auction Christie's LIVE ™ will work in active mode to receive bids and bids from buyers from Russia.

Christie's is the only auction house, allowing its customers to participate in the bidding through the Internet. The system of Christie's LIVE ™ was launched into operation in July 2006. Year by year, the bidding over the internet with Christie's LIVETM continues to attract large numbers of people. Thus, in 2009 30%of all applications and 14%of the winning bids were made using the Internet. The number of people who have purchased works of art through the Internet increased by 40%compared to 2008. In 2009, the result of sales through Christie's LIVE ™ has made 68,4 million dollars (43.5 million pounds in view of the commission), was adopted 49 343 applications. Also in 2009, Christie's produced its own application on the I-phone .

By 2009, the number of people registering to bid through Christie's LIVE ™, has increased by 105%compared with the first half of 2008, and the number of sales through the system increased by 41%. In 2009, the number of potential customers to place bets via Christie's LIVE ™ was 24%of the total. The number of potential buyers to place bets via Christie's LIVE ™, a quarterly increase of 32%. The number of potential buyers to place bets via Christie's LIVE ™, increases substantially, particularly in categories such trades as the interior design trades, circulation graphics, clocks, picture, and wine.

Today the most expensive lot sold through the Internet, is Stradivarius violin "Penny", pushed under the hammer for 1.1 million dollars in April 2008 and acquired by an unknown buyer from Russia.

Auction Christie's «Russian Art" are decorative arts and paintings from the XVII to XXI Century

auctions Christie's «Russian Art" will be held April 23, 2010 in New York and will present collectors a wide selection of works relating to the history of Russian art from the XVIII century to the present. Imperial presentation silver plate, decorated with enamel, made in the studio PF Sazikov, headed by an impressive section of the 210 Russian decorative and applied arts, which will be presented with a cloisonne enamel ware and more than 60 brands of Faberge works. In 2009, the Department of Christie's in New York took a 60%market share of Faberge in the U.S.. In the section of painting XIX - XXI centuries leading fabric Konstantin Makovsky «return from a walk».

• Imperial presentation dish of silver, decorated with enamel. Diameter 44,5. Manufactured
  a goldsmith, P. Sazikov,
  St. Petersburg, 1882
  Christie's. 23.04.2010. Lot 167
  estimate: 400-600 thousand dollars

One of the rarest lots Royal presentation dish will be made of silver, decorated with enamel (estimate: 400-600 thousand dollars), made in the studio PF Sazikov commissioned by representatives of Smolensk and presented to the nobility as a gift to Emperor Alexander III and his wife Maria Feodorovna in 1883 on the occasion their coronation. The dish was purchased as a diplomat in 1930 in Europe and has since remained in the meeting of the family and presented at the auction for the first time. These large plates are usually used in the coronation day during the reign of Emperor Alexander II, Alexander III and Nicholas II, and served with bread and salt, portraying the emperor honored guests at a traditional ceremony in the Kremlin Palace. Typically, a round shape, such dishes differed in decoration and were made famous silver and jewelery shops in Moscow and St. Petersburg.

Founded in 1793 in Moscow, Pavel Fedorovich Sazikov workshop was one most noble and revered in imperial Russia, and in 1846 became one of the main suppliers of the Imperial Court. In the second half of XIX century Sazikov became a regular participant of international exhibitions and won numerous awards.

• porcelain vase with two handles. Imperial Porcelain Factory, St. Petersburg, 1843 (during the reign of Nicholas I). Height: 101.6; stand: 77,5
  Christie's. 23.04.2010. Lot 188
  estimate: 700-900 thousand dollars

Another top lot section is an outstanding porcelain vase with two handles (estimate: 700-900 thousand dollars), made by masters of the Imperial Porcelain Manufactory of St. Petersburg, dated 1843 year - during the reign of Nicholas I. The vase depicts King of Prussia Friedrich Wilhelm III (1770-1840), father wife of Russian Emperor Nicholas I (1796-1855), Empress Alexandra Feodorovna (1798-1860), born of Prussian Princess Friederike Wilhelmine Charlotte. On the reverse side - the image of King of Prussia Wilhelm IV (1795-1861), executed in explanation of a portrait by Franz Krüger, written in 1840. This vase has a lot in common with the other, which is located in the State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, at which also present the image of the Prussian King William III, completed based on the work of Frantz Kruger (Prussian court artist and favorite portrait of Nicholas I), located in the Military Gallery of the Winter Palace.

Among the top lots of sections, where the products of Faberge, deserve special attention plated desk clock in the Rococo style, decorated with enamel in "guilloche" made in the workshop of Michael Perkhin about 1890 in St. Petersburg (estimate: 180-220 thousand dollars). In addition, the section appears golden presentation icon, adorned with jewels, Faberge, which the Prince Nikolai Alexandrovich gave the Cossack officer George Kondratyevich Borodin in 1891 (estimate: 15-20 thousand dollars).

• Konstantin Makovsky
  return from a walk. 1907
  canvas. 139.4 x 78,1
  Christie's. 23.04.2010. Lot 7
  estimate: 400-600 thousand dollars

Konstantin Makovsky was born in Moscow in 1839 and subsequently became one of the most successful and famous Russian artists of the XIX century. As a member of the Imperial Academy of Fine Arts St. Petersburg, Makovsky was able to frequently exhibit their works in Russia and abroad. Despite the fact that today he is known primarily as author of numerous sketches from life Boyar era XVII century, its first success he deserved as a portrait painter, depicting members of the nobility. Among his works, in particular, is a portrait of Alexander II, who called him "my painter. On the canvas "Back from a walk" (estimate: 400-600 thousand dollars), depicts a young girl who, apparently, just picking roses. At first glance, the picture becomes clear that the artist was far less interested in the transfer of immediate details and psychological nuances, than to create a holistic atmosphere of harmony, beauty and peace. The dynamic brushstrokes and careful attention to technique to transmit light issue influenced by the work of impressionists, with whom the artist met in Paris, as there shortly before the painting. The girl, shown in the picture, it seems detached from reality. Probably, this phenomenon was referring to the artist's son, Sergei Makovsky, when he wrote about his father: "... he should just touch the brush, as he immediately took up the case: to determine with the composition and color palette of the future work, he began to carry it, that he saw before him, or that he wanted to see ».

• Alexander Yakovlev Visit Lama . 1933
  canvas. 107 x 90,2 Christie's. 23.04.2010. Lot 17
  estimate: 150-250 thousand dollars

Cloth "Visit Lama" (estimate: 150-250 thousand dollars), which depicts a Buddhist monk, accompanied by two of the Mongols, was written Alexander Yakovlev In 1933 in Paris, on his return from a grand tour of the ancient Silk Road, in which the artist invited Andre Citroen.

Rather, the picture was written based on a sketch made Yakovlev Mongolia, where he and the expedition was in the beginning of 1932. During the trip, Yakovlev has witnessed the outstanding historical event - the visit of the Panchen Lama (considered to be a living emanation of the Buddha) to the court of the Mongol prince. We do not know whether the picture Lama on canvas portrait of Yakovlev's a real historical character, but the headpiece and the details of clothes, a woman stood suggest that it belonged to the court aristocracy, trimmed with fur collar and hat sitting man in the center of the canvas indicate that it is - one of princes, as the costumes match the detailed descriptions given in the memories of Georges Lefebvre on this expedition.

• DAVID BURLYUK Washington market. Tribeca
  1931. Oil on canvas. 46,4 x 61,6
  Christie's. 23.04.2010. Lot 28
  estimate: 40-60 thousand dollars

Creativity Burliuk (1882-1967) presented a selection of works, one of which - the Washington market. Tribeca "in 1931 (estimate: 40-60 thousand dollars). It shows a view of the Reed Street and the Washington Market, located in Tribeca, one of New York City, as well as can be seen views of the building Morse, who in 2006, the Committee for the Protection of the city's attractions was given the status of the city attractions. In 1970, the market was destroyed, there was left only a small park, named in honor once the most important grocery market in New York.

Source: news Releases Christie's, christies.com