Results of Russian Week at international auctions
Last from November 29 to December 2 Russian sales in London were the last major event on the Russian art market in 2010. As always, they waited eagerly, hoping to understand the current mood of buyers
past from November 29 to December 2 Russian sales in London were the last major event on the Russian art market in 2010. As always, they waited eagerly, hoping to understand the current mood of consumers.
Christie's
first hammer blows rang the morning of 29 November, Christie's. Hall was first, surprisingly, half empty, and only the middle of the auction empty seats there are not more than a dozen. Bidding on almost every lot started with half of the lower estimate, and often lots of customers were given less than the lower appraisal strips, which, however, was not then in the other auction houses.
Within estimeytov gone top lots "lady in white sitting in the garden» K. Korovin , «Versailles. Alley » (892 and 881,000 pounds respectively). (All prices, except where otherwise noted, are based auction house commission. - Red .) Slightly exceeded the upper estimate work "On the Beach" brush Levitan , sold for 690,000 pounds, although the investment value, it was more interesting than the paintings Korovin and Konchalovsky. But it was not unlike in past years against a bright, ready to fight to the last customers. Bidding moved slowly, thoughtfully and without prior agitation on such lots. It should be noted that the past on the same day auction arts and crafts brought Christies approximately the same as painting and drawing, ie, about 7.5 million pounds. A significant part of the success of applied art belongs to the two imperial porcelain vases sold for 993,000 pounds, and the imperial gift-a gold snuffbox with a picture of Nicholas II, departed for 937 thousand pounds. This is perhaps one of the rare cases when the objects of applied arts becoming the most expensive lots, and prevail in the total number of most expensive (out of 10 top-selling Christie's 5 belongs to arts and crafts).
| On the shore Oil on canvas. 56 x 91 Christie's. 29/11/2010. Lot № 29 Estimate: 300-500 thousand pounds Result: 690,850 pounds Source: |
Over 241,000 pounds were sold most beautiful museum work I. Pohitonova «Castle of Uras Zhelo, near by. " In one of the best things in the works of miniaturist fought at least five customers, and therefore two-fold excess of the estimate is absolutely logical and expected, however, difficult to explain the sale of his own work "In the garden: Care for 10 thousand pounds more expensive at incomparably low quality. Work Pohitonova require immediate viewing at the picture to make the correct conclusion is extremely difficult, and if the cost of the first job market and investment is absolutely justified, then the second picture was supposed to leave at 30-40 percent cheaper.
| Castle Uras in Zhelo, near by Oil on canvas. 14.6 x 36,2 Christie's. 29/11/2010. Lot number 22 Estimate: 80-120 thousand pounds Result: 241,250 pounds Source: |
unreasonably expensive works were sold Nikolai Petrovich Bogdanov-Belsky, N. «peasant girl in the Bridge "and" Boys, rybachaschie the pier "(349 and 313 thousand pounds, respectively). According to the database ARTinvestment.RU, these results took 4 th and 5 th place ranking in the price of his works, but the investment prospects of these purchases is very vague. These things can hardly be called the best in the artist, besides his works are generally overpriced today, so to resell its acquisition of the owner will be difficult. Incidentally, two days later at Bonhams auction similar to the "boys fishing" painting "Best Friends" slightly smaller left for just 38,000 pounds, which indicates the absence of clear criteria for evaluating the work of Bogdanov-Belsky.
The most fierce battle at Christie's was for the costumes and scenery Alexander Benois for a production of Petrouchka . The results were at the top estimeytov and sometimes exceeded them in two or three. About this artist, we will talk later in the auction Sotheby's.
twice the lower estimate, of 51,000 pounds, left work "Portrait of Nicholas Magallanes» Paul Chelishchev . In general, consider the results of sales of works by this artist is difficult, since his stuff is clearly the subject of active promotion of someone from the participants of the art market and is currently being sold far above fair market value.
sure it is worth noting, "Abstract Composition» L. Masterkova , sold for the same 51,000 pounds, but much more significant from an artistic and investment point of view than the portrait of Chelishchev . "Abstract Composition" took 5 th place in the price ranking of the artist, and it speaks to preserving the interests of collectors and investors to the best works of non-conformists. In general we can say is moderately conservative attitude of buyers in the market with these artists. Their works are sold, but without much fuss and at prices well below pre-crisis. In any case, investors are now worth paying attention to the Sixties and try to buy the best stuff first names, because doubt that their prices will recover and surpass the value of 2007, no.
 LIDIA Masterkova abstract composition. 1970 Oil on canvas. 125 x 100 Christie's. 29/11/2010. Lot number 154 Estimate: 30-50 thousand pounds Result: 51 650 pounds Source: |
Among the unsold works at Christie's would like to acknowledge the work Maria Vasileva «A little girl with a cat "which have not been a buyer due to too high estimate of 300-500 thousand pounds; landscape A. - small size and dull tones, and some landscapes Konchalovsky, for which, apparently, no more customers after the work of Versailles. Alley ».
Summarizing, Christie's auction may be considered held and successful. At a fairly average selection of works have been sold 308 works from 509 (60.5 per cent in the general sense) for a total of 14.9 million pounds, which is 2,6 million more than in June 2010, and 5.6 million more than in November 2009. Russian for the first day of the week, when all are looking at and cautious - this is a decent result.
Sotheby's
That What happened in the first half of the next day at Sotheby's, disappointed bidders and led them in bewilderment. Sad «Unsold», which was accompanied by an auctioneer Lord Poltimore lot for lot since the start of trading, was quite unexpected, since selection of works at Sotheby's was generally better than at Christie's. Perhaps it was "revenge" for buyers cocktail of vodka and champagne, which regaled the day before at the evening reception of the pre-auction Sotheby's.
first major sale was the picture of A. Bogolyubov, "Basilica of Santa Maria della Salute on the eve of the festival, pushed for 750,000 pounds (without premium auction house). Prior to her demand was just pictures II and N. Dubovsky , sold either on the upper estimate, or slightly above it. Product Constantine and Vladimir Makovsky , A. Schilder , Alexander Kharlamov been almost completely ignored by the buyers.
It is worth noting that among the bidders There were many collectors, gallery owners and art dealers from Ukraine, enthusiastically bought the work of their fellow countrymen.
most expensive work of an auction expected to become excellent picture of the Yakovlev « Dance of the Cooley-Kut. Niamey ", sold for 937,000 pounds Estimé 0,8-1 million. This is quite an adequate result, and even two-fold excess of the lower estimate would be quite consistent with the quality of the product. Oil on canvas museum quality (that works Yakovlev always guarantee increased attention), a beautiful object for investment. No doubt, after some time its price will rise above 3.2 million pounds. The best works of this artist has already crossed the bar at 2.5 million pounds (eg, « Portrait of Basil Shuhaeva in the studio "or« Titi and Narang, chief's daughter Eka Bondo ») , so this purchase is justified and reasonable in all respects.
 Alexander Yakovlev Dance Cooley Kuta. Niamey. 1926 Oil on canvas. 100 x 65 Sotheby's. 11/30/2010. Lot № 32 Estimate: 0,8-1 million pounds Result: 937,250 pounds Source: |
successfully for 121,000 pounds was sold to another job Yakovlev - "Portrait Usaemona" (estimate 80-120 thousand pounds). We can not say that this thing is one of the best works of the artist, but it is distinctive and recognizable artist's hand, so the slightly inflated the sales price can be considered adequate. Much weaker work "Fishermen on the Calvi" and "Standing Nude" anyone not interested - despite the fact that the interest of market participants to the writings of Alexander Yakovlev, as seen from the Graphics index ARTIMX artist (Fig. 1), recovered and rest on our laurels is not going to. Thus, once again confirmed the postulate that the customer is always interested in only high-quality works of art, regardless of the current ratio of the market to their authors.
 Fig. 1. Schedule index ARTIMX to works by Alexander Yakovlev |
revived with the advent of the participants in the hall sculpture "Assyrian» Vrubel ; Estimé 30-50 thousand pounds, she went for 181,000. The fight was actively among several buyers in the hall and on the phone, but the victory went to the well-known dealer, who, judging by the calm and confident speculations, was ready to go to the end. Such work is extremely difficult to give any estimate, since they practically do not have the market and the price can be any - its borders are determined exclusively by the desire and potential buyers.
I would like to congratulate the new owner of Spring » Natalia Goncharova . The total price of 120,000 pounds for a lot of interesting oil our compatriots (whose work, incidentally, holds the world record price among the works of artists) not only matches the market, but even, perhaps, a little below it. Buyer-lucky not just bought a beautiful collector's item, but also very well invested. Sotheby's offered two more still life Goncharova, but they were not sold.
rather interesting great work George Artemov «hunting buffalo" went for 40,000 pounds, which was the third result in the sales statistics of the artist. Work is interesting in the first place that was done on carved mahogany paneling. Bright, a significant work of art created at the height of the artist, is a good investment, though, the impression it was probably purchased in the collection of an avid hunter. ARTIMX Artemov (Fig. 2) shows that the prices of artist's works are at 2007 levels, and their sharp rise in late 2009 due to the speakerphone selling canvas « Nude with veil ».
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public favorite Konstantin Somov this time was left unattended. No graphics or gouache did not attract buyers, although attempts to hold on to at least the lower estimate still were.
Unlike Christie's auction house Sotheby's has successfully sold the work of some of the Sixties. For example, over 42 thousand pounds left an interesting metaphysical still life D. Krasnopevtseva , although some members of the art market were doubts about its authenticity, for 55,000 pounds was sold painting M. Schwartzman «Habitat." Unfortunately, the excellent investment performance O. Tselkova «Woman with a Candle" (estimate 60-80 thousand pounds) did not find a buyer.
Among deals first session would also like to note "Autumn Landscape» Brodsky , sold for 85,000 pounds at the bottom estimeyte 100000," Delphiniums » I. Grabar for 150 thousand pounds, "Abstract Composition» A. Bogomazova 120 thousand pounds.
second session, which opened after 2.5-hour break, started without much enthusiasm and was mediocre. More than half the lots were not sold, and the rest left within the estimate, with occasional bursts of combat. The only serious interest in the majority of bidders led four sketches of scenery Alexander Benois , two of which went to two times higher upper estimate, and the other two - within estimeytov.
