How do Russians bargain at Sotheby's?

The autumn season has begun at the Sotheby's auction house. Photo by Pavel Terekhov

In the auction house “Sotheby's” on Thursday evening was a full house - sold by Pablo Picasso, Vincent Van Gogh and the Soviet founder of abstract art, Kazimir Malevich. Among the buyers were probably billionaires from Russia and other post-Soviet countries. At auctions selling works of old masters and European painting of the 19 century, they traditionally buy about a third of lots. In the hall - next to the ladies in haute couture and gentlemen in butterflies - there were also mere mortals: they are regularly given the opportunity to admire art before it settles in the collections of the rich and famous.

The Sotheby’s auction house in New York has been selling paintings from different eras and trends, jewelry, furniture, collection wine, and even cars for more than 250 years. And the art market is not afraid of crises or sanctions. Sotheby's only in the first six months, earned three billion seven hundred million dollars, by 2016, the company is going to collect seven billion.

In the holy of holies art

Wealthy customers are usually met from the doorstep. The smiling doorman will definitely say “Welcome to Sotheby's” and open the door. On the first floor, the girls are already waiting for guests. “Please go upstairs,” the long-legged lady in black greets. At the reception, the visitor receives a special number plate, which then raises at the right time at the auction.

Bidding is held in a special room on the seventh floor, but first - champagne. The waiters offered “Proseko”, someone asked for stronger drinks, but they were not. Secular conversations - a mandatory element of the event.

Sotheby's bidders have small talk. Photo by Pavel Terekhov

Some people vigorously discuss art news, others gossip about stars. “Yesterday, Woody Allen came, saw?” - says the gray-haired man to his friend.

Stars really come to Sotheby's. Two years ago, pop diva Madonna here sold a painting by Fernand Leger “Three women at the red table” for seven million dollars. And once bought in just three. They say that in exchange for Leger, the singer acquired something from the collection of old masters.

The international director of Russian art “Sotheby's” Joe Vickery specially came to New York from London for the sake of Malevich. She introduces the “Forum” with the auctioneer and host of the evening, Henry Windham. “We are starting soon. Hurry up, ”he invites.

International director of Russian art at Sotheby's Jo Vickery came to New York for Malevich. Photo by Pavel Terekhov

Van Gogh, Picasso, Malevich

The hall barely accommodated all the guests. They were about 250, not counting those who participated in online bidding. The audience got a bit different: ladies in hats, elegant gentlemen in club jackets, and some in casual clothes. Most people are not rich art lovers, but their agents. There are also experts who mark the sale price in the catalog, and even onlookers - mere mortals are also allowed to admire art at Sotheby's.

The presenter, Henry Wyndham, looked like a conductor, but instead of a wand in his hands he had a hammer with which he struck the pulpit. As soon as Henry's baritone resounded, there was a deathly silence in the hall.

The initial cost of each lot was displayed on an electronic scoreboard, the objects of art themselves appeared on a rotating carousel. Represented them flawless men in black aprons and white gloves. Passions run high, the prices are serious: five, ten, twelve million dollars. Henry Wyndham asks a glass of water and jokes: "Think well while I drink." One of the first intrigues of the evening: the painting “Mystical Suprematism” by Soviet artist Kazimir Malevich. The starting price for this black cross on the red oval is 35 million dollars. Literally in a moment, someone gives half a million more. The auctioneer is not impressed, pauses and says: “I will wait a long time.” Total, with all taxes, canvas purchased for 37,8 million dollars.

Sale of painting by Kazimir Malevich “Mystical Suprematism”. Photo by Pavel Terekhov

Vincent Van Gogh caused more excitement. Bidding lasted more than five minutes. The painting “Landscape under a stormy sky” went for 54 million dollars. The most expensive lot at auction saved by the end of the auction. The host said “Picasso”, the hall rustled. Picture “Cabaret Singer” 19-year-old Picasso painted in Paris. On the canvas depicts a naked woman with dark hair. To the average man in the street, the singer would have seemed not a very attractive cabaret artist, but the buyers liked her very much. The real struggle began for the lot, the auctioneer repeated more than once: “You have one last chance.” The new owner gave 67,5 million dollars for the Cabaret Singer.

Russian Footprint

“The evening was a success,” - summed up for the “Forum” Joe Vickery in pure Russian. According to an expert who, out of love for art, has learned the language, a large number of Russian buyers participated in these auctions. “For us, it was not even a big surprise. We know about the economic and political situation in Russia, but Russians are still big collectors and love collecting art, ”added Vickery.

After the auction in high spirits, buyers quickly went home. Total for this bid they spent 726 million dollars.

Many buyers do not come to the auction themselves, and bargain for works of art through representatives. Photo by Pavel Terekhov

In “Sotheby's” is not accepted to tell who bought and where the works of art will be. Not only millionaires, but also museums often become buyers, however, Russian buyers are individuals, Vickery said.

That evening also sold the collection of the former head of the auction house - Alfred Taubman. His biography is worthy of the book. The billionaire made a fortune on real estate, but went to prison in 2001 for colluding with another Christie's auction house and deceiving customers. After ten months of imprisonment, he resigned, and in April of this year, died after a long illness. The collection, in which there is Albrecht Dürer, Raphael, Pablo Picasso, Amadeo Modigliani and Jasper Johns, began to sell the heirs. Interest to her has already shown buyers.

"And I think that the Russians in this list will occupy the first places and will be interested in such works, ”says Mikhail Kamensky, director general of the Sotbis office in Russia, sharing his predictions.

At the auction in the past was seen Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov. In September, on the eve of trading 2007, he bought from Sotheby's a collection of Russian art by the famous musician Mstislav Rostropovich and his wife - opera singer Galina Vishnevskaya. The collection of paintings, products made of porcelain and silver were going to be sold for 30 million dollars, but Usmanov paid twice as much, just to get the collection back to Russia. Billionaire gave it to the Konstantinovsky Palace of St. Petersburg. How often Alisher Usmanov participates in auctions - is unknown. “Forum” contacted the billionaire, but at the time of publication of the article we did not receive a response.

Another Russian-speaking connoisseur of world masterpieces is a Kazakh businessman Nurlan Smagulov. This year, Smagulov acquired in Sotheby's a bas-relief “Women with a parrot” by the French sculptor Fernand Leger. The price is not exactly known, but we are talking about several million dollars. Many Russian buyers participate in auctions through foreign companies in order not to shine their name to the world, explains Kamensky.

"Russians are clear favorites among buyers. These are mainly private collectors who live between Russia and the West. We see no crisis today. Maybe millionaires will not bargain hard, ”the representative of Sotheby's in Russia comments.

Buyers and onlookers: who comes to bid

Anyone can enter the Sotheby’s for free by presenting identification. The company website has calendar of events, auctions are held several times a month. As a spectator, you can freely visit the morning or dinner auctions, in the evening the number of seats is limited, and preference is given to buyers. But there are cases when places remain, so everyone has a chance to get there, just call Sotheby's and ask about the availability of free tickets.

Oksana Ganzhara from Brooklyn does this regularly. “Friends are already joking, saying that you have become a millionaire,” Oksana says with a smile. She loves art, especially impressionist and modernist paintings, as well as wine collections. “To see how people calmly throw away millions! It’s just cool to look at these auctions in reality,” Oksana shares her impressions. This year, the New York resident has already attended the auction and watched several pre-auction exhibitions. “You can come to Sotheby’s just like going to a museum, I’ve already invited my friends here. And take a photo with Picasso’s masterpiece, is this possible anywhere else?” – Oksana rejoices.

But Sotheby's, of course, relies, first of all, on wealthy buyers, to work with which there is a special department.

A few months before the start of trading, its employees ring up their regular customers and send out invitations. For some, they organize arrival, meeting at the airport, hotel accommodation and individual excursions.

Mandatory point of the program - pre-auction parties for the elite. Customers can look at the lot of interest before bidding and make sure that the selection is correct. “However, anyone can be a potential buyer at an auction. You need to register on the Sotheby’s website, ”says Mikhail Kamensky.

Among the formalities - an extract from bank account. All information is available on Russian language. Requirements for the amount available vary. "This, of course, depends on what the client intends to purchase, ”notes Mikhail Kamensky.

The auction house respects confidentiality, the names are disclosed only at the request of the buyers themselves.

How does the auction

Sotheby's offers all kinds of assistance to art dealers: it spends several months before bidding to create a catalog, select photos and organize exhibitions. At will, employees of the auction house can develop an advertising strategy and promote the collection, organize inspection, storage and transportation.

The auction house is so fond of its customers that he redeems the lot, if no one purchases the goods for the agreed price. Joe Vickery notes that for the convenience of customers, even in the Sotheby's building, everything is thought out to the smallest detail. “We have a very good storage facility for lots. You see high doors. They were installed for huge paintings, ”she says. An alarm system works in the building, and microscopic cameras record any movement. Guests do not notice them.