At their turn the Switzerland the Luxembourg and the Austria surrendered Friday to the pressures that were correct on the eve of Andorra the Liechtenstein and the Belgium read the Echos from March 13The International Trade Union Confederation is bornTheir starting point is a very common findingThe metropolis is not so in its death throes1 of its operating income EUR 157 millionThe darker more dangerous it is despairObjective be ready for economic recoveryNow a stage of consultation is planned for this new ZAC08 while the Nikkei has appreciated by 6I the do not accept losing control of the groupThe unfortunate thing took place a few weeks in Las Vegas. One of the most media American collectors, Steve Wynn, wealthy Casino owner, had a circle of friends a painting by Picasso painted in 1932, "The dream", representing Marie-Thérèse Walter associated with an erotic symbol. A legend... It was about to sell it for the colossal sum of 137 million to another also media collector, "hedge funds" Manager (most hedge funds) among the most famous in America, Steve a. Cohen. Unfortunately, in full demonstration, in a gesture reckless and violent, Steve Wynn transperça coup elbow famous artwork. As would say the fountain about Perrette, goodbye! calves, cows... The work was more saleable. You need to know that Steve Wynn is struck by a degenerative disease of the retina.
The first moral of this story is that it is a nearly blind man which is today one of the most famous collectors of the world. The second is that it was preparing to transfer for a sum ever a modern table which he had acquired in 1997 for $ 48.4 million. It needed to realize a capital gain of 88.4 million for a conserved purchase only ten years.
This 20th century reached the tables shown in 20th century the market by outbidding hitherto unprecedented. Remember that just before the summer Ronald Lauder, a co-heir of the Estee Lauder cosmetics empire, had acquired through Christie's, and for $ 135 million, a portrait of woman, Adele Bloch-Bauer, by Klimt painted in 1907. "Today the market bursting all ceilings, says the private New York Franck Giraud's merchant." These collectors syndrome obeys the fear of missing a masterpiece. On the other hand the United States have never had as many billionaires, more than 400 according to "forbes" the last Top 400. "" Besides, as explained by Thomas Seydoux of Christie's, new buyers from China, Russia and elsewhere. "
It is in this context that will be held on 7 and 8 November large sales of New York, those giving rating of the art of the great names of modern art, for six months. First observation: this time Sotheby's and Christie's are not housed in the same sign. It offers 86 lots estimated total of $ 338 million against Sotheby's offering 85 lots for an estimate of $ 226 million. It must be said that Christie's catalogue contains four Klimt paintings that have the same owner that one sold to Ronald Lauder in June, Maria Altmann. This old lady of Los Angeles has fought for more than ten years to obtain the restitution of property robbed in his family to Vienna in 1938. The works were until a few months still exposed, featured, at the Museum of the Belvedere in Vienna. Justice delivered its verdict and the heir is on sale at Christie's three landscapes and another portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer, which have been returned. It is estimated 93 million but to him only the portrait of the young woman in 1912 in a learned and spectacular flower patchwork is estimated at $ 40 million.
If it was not these turns of history, these works should never appear on the market. They will interest experienced collectors but simple billionaires fans because the decorative power of these compositions is strong. This collection had a "snowball effect" to customers of vendors, attracting all the most important parts of the market in the Christie's catalogue. This is the case of the table that connoisseurs consider the most remarkable of the sale: a Gauguin. He date of the period of the first voyage of the painter in Tahiti, 1891, and represents a composition constructed at several levels in its famous warm tones of Orange, purple, red, green, yellow with in central character, a man with the axe, archetype of the Builder and a symbol of hope for a new world for the painter. Catalogue coyly indicates that it is a fabric that belongs to a standard Lady but it would in fact be more specifically of the family of the sultan of Brunei, and would have been bought by his brother in 1986. Picasso painted very early, in 1901, "Woman in the fountain" (estimate: $ 15 million), could have the same origin.
The France is always excellent land supply in modern works and for example a rare composition of Balthus, "The three sisters", painted between 1963 and 1964 representing the three sisters glue, is at the auction with an estimate of $ 7 million. No major work of the artist has been proposed to auction for many years.
Estimates on the rise
Sotheby's, attracting sellers, estimates were pushed upward to works that have been previously proposed in recent years on the market. Thus the star of November 7 is a large still life of Cézanne painted circa 1895. In 2000 it had been awarded $ 16 million. This time and after having been entrusted unsuccessfully to a U.S. Merchant, it is estimated $ 28 million. Cover of the Sotheby's catalogue is a portrait of young man by Modigliani. All the experts know: these are the portraits of women who are the most popular. It, "The son of the janitor", painted in 1918, is nevertheless estimated $ 14 million. In 1997 he had been awarded to $ 5 million. Nine million more in ten years for the estimation of a table whose theme is not among the most requested in the artist...
Sotheby's play dangerous to push values on the rise. If the market is euphoric, its players did not forget to inquire. Good artist, good times, good condition, good provenance and beautiful composition are still the rules for success. On the evening of November 8, a wave of records should be registered. The positive impression about prices out of the ordinary, however, could be qualified by unsold due to excessive indulgence of the vendors and their intermediaries.
