Art Law Research Project

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Kirstie

Kirstie

PFG, Picture Framing God
Joined
Jan 16, 2007
Posts
8,395
Loc
Berkeley, CA
My son has asked me to ask the following question. He is involved in a summer art law research project, the goal of which is to asses the current market situation in the antiquities trade. Does anyone have any information about where the hot spots in the market are, if any? What is popular in the antiquities market right now?

In the auction houses or at the most prestigious dealers, what are people looking for, and what are people buying?

If you have any information you would be willing to share, please contact me.
 
Short answer is anything Russian, and anything that appeals to middle Eastern buyers (not necessarily items from that area). The super items are following the petro-dollars.

If you are near an art library, the art and antique trade publications would have lots of trend info.
Joseph
 
I'll underscore Joseph's Russia with the Caucus region furniture, but more closer to home in our industry, Russian Orthodoxy icons are enjoying (?) an inordinate level of fake antiques; a strong sign/indicator of market demand.

Question: Does a Saint Peter icon get stronger with age? I recently examined a "early 13th C." St Peter and it was so powerful it smelt like camel urine. I didn't smell any vinegar, so I can only assume that it's just St Matthew that's full of #### & vinegar. :D

Kirstie, you might have the lad get ahold of Leonard DeBoff, DeBoff & Associates in Portland. All he does is Art Law.
 
It may be a trick question. 'Antiquities' usually refers to art objects from before the middle ages as opposed to antiques which are any objects of value older than, what?, 75 years.

There have been a lot of changes in the antiquities market in the past few years, especially in regard to ethics. A lot of objects are being returned to their country of origin. Some high level curators have faced serious legal problems.

I have a feeling this is what the question is about. Big changes in the legal ramifications of buying and selling art objects from the distant past.
 
Well Tim, you are not that far from some of the museums in question, so you might be on track here.

And yes, he is talking about old art, at least 100 years anyway.

Nice web page!
 
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