A painting originally scheduled to be auctioned at the "Chinese Modern and Contemporary Calligraphy and Painting" on May 28, but on the 26th, it encountered a disaster at the preview site and was torn apart by a child visiting the preview.
Picture source: The Culturer
According to the photos rumored on the scene, the one that was destroyed was the No. 1393 item of the scene - Ren Bonian's four-screen "The Crow with Crows in the Box Willow" in the four-screen TV series of Ren Bonian. The lower half of the painting was completely torn off. This group of paintings was created in 1889 and is estimated at 1.5 million to 2.5 million Hong Kong dollars (about 1.3 million to 2.19 million yuan). Currently, Christie's official website shows that the lot has been withdrawn from the auction.
Image source: The Culturer
As soon as this incident came out, it immediately attracted widespread attention and heated discussion in the auction industry. "We have never encountered this situation. The key is that the person who caused the accident is a minor child, and we are also concerned about the follow-up of the matter." said Gao Hong, general manager of Chengxuan Auction. Regarding the protection measures for the pre-exhibition of the items, Gao Hong said that the protection measures taken by each company are also extensive due to the different exhibition formats.
reporter saw at the preview of the auctions of various auction houses that in order to allow collectors to observe the items closer, many paintings do not have glass layers or barrier protection, and some antiques can also be used for viewers to experience.
As of press time, Christie's has not made any further response to this matter. media previously reported that Christie's is negotiating with the insurance party, and the issue of investigation and compensation has not yet been concluded.
art critic Xi Yaoyi said that the latest progress he learned from Christie's is insurance liability . "(painting) is now being repaired, and it should be restored through mounting. The work has insurance, and the cost is not a problem. No other accountability issues have been learned, but the auction and frame have been removed. If there is no trace after the repair, it will generally not affect the auction price of the painting in the future."
Children's accidental damage to exhibits is not an individual case
In recent years, children's accidental damage to exhibits have occurred occasionally.
In August 2015, a little boy accidentally fell while watching the Taipei "The Special Exhibition of the Genius Works of Da Vinci" and pressed his hand to the painting "Flower", which was more than three hundred years ago, which made a hole appear in the work, and the boy in the accident was very guilty. Later, the work was urgently repaired by the restorator, and the little boy was not responsible for the compensation for the accident.
For auction house previews, important items are basically insured. Chen Junda, a researcher at the academic research department of the China Collectors Association, said: "The destructed lot is insured, so the first step for the auction company is to negotiate with the insurance company to see the claims ratio and amount. If the lot is not insured, the parties will have to pay."
Should the auction company prohibit children from entering
Chinese Calligraphy Association member Huang Xiangjie believes that "the preview of the auction is not as good as a museum, and there are almost no protective measures for the works on display, so that collectors can watch the works more clearly. Some Parents like to bring their children to the preview site for artistic influence, which is really the wrong place to choose. Children who are really interested in art should take them to museums and art galleries. The collections there are all classics and are more suitable for learning. "
" There was a staff member of the antique department of the auction house who fell in high heels and the porcelain on his hands was broken. Since then, the auction house has a rule that the antique department staff cannot wear high heels. I think the auction house may take measures to treat children cautiously in the future to watch the preview." Xi Yaoyi analyzed.
Senior observer of the art market Zhang Xiaobin believes that due to the venue reasons, the exhibits cannot be fully protected, especially the traditional vertical axis form, which is easily damaged by the audience. "Originally, it is a good thing for parents to take their children to see the exhibition to educate their children's artistic atmosphere. However, the risk of children damaging artworks exists. Whether children are prohibited from entering the market in the future is a question that auction companies need to consider."
(Source: Beijing Daily Client)
