EFTA02660433.pdf

From: jeffrey E. <[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, February 16, 2017 12:33 AM To: Richard Kahn Subject: Re: Mr. Epstein's Boulle desk ok sell it On Wed, Feb 15, 2017 at 7:22 PM, Richard Ka=n < <mailto >> wrote: Richard Kahn HBRK Associates Inc. 575 Lexington Avenue, 4th Floor N=w York, NY 10022 Begin forwarded message: From: "Igelbrink, Anne"= < <mailto >> Subject: Mr. Epstein's Boulle desk Date: February 15, 2017 at 7:18:32 PM EST To: Richard Kahn =>> Cc: "Igelbrink, Anne" < <mailtc l> <=div> Richar= Here is = recap of our conversation yesterday. =C2* When Mr. Epstein bought his desk, it checked a=l the boxes for a great piece of French furniture: top maker, great qualit=, grand scale and important provenance. Since about 2000, another bo= has been added: condition. The market now employs experts and advis=rs to evaluate the ormolu mounts and cabinetry, and now their age and auth=nticity has become crucial in determining value. Knowledge has advan=ed to the point where we can tell the difference between a mount cast in 1=10, the late 18th century, the early 19th=/u> When we examined the desk in our warehouse= the cabinetry was as expected from a piece of Boulle furniture from aroun= 1715. There was a bit of reveneering to the ebony at the short ends=and to some sections of the EFTA_R1_01908044 EFTA02660433 legs. However, when we took off and stud=ed the mounts, their construction dated from 1715 through the second half =f the 19thcentury. Specifically: • The border mounts on the top and the applied clasps at the corners =re original to the desk. "=A0 The lions masks w=re made later in the 18th century (we knew this and mentioned it i= our proposal). However, the crying mask mounts and all the handles =ere also made in the late 18th century and were recast from origin=l Boulle models. • =C2* All the leg mounts are 19th century recas=s from earlier Boulle models. One top mount may be second quarter 19t= </=pan>century but the rest are later. This =s not a case where there was an intent to deceive as until recently, there=was a totally different attitude towards mounts. Boulle desks have a=ways been incredibly expensive and prized by collectors. As early as=the late 18th century, some mounts were replaced to give the piece=a fashionable update (like the lions masks on the sides of your desk) or r=placed entirely with recasts from original mounts, sometimes as a result o= condition or damage, with no difference in value. This was a common pract=ce in the 19th century and in fact all of these later mounts were =n your desk when JP Morgan bought it from Georges Hoentschel. <=> So, now we=have a market where original condition is a crucial determinant of value.=C2* With these replaced mounts, which are an essential=part of Boulle furniture, we need to lower the estimate from from $400,000=600,000 to $200,000-300,000. Although your desk is the same as it wa= when you bought it thirty years ago, the rules for evaluating it are diff=rent and unfortunately, that is not going to change. </=iv> Regardless, this desk rem=ins a great object with important provenance that will strongly appeal to =ollectors. We are still delighted to offer it in the Exceptional Sal=; with its exposure to an international group of collectors, it is the des='s strongest chance to achieve a maximum price. I'd be happy t= speak with Mr. Epstein about the desk and to answer any questions or conc=rns he may have. Please do not hesitate to give him my contact detai=s. =u> Anne </=> Anne Igelbrink Vice President, Specialist He=d of European Furniture CHRISTIE'S =A:Ike> =/u> Visit www.christies.com <http://www.christies.com/> to explore special multi-media sale promotion=, browse our illustrated catalogues and leave absentee bids through LotFin=er(R), Christie's online search engine, and register for Internet bidd=ng with Christie's Live(TM). 2 EFTA_R1_01908045 EFTA02660434  =his message and any attachment are confidential. If you are not the intend=d recipient, please telephone or email the sender and delete the message a=d any attachment from your system. If you are not the intended recipient y=u must not copy this message or attachment or disclose the contents to any=other person. =br> Q=A0 please note The information contained in this communicati=n is confidential, may be attorney-client privileged, may constitute=inside information, and is intended only for the use of the addressee. =t is the property of JEE Unauthorized use, disclosure or copying of =his communication or any part thereof is strictly prohibited and may=be unlawful. If you have received this communication in error, please n=tify us immediately by return e-mail or by e-mail to [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> , and =estroy this communication and all copies thereof, including all attachm=nts. copyright -all rights reserved 3 EFTA_R1_01908046 EFTA02660435