By Michael Drake
Art & Antiques
W
ith only a few short weeks left until Brexit really kicks in – in the United Kingdom – has anyone really given a serious thought about how its implementation will affect the sales of art, antiques and anything else we cherish. For make no mistake about it, Brexit, while bringing problems for practically everything that is bought and sold, will undoubtedly impact as well on the art and antiques trade in Ireland and elsewhere. Just in what manner this will manifest itself I am not sure, but it will. After all, come January Northern Ireland will no longer be a part of a member state of the European Union. The Republic of Ireland will of course retain its status quo within the EU. So where does this leave us when bringing art or antiques into Northern Ireland from the south or sending them the other way. What will the VAT arrangements be on the sales and purchases of art and antique items. Will there be a uniformity between both parts of the island of Ireland or will there be two different rates and two different systems? Who knows whether it will be more economical to buy or sell in the Irish Republic or vice versa? What will happen to the Artist Resale Rights Directive or droit de suite as it is known in France? For almost twenty years now living artists, if they are natives of a country in the European Economic Area, have been entitled to at least 4pc of the resale value of artworks worth €1000 or more when sold by a professional art trader in the EEA. So what happens to that advantage which some artists have come to enjoy? At one time the United Kingdom was an attractive place to sell art because it had not implemented the Directive. Maybe that thought will be in some people heads again. Will it continue to be paid in the south of Ireland and, if so, what happens north of the border. Auction houses are still existing, but 68
Diamond cuff bracelet by Fred Paris which realised €60,000 (ADAMS)
I doubt if any new millionaires have been created during the present Covid 19 crisis. Of course sales are taking place but without the facility of online outlets most, if not all sales houses in Ireland, would have had to put their shutters up for a very long time. We are not out of the woods yet, not by a long chalk, but we can only hope and pray that things will continue to improve and that some form of sales normality will once again return to our scene.
The international scene On the international scene, where those who have few worries about money buy and sell art and antiques at will, we will continue to see earthshattering record prices paid. But away from that particular area, and nearer home, many will have to re-build their art and antiques businesses once again. For some of them it will not be easy. For the best part of a year Covid 19 has played havoc with the commercial lives of many. People who took years to build up their antique shops, their art galleries and their sales houses have been sorely hit. They need help and I don’t believe much of it will be forthcoming from the
Winter 2020 Irish Country Sports and Country Life
government. There is no doubt, however many members of the general public have, in some cases, a bit more disposal cash around than they had this time last year. Summer vacations were, to put it mildly a wash out, so families probably saved some money on staying at home. Expensive days and nights of eating out over the past six months were almost wiped off the menu. So there were savings there too. If I am right then there are people around with a bit of extra cash at their disposal. And what better way to spend it than on purchasing a work by a living artist or an item of antiquity. No one has to be
A diamond necklace by Van Cleef & Arpels, sold for €25,000 (Adams)
