Antikvariat Sales

[DOMOVOII]

Can someone enlighten me as to the process in which the Antiquariat Commisariat sold off it's Imperial treasures.

Were items taken from single collections, sold off and then the next "address" catalogued or were things sold ad hoc, from the stores?

Sales began early in the 1920's, when did they end?

Anyone know of any good source information regarding the sales? It seems to me the international diplomatic services in the early USSR made good use of the sales, who else?

[Forum Admin]

Items were brought to actual stores. Somewhere in the archives are some pictures of the Antikvariat. I'll post them if I can find them. The items were taken from the palaces and residences and sold in a large antique store. Some were also sent to Armand Hammer in New York from the Antikvariat.

The receipt from Antikvariat served as permission to take the item out of the Soviet Union. Anyone who was there could shop there, but only with hard currency. Of course, not many westerners visited the Soviet Union in those days. Marjorie M. Post was a very frequent shopper at Antikvariat.

Nick Nicholson can fill in more Im sure.

[DOMOVOII]

Perhaps I'll message Kieran at Wartskis.... see if there is much in the company archive regarding Snowman's dealings with the Atikvariart Sales, he too managed to bring out a  fair amount.