Rare Color Photos of the AP Interiors from 1917 RETURN to the Palace!

[aleksandr pavlovich]

Udate!

The Tsarskoye Selo State Museum encountered an unexpected, substantial, increase in the cost of Autochrome plates, due to unforeseen VAT, export duties and the like.  Mike Pyles has contacted the Museum and is currently in discussions on the exact terms of another gift from him, of an additional $30,000, in order to address these expenses and get the plates into the Museum's hands as soon as possible.

Further, the Museum directors and staff have approved the preliminary designs for "The Friends of the Alexander Palace Museum Society", with the website to be built by Bob Atchison and Pallasart, and with Bob running "The Friends", along with some long standing supporters of the Museum.  Continuing discussion is ongoing between the Tsarskoye Museum directors and Bob for a new collaborative effort, working closely together.

  IMO, cautious and exacting legalistic maneuvers, benefiting both sides. obviously need to be employed here if the autochromes are not PRESENTLY on Russian territory (I am noting the wording "....to get the plates unto the Museum's hands as soon as possible.")  If/when the autochromes DO enter Russian territory, regardless of the paid/not fully paid status, what would keep the State from potentially seizing/nationalizing  the plates as part of "lost national patrimony" ?    AP.

[edubs31]

Wow! Second part awesome...first part, fingers crossed!

If we could find 3,000 AP forum members/Romanov fans to donate $10 each we'd have it covered. Consider it part of a holiday fundraiser perhaps? I'm in, who is with me?

[Forum Admin]

Aleksandr Pavlovich:  The autochromes are already the property of the Museum.  They were given permission to acquire them for the Museum Collection.  There is no reason for the "Government" to seize them as "National Patrimony" since they are going back to where they rightly belong, AS National Patrimony!

edubs. Hold that thought! You are going to be thrilled with the "Friends of the Alexander Palace" when Bob gets the details and logistics hammered out with the Palace. That's all I can say for now.

[aleksandr pavlovich]

Aleksandr Pavlovich:  The autochromes are already the property of the Museum.  They were given permission to acquire them for the Museum Collection.  There is no reason for the "Government" to seize them as "National Patrimony" since they are going back to where they rightly belong, AS National Patrimony!

edubs. Hold that thought! You are going to be thrilled with the "Friends of the Alexander Palace" when Bob gets the details and logistics hammered out with the Palace. That's all I can say for now.

 Thanks for the comment, Rob!  But I gather that they have not yet physically crossed into  Russian territory?  Or are tied up at entry in the import procedures/dues?         Regards,   AP.

[Laura Mabee]

edubs. Hold that thought! You are going to be thrilled with the "Friends of the Alexander Palace" when Bob gets the details and logistics hammered out with the Palace. That's all I can say for now.

FA - You're getting me excited. I really hope this means we can start donating to the AP. I have always wanted to make a consistent contribution.

[Forum Admin]

They are safely locked up at the Auction house in Paris until all is resolved.

[aleksandr pavlovich]

They are safely locked up at the Auction house in Paris until all is resolved.

  Many thanks !   One further question:  I  am given to understand that  a "Mr. Pyles"  supplied the funds, but in whose name were they actually purchased/knocked down to  at auction?  Perhaps an agent was used?     AP.

[BobAtchison]

I cannot express how grateful I am to Mike Pyles for his simply amazing gift of $55,000 towards the purchase of the slides.

Over the last few weeks I have been learning more about the palace and their plans for the future.  It has been wonderful to make new friends and reconnect with old ones in Tsarskoye Selo.  The restoration that has been underway is breathtaking.  It is very, very exciting.  Soon our new "Friends of the Alexander Palace " initiative will be formally announced and we'll be telling you all about it.  Thanks again to Mike Pyles for his great and wonderful gift, I can tell you Kuchumov would have been so happy had he lived to see this.  It is wonderful to be in contact with his granddaughter and to be working together in support of the palace again.

Bob

[Forum Admin]

They were purchased in the name of the "State Museum Tsarskoye Selo, Museum Acquisitions Fund".  Mr Pyles has donated the money to underwrite the purchase, as his donations are going directly into the TSM "acquisitions fund". 

[aleksandr pavlovich]

They were purchased in the name of the "State Museum Tsarskoye Selo, Museum Acquisitions Fund".  Mr Pyles has donated the money to underwrite the purchase, as his donations are going directly into the TSM "acquisitions fund". 

  Certainly, many thanks should go to Mr. Pyles for his generosity!  Let us hope that the transfer from Paris to Russia of the autochromes goes smoothly and expeditiously.                                           Regards,   AP.

[BobAtchison]

Mike Pyles is a great hero in Tsarskoye Selo these days - and for good reason.

[Joanna]

Site on Victoria Plaude with similar information used in her article but with this interesting note on the photographic archives held by the Tsarskoe Selo State Museum Preserve:

“…Since 1988, the study deals with the storage and collection of photos of XIX-XX centuries. Autochromes, negatives, slides, postcards XIX-XX centuries. The Fund has 99,000 items of historical objects and photographs and negatives depicting the recovery of palaces and pavilions of the Museum-Preserve "Tsarskoye Selo"…

http://www.avit-centre.spb.ru/exb/06/hr/pictpla.htm

With our excitement on the success of Tsarskoe Selo Museum Preserve acquiring the autochromes through the generosity of Mr. Pyles, VAT and export duties never crossed our minds. VAT rates across the Eurozone have risen with the economic downturn. France is approx 21.9% - if there are variables for items it may be lower for art etc. A large amount against the 53.000 Euro purchase. I have written the TS Museum Preserve of investigating the possibility of VAT refunds for Russia similar to the agreement with Canada.  Their expert staff and lawyers will know and be on top of it but it is a thought  that may help.

Joanna

[Louis_Charles]

God BLESS you, Mr. Pyles!

[BobAtchison]

Mike Pyles been invited to Tsarskoye Selo so they can thank him in person.  When that happens we will be sure to get photographs of the event.

[ChristineM]

A great deal of time, thought, consideration of logistics, planning and experiences of others has gone into ensuring Mike Pyles extraordinariily generous gift is safeguarded and that the plates are safely delivered to where Mr Pyles believes they belong.

A poster on this thread is kind enough to raise doubts, probably in order to ensure Mr Pyles, the Directorate of Tsarskoe Selo Museums and Bob Atchison are aware of possible pitfalls.

All of us involved in this exercise appreciate the fact that cross-border taxes and bureaucracies are inevitable hurdles.   Additionally, the Paris auction house anticiipated the autochromes would fetch between $3 and $5,000 dollars.   At that point they indicated to the member of Tsarskoe Selo Museum staff who was dealing directly with the sale that, in view of the plates being restored to the rightful ownership, they would 'consider' waiving their fee.   They had no way of anticipating the autochromes would exciite such interest and thereby achieve a much higher than expected price.   Inevitably the price impacts on their commission.   This is charged on a percentage basis.   Thus it would have rendered it impossible for them to follow through their previous, altruistic, offer.

Those of us who care and are concerned about the future of the Alexander Palace should rejoice we have the great fortune to have in our midst a human being with such depth of generosity and awareness of history, and of architectural history, that he so selflessly gifts these -  actually priceless -  objects to ensure we, Tsarskoe Selo Museums, the people of Russia and everyone on earth for generations to come are able, should they wish, to be able to witness the resurrection of not just a building of outstanding architectural merit, but also to help capture a culture and lifestyles which heretofore appeared to have been lost forever.

tsaria