Zilkens' News Blog

Zilkens' News Blog 40 2023

12 weeks to go - and then the year is over. Kobel's 512th also appears today, although tomorrow is German (National) Unity Day. But obviously, unity is such a thing. Those who were brought up for 40 years with the idea that the National Socialists were a purely West German and capitalist invention and that in the only socialist state on German soil this darkest chapter of German history should not be represented, now more than a third want to vote for a party whose programme is nationalist, anti-European and exclusionary. In Austria, before 1933, this would have been called a "nice baggage". Today they are silent there, too.

On Thursday, 5 October, the charity auction in favour of Desideria Care will start at Sotheby's in Cologne. You can also bid online and 100% of the proceeds will go to Desideria Care, a foundation that cares for the families of dementia patients. The works brought together by Michael Schmidt-Ott have all been donated by the artists for a good cause. Many galleries have helped. There are even works by El Anatsui for an affordable starting bid. It's worth taking part - catalogue here!

In the art insurance world, there is personnel news, especially from Allianz: Dr. Ingo Brunzlow, until recently working for Allianz in Berlin and now for ERGO nationwide, will be replaced at Allianz by Dr. Greogor Lietzau (newly graduated art historian and football player). Nadia Abbas M.A., who headed the Sotheby's office in Cologne until its interim closure, will join the Allianz underwriting team in Cologne from 1.11. 2023. It will be interesting to see what impulses she will give to the market.

And then Barmenia (known as a health insurer from Wuppertal) and Gothaer (known as a cross-sector multi-talent from Cologne) are planning a merger of equals, as befits mutual associations. The members of one association take on the risks of the other and vice versa. Since everything is supposed to remain the same, only with a new dual leadership, one wonders why the whole thing? Sheer size? Personal ambitions of the club leaders? - We will know one day.

Otherwise, let's hope that the shortened week holds no more bad news for Ukraine. It's bad enough that 25% of Slovaks voted for a Putin friend and that the shutdown in the USA could only be averted by freezing Ukraine's aid. Putin has learned his Brecht: "First comes the food, then comes morality" - in this respect, one may also ask about the maxims of German foreign policy. German support for Ukraine must not diminish until peace is achieved that evaluates Russia's war crimes.

In this sense - hope dies last - and a week of reflection to all. Next Monday we will know a little better what makes Bavaria tick.

Yours, Stephan Zilkens and the team of Zilkens Fine Art Insurance Broker GmbH in Solothurn and Cologne