No Sale.

My wife is a big opera fan. As members of the New York Met’s “Young Associates” (a sort of junior Patrons group), we met a fellow Opera buff (Peter) who happened to be a financial advisor for UBS. Jennifer said “you have to tell him your college sculpture story”. I did. The guy was intrigued. I even noted that, based on encouragement from several alumni with significant means, I had tried to broker a purchase of the Rickey sculpture. Peter noted that, times being what they are, perhaps they would be more open to such a proposition now.

Here was the gracious reply:

Dear Mr. Payne,

Dominik Saam has forwarded to me below mails.

Thank you for your interest in our Rickey sculpture. I am very sorry to advise you that we have no intention to sell this sculpture. The sculpture is a perfect match with the UBS building and very much loved be the UBS staff working there and by the people in Zurich in general.
This fantastic sculpture has become an inherent part of Zurich and is featured in many touristic guides in Zurich.

We know that Sotheby’s NY plans to sell a George Rickey, Weathervane, 1976….maybe a small comfort?

Should we change our mind, I will certainly inform you immediately.

We hope you understand our decision and remain with

kind regards,

Irene Zortea
UBS Art Collection, Director
UBS AG
Global Wealth Management & Swiss Bank

P.O. Box
CH – 8098 Zurich

www.ubs.com/artcollection

I followed up with a nice thank you note, noting how several Chrinitoid devotees have made pilgrimages to the Zurich site, which evoked this response:

Dear Tom

Whenever you come to Switzerland it would be a pleasure to show you the sculpture. Could you kindly explain us why the sculpture is called Chrinitoid and what it means.

With kind regards
Dominik Saam

Dominik Saam
Executive Director
Cultural Affairs

Obviously, I need an excuse to visit Zurich!