TEFAF Maastricht 2009 is taking place (13-22 March 2009) in the most serious global economic crisis that has been seen for decades. Following the success of the Yves St. Laurent sale in Paris, all eyes turned to Maastricht to see how TEFAF would fare in these turbulent times. The result was what everybody hoped for but few dared to believe that the appetite for the best remains solid. Among the important sales were those of a Degas pastel, a life-size sculpture by Duane Hanson and a pair of Chinese ‘soldier’ vases.
TEFAF is regarded as the most important art and antiques Fair in the world. It attracts private and institutional collectors in all fields from around the globe. Curators from many major institutions including The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Musée du Louvre, The British Museum, The Prado and The Hermitage visited TEFAF. It is a serious Fair for serious buyers. Dealers knowing the high regard in which TEFAF is held rose to the occasion by bringing their very best things – recent discoveries, things that have not been on the market for several decades, the rare, the unusual and the important.
Antiques & Works of Art is the largest section of the Fair, covering all areas of the decorative arts. Asian Art has traditionally been very strong at the Fair and sales backed this up. Jorge Welsh Porcelain & Works of Art, Lisbon, reported meeting many new clients and sales included a pair of Chinese famille rose soldier vases, circa 1750, to a Chinese client, while fellow Portuguese dealer Luis Alegria Ida from Porto sold a wide variety of objects including a rare blue and white pear shaped ewer from the Jialong period (1522-1566). Amsterdam dealers, Blitz Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art sold a rare bronze buffalo, Western Zhu, 9th century BC to a French collector.
Continue reading "TEFAF Confims Art Market remains solid" »