The building at 12-13 Duke Street has been purchased by fellow dealer Fabrizio Moretti who plans to open a gallery on the premises.
The leases of the existing tenants came to an end and were not renewed. This forced Van Haeften, sculpture specialists Tomasso Brothers, Old Master dealer Derek Johns and Cartier dealer Harry Fane to all leave.
Van Haeften, who launched his gallery 40 years ago, is now running his business from a refurbished coach house next to his home in Ham, Richmond in south-west London. Clients can visit by appointment only.
He has reduced his stock over the past 18 months from 225 paintings to around 60. He will keep paintings in storage close by to his home and only have artworks on show at the coach house gallery when clients visit.
Van Haeften said: “The world is changing. All the deals we did in the last year with clients such as international museums were done through friendships and relationships. They hadn’t visited the gallery. It is rare someone walks off the street and says ‘That’s pretty. I will have it.’”
He added: “Judging by the 400 emails I have had, many people will be visiting us here in Richmond when they next visit London.
He added that his website is now the main portal for enquiries and he will continue to take a stand at fairs and will show at TEFAF Maastricht in March.
Derek Johns, who traded from Duke Street for more than 20 years, has relocated to 10 Bury Street, close by in St James’s. Tomasso Brothers, which also operates from Bardon Hall in Leeds, is looking for a new London gallery.
