Masterpiece

After the demise of Masterpiece London, its spiritual successor The Treasure House Fair in Chelsea is now offering art of the highest quality, as Frances Allitt reports

The 2023 edition of Masterpiece London and the summer Art & Antiques Fair Olympia have both been cancelled, leaving a crater in the capital’s summer season.

Brexit and decline in international exhibitors also blamed as Masterpiece is among the latest to close

Dealer Karen Taylor is among those noting that “collectors seem to be following the trend set by museums and buying more work by women”.

Sales abounded at TEFAF Maastricht and Masterpiece London this summer.

Special report on Masterpiece and TEFAF Maastricht – both held in summer this year

When a new client with an interest in Roman marbles visited Charles Ede at TEFAF, they liked what they saw but thought they would come back.

A strong turn-out of collectors at the patron and curator evening of Masterpiece London and a busy preview day helped exhibitors to achieve significant early sales as the fair returned after a two-year pandemic-induced break.

The summer season is back in force. For the first time since 2019 there is a wealth of major art and antiques events for eager buyers and dealers.

Exhibitors and regulars of Masterpiece London are among those celebrating the extraordinary life of the late Philip Hewat-Jaboor.

Prestigious Chelsea fair Masterpiece can even boast an official champagne partner.

Clock specialist Carter Marsh will dedicate much of its stand at Masterpiece London to the third and final part of the remarkable John C Taylor collection of horological items.

Dealers and fairgoers are having to come to terms with widespread changes in the ticketing of fairs.

Old Masters dealers on the international fairs circuit have a robust range of exhibiting options ahead, despite nearly two years of pandemic-related disruption.

The June calendar for art and antiques fairs is filling up as TEFAF revealed new dates.

Among the sales at the latest edition of Masterpiece, which ran in a digital format for the second year running from June 24-27, was this Neoclassical portrait of the Emperor Napoleon in his coronation robe.