Masterpiece

With fewer collectors and international dealers expected in London this summer, the capital’s high-end art fair 'Masterpiece' migrates online for its 2021 edition

A George IV rosewood table with an Italian specimen marble top, c.1820, was among the highlight sales at Masterpiece’s recent virtual edition, selling with an asking price of £75,000 to a private collector.

This 18th century monumental royal coat of arms by John Steell is offered by Wick Antiques in its second edition of 'Britain and the High Seas' at 'Masterpiece', held online this year.

The organisers of Fine Art Asia in Hong Kong have confirmed the event will proceed as planned, despite the ongoing anti-government protests in the city.

Items on offer reflect collecting ethos of the annual London fair now in its 10th year.

A set of three George II silver tea caddies by the famed English silversmith Paul de Lamerie (1688-1751) was one of the stand-out sales in the opening days of 'Masterpiece London'.

Housed in a remarkable purpose-built marquee, Masterpiece London returns to the grounds of the Royal Hospital in Chelsea for its tenth anniversary

When Sir Robert Burdett (1716-97), 4th Baron Bramcote, undertook the remodelling of his early 18th century home Foremarke Hall from 1759-62, he contracted Thomas Chippendale to refurnish the house. The cabinet maker – one of several employed in the project – was paid around £1000 for the giltwood seating furniture which is thought to have included at least 10 elbow chairs, two window seats and a sofa.

Kensington Church Street clock dealer Howard Walwyn will offer this previously unknown Thomas Tompion walnut and mulberry longcase at the Masterpiece fair in London.

Theseus and the Minotaure (1950), the largest oil on canvas ever produced by artist Keith Vaughan (1912-77) outside of publicly commissioned works, is on offer at Osborne Samuel this month.

During 'Masterpiece London', Zoe Karafylakis Sperling of Hauser & Wirth, the international modern and contemporary art gallery, reflected that the event made for a change from the gallery’s typical large, frenetic, contemporary art fairs.

Air-conditioned Masterpiece London concluded its ninth edition last week after running from June 28-July 4.