No less than 260 leading art and antiques dealers from 16 countries will bring their treasures to The European Fine Art Fair (TEFAF) silver jubilee in Maastricht, The Netherlands, from March 16-25 next. An insistence on quality has transformed TEFAF from a relatively small scale event in 1988 to one of the world’s most important art and antiques fairs. It attracts collectors, curators and connoisseurs from more than 50 countries. Last year 30,000 people visited on the opening weekend, and there was 125 private jets.
Exhibitors taking part this year are from Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Korea, Monaco, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States and Uruguay. Visitors to the 2012 Fair will be greeted by a new entrance hall designed for the 25th anniversary containing a light installation by the artist Leo Villareal. Vetting of all exhibits takes place a week before the event begins. Here are some of the upcoming exhibits:
René Lalique Art Nouveau gold, diamond and enamel dragonfly pendant, depicting four dragonflies, with greenish-blue enamelled legs and wings with complex gold veining set with diamonds and green and blue plique-à-jour enamel, centering a large oval aquamarine; on a rod and link enamelled gold chain. Lalique is the undisputed genius of Art Nouveau jewellery. He turned completely upside down the conventions of French jewellery design and manufacture by introducing in their place an entirely new form of artistic expression which was to totally transform the jeweller’s art. Today Lalique’s jewels remain the most powerful and poignant reminders of the turn of the century. Paris, circa 1903. Epoque Fine Jewels (click on image to enlarge).
Gustave Courbet (1819-1877) Effet de Neige c1866-1868. Courbet painted this remarkable image in his native Ornans region during the uncommonly cold and snowy winters of 1866-68. Using an aggressive painting technique and an unmistakable color scheme, Effet de neige is one of the most beautiful snow scenes in French art. Exhibitor: French & Company (click to enlarge).
Sèvres bottle cooler from the Emperor Joseph II Service from exhibitor Michele Beiny. It is from the service presented by Louis XVI to Marie Antoinette's brother, Joseph II in 1777. (Click on image to enlarge).