THE right up to the second style at the Masterpiece Fair now in full swing at Chelsea in London reflects the changing tastes of the worlds inhabited by collectors of every hue. It goes without saying that quality is the byword here and the presentation is interesting in its mix. The rule is that there are no rules. There is no zoning in this sprawling and stylish fair now in its fifth year. Instead everything is a mix. You will find African art adjacent to the most fantastic antique furniture, antiquities across from contemporary art, fabulous jewels and a recreated art studio. This reflects the changing tastes in cutting edge contemporary interiors, where modern, contemporary and antique pieces are presented side by side. There are many highlights at Masterpiece. Here is a small selection:
A pair of George III Irish dumb waiters c1780 at the stand of antique dealer and interior consultant Edward Hurst. (Provenance – Lord Kilmaine, Gaulstown House, Co. Westmeath). The asking price is £22,000
The Grace Cabinet 2014 by Linley
An exceptionally large and antique Irish lantern at Apter-Fredericks priced at £150,000.
An Irish George II bottle carrier c1750 oriced £68,000 at Apter-Fredericks.
A classic landscape by the Irish artist George Barret (1728-1784) at James Harvey. It is priced at £12,000.
Blain Southern unveiled The Masterpiece by Tim Noble and Sue Webster. Specially created for the fair from the remains of mummified animals case in sterling silver it is a classic shadow sculpture which creates a silhouette portrait of the artists on the blank wall behind.
Double Dated by Alexander Calder dates from both 1974 and 1973. Its presentation against a black wall in a studio space on the stand of Barcelona Gallery Manuel Barbie is magnificent. The price is undisclosed.