HELVOIRT.- The tone of TEFAF Maastricht was confident, with top-level sales reported throughout the Fair as well as a healthy appetite for mid-market works. Interest was evident in all sections of the Fair, with numerous pieces of cultural and historical importance being sold or reserved by both private and institutional buyers. TEFAF Maastricht 2017 concludes on Sunday 19th March, at the MECC (Maastricht Exhibition & Congress Centre).

Antiquariat Bibermuehle AG Heribert Tenschert (Stand 214) finalised an important sale of a 12-volume series of books entitled Historia naturalis, originally created for Emperor Rudolph II of Habsburg between 1596-1610, to a private collector during TEFAF Maastricht, who will gift it on long-term loan to the Rijksmuseum. The series came to market for the first time in 25 year and was sold for a seven-figure sum.

The art historical prowess of the Fair was demonstrated by Tomasso Brothers Fine Art (Stand 310), who confirmed the sale of an extraordinarily important work by the Renaissance master Giambologna (1529-1608). One of the gallery’s highlights at TEFAF Maastricht 2017, it is the earliest recorded work by the artist and the only surviving sculpture that he carved in wood, making it unique in the artist’s oeuvre. The carving was acquired by a new client, an important European private collector, and was priced in the region of €1.5million.

Richard Green (Stand 302) reported strong interest in their Old Master offering with three works from the Dutch room on reserve with two US museums while Portrait of King Charles IX of France (1550-1574), by François Clouet (1515-1572) was sold to an important European collector. In addition, Dutch Old Master specialist Bijl – Van Urk BV (Stand 366) was delighted to report that Panoramic view with a Medieval Town at the St. Cecilia of Cologne, 1660s, by Jan van der Heyden (1637-1712) and Johannes Lingelbach (1622-1674) was sold to The Kremer Collection, and had an asking price of €225,000.

Sales in TEFAF Paintings continued with Stoppenbach & Delestre Ltd (Stand 331) who reported a selection of six-figure sales to both existing and new clients, including the delicate Batelier dans la Saulaie, c.1870, by Camille Corot (1796-1875), which went to a private collector. In addition, Kunstgalerij Albricht BV (Stand 360) selling Landschap bij Laren, 1910, by H. (Hermanus) Kuijt (1893-1978) to the Singer Museum.

Demand for important decorative arts objects was evident through the breadth of sales reported in TEFAF Antiques. Les Enluminures (Stand 276) were pleased to conclude a sale with the German government for the thousand-year-old Gospel Book of Liesborn Abbey in Westphalia for more than US$3 million. The work is returning to its homeland in a sale arranged by Les Enluminures and a partnership between the Kreis Warendorf and the Sparkasse Müsterland Ost.

H. Blairman & Sons (Stand 183) have been delighted with the 2017 edition of the fair – they have sold a number of works to buyers from the UK, USA, France, Germany, Belgium and Holland, including a bronze, partly gilded, with slate and marble jardinière, c.1865, by Eugène Cornu (died 1875) to a private collector.

Lewis Smith, Director of Koopman Rare Art (Stand 156), who reported a number of good sales, said of TEFAF Maastricht 2017, “What has been particularly notable is the way people have been making up their minds to buy very quickly which is always extremely encouraging and bodes well for the market in general.”

Oriental and Asian works of art were a particular draw in 2017. Jorge Welsh Works of Art (Stand 210) reported good sales across the board, selling both mid-range and top tier items to both new and existing clients, from Europe, South America and Asia. Sales included a set of six Dutch Province dishes, China – Qing dynasty (1644-1911), which went to a private collector for a six- figure sum, and a model of a Monkey Group, China – Qing dynasty, Qianlong period (1736-1795), which went to a museum in Asia for a high five-figure sum.

In addition, Ben Janssens Oriental Art Ltd (Stand 202) had sold over 70 items by the mid-point of the Fair, including a beautiful set of four iron paintings, Tiehua, China, Qing dynasty, 18th century, which had an asking price of €50,000. The set are among the finest examples or iron imitating ink painting. Alongside this, Rossi & Rossi (Stand 162) sold both classical and contemporary works, testament to the diverse taste of the TEFAF Maastricht collector. A colourful Tibetan cloth painting, Sabzang Pakpa Zhonnu Lodro (1358-1412/24) sold for in the region of US$400,000, whilst two contemporary works by Macau-based Russian artist Konstantin Bessmertny (b.1964) were sold, each in the region of US$15,000.

Works on paper proved extremely popular during the Fair, with illuminated manuscripts, rare maps, atlases, books, prints and drawings, to name a selection, all selling well. Shapero Rare Books (Stand 231) sold the illustrated folio Metamorphosis insectorum Surinamensium (Metamorphosis of the Insects of Surinam) by Maria Sibyella Merian (1647-1717) which had an asking price of £125,000 to a European collector.

TEFAF Paper also inspired collectors and visitors. Emanuel von Baeyer (Stand 704) sold 12 works to private collectors with further works on reserve with museums. A key work that sold was The Signboard of the Gersaint Gallery, 1732, the very rare engraving after Jean-Antoine Watteau (1684-1721). The collector who bought this is working with a contemporary artist to create new works inspired by the piece. In addition, James Butterwick (Stand 709) sold over €180,000 worth of works, including Still Life with Carafe and Glass on a Mirror, 1915 by Alexander Bogomazov (1880-1930) to a private Swiss collector whilst Stephen Ongpin Fine Art (Stand 724) sold seven works, three of which went to museums. A highlight sale was The Artist’s Son Giacomo Holding a Book, by Giovanni Battista Piazzetta (1682-1754) which sold for between €50,000 and €55,000.

The strength of TEFAF Modern was evident through the sales reported. Landau Fine Art, Inc. (Stand 416) had one of the biggest sales of the Fair, selling the monumental work Henri Michaux acteur Japonais, 1946 by Jean Dubuffet (1901-1985) which had an asking price of US$6.5 million, to a private collector. In addition, Hidde van Seggelen (Stand 501) sold Exquisite Corpse 01, 2016, by Harmen Brethouwer (b.1960). This captivating 3D printed work was acquired by the Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen.

Since its creation in 2008, TEFAF Showcase has provided an unrivalled platform for young or recently established galleries to participate in an internationally renowned Fair. To date, 17 dealers who have participated in TEFAF Showcase are now established exhibitors in TEFAF Maastricht, demonstrating the success of the initiative. The 2017 showcase exhibitors were Lullo Pampoulides Fine Art (Stand S1), Renaud Montméat Art D’Asie (Stand S2), Elisabetta Cipriani (Stand S3), Tribal Art Classics (Stand S4), and Sokyo Gallery (Stand S5).

The addition of TEFAF Tribal, within TEFAF Antiques, continued to be a draw for collectors. Bernard de Grunne (Stand 121) sold 11 Sepik works, from Papua New Guinea, to one private collector during the Fair. The buyer had long been a collector of African works and has now added this group of Oceanic works to his collection. The pieces ranged from €80,000 to €250,000.

A cross-section of classical antiquities were sold at Charles Ede (Stand 426) during the Fair including a statuette of the Apis bull, Late Dynastic Period, 26th Dynasty, c.664-525 BC, which had an asking price of £65,000, as well as an exceptional Graeco-Roman large footed basin, c.2nd-century BC, which had an asking price £160,000.

TEFAF Haute Joaillerie presents the extraordinary world of high jewellery making. Among the 8 exhibitors in this section, Otto Jakob (Stand 147) sold Nef, a long necklace with a pair of flower- filled cornucopia shaped pendants for €142,000.

“TEFAF Maastricht’s firm and long standing identity of combining both ancient, antique, modern and contemporary work is a successful one. The Fair is our first public presentation each year and we are glad to report strong consistent sales from the first 10 minutes of day 1." Christian Hemmerle, Hemmerle (Stand 141)

New exhibitor Modernity (Stand 535), part of TEFAF Design, had a very successful inaugural Fair, selling numerous pieces by Scandinavian designers, including a very important armchair by Danish furniture designer and cabinet maker Peder Moos (1906-1991) to a private US collector.

In celebration of 30 years of TEFAF Maastricht, founding dealer Johnny van Haeften (Stand 304) was awarded the Medal of Honour of the City of Maastricht, for his immeasurable contribution to TEFAF and the international art world.