M asterpiece London is a rather more bombastic enterprise than the sedate and scholarly Grosvenor House Art and Antiques Fair that went

before. In its fifth year this summer, CEO Nazy Vassegh was “delighted to present the strongest Masterpiece to date with international exhibitors presenting world-class art, antiques, jewellery and design” and one would imagine ecstatic to see that visitor numbers have more than doubled in that time.

The vast range of disciplines and styles at Masterpiece London gives buyers access to

periods, genres and media of every and any kind.

By SARAH FITZPATRICK

TOUR DE FORCERobb Report116 ART & DESIGN

The facade of this temporary

structure at Royal Hospital Chelsea has been covered

with a print that imitates

the architectural style of Sir

Christopher Wren.

Quality of exhibits are essential to the success of any fair and here, every item is examined by the vetting committee. Institutions such as Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, National Gallery of Australia, and Victoria and Albert Museum in London have all made acquisitions through the fair.

Here is a place you can browse alongside buyers from national museums, designers, artists and socialites.

Having stepped inside the temporary structure disguised as an extension to the Sir

Photo LUKE SHERIDAN-OLIVER

October – 2014 117ART & DESIGN

WHERE TO CROSS OVER Broaden your art horizons at the best fairs for branching out.

Frieze London 15-19 Oct 2014 With the addition of Frieze Masters just a short walk across Regent’s Park, this influential contemporary art fair has become a crossover opportunity not to be missed. If you love one, challenge yourself with the other.TEFAF Maastricht 13-22 Mar 2015The blue ribbon event in collector’s calendars, TEFAF Maastricht attracts the best dealers from around the

world. It broadened its crossover appeal in 2009 with the introduction of The Design section. At the Private View this year, 12,600 glasses of champagne and 21,420 glasses of wine helped oil the wheels.Masterpiece London 24 Jun- 1 Jul 2015Probably the best crossover opportunity on the block with its variety of exhibitors and lack of defined

sections – you can’t avoid stumbling across new creations to covet.Auctions, year-roundThe best auc t ion houses , such as Sotheby’s and Christie’s, of fer wonder fu l crossover opportunities throughout the year. Whatever sale you have been invited to view, there will be at least one other on display. Go off-piste for many more lots to bid for.

Robb Report118 ART & DESIGN

Main image:TEFAF 2014 drew

collectors from more than

50 countries.Inset:

Sladmore Contemporary’s

recreation of Green’s studio at Masterpiece.

Christopher Wren-designed Royal Hospital Chelsea, you can do some serious shopping, whether your heart desires a pair of duelling pistols, a Tang dynasty earthenware camel or diamonds previously worn by the Duchess of Windsor.

Art appreciation is invariably thirsty work, but Le Caprice, The Ivy, Scotts and The Mount Street Deli were on hand to sate appetites with a choice from a la carte dining to champagne and oysters.

You are free to drink, chat, eat, window-shop or buy in any combination.

So the visitors are relaxed and the galleries seem to enjoy it, too. Floris Vanderven of Vanderven Oriental Art, based

in the Netherlands, believes that mixing such a variety of art at one show benefits all the exhibitors. “Tastes are now more eclectic and quality will always marry or mix well,” he tells me.

Old-school collectors are being joined or even replaced by those looking for investment or decor pieces and for the inexperienced the variety and quality at Masterpiece makes it “a very good place to start”, according to Vanderven. Patrick Mestdagh of Belgium-based Patrick & Ondine Mestdagh agrees. He had brought his antique weapons jewellery and ethnographic objects for the second year and felt that the organisers at Masterpiece “add value with new clients”, giving him the opportunity to sell to people who have never considered ethnographic pieces before.

Part of the fun here is looking for something new and then deciding whether you like it.

Photos HARRY HEUTS/FOTOJOURNALIST, RORY LINDSAY

October – 2014 119ART & DESIGN

STATE OF THE ARTSome vital statistics from The TEFAF Art Market Report 2014, published by The European Fine Art Foundation.

• The international art and antiques market reached €47.4 billion ($79 billion) in 2013, close to its record total in 2007 and an eight-per-cent increase on 2012.• The volume of transactions increased in 2013 but by less than the growth in value, showing that the market increase was driven by higher-priced works, not more sales.• China staged a cautious recovery in 2013 with a two-per-cent growth in value, but its global share dropped by two per cent to 24 per cent. It is the most important of the newer markets.

Besides displays of artworks, Masterpiece visitors can also take

advantage of tours and talks conducted by the exhibitors and artists.

Below:TEFAF 2014.

Part of the fun here is looking for something new and then deciding whether you like it. Internationally acclaimed contemporary British artists Tim Noble and Sue Webster unveiled a stunning new piece apparently named for the show. The Masterpiece is a writhing mass of mummified creatures cast in sterling silver that creates a perfect shadow of the artists’ profiles as though on a pike. It garnered Object of the Year for them and the Blain Southern gallery.

Sladmore Contemporary was awarded Stand of the Year for displaying a rare recreation of British sculptor Nic Fiddian Green’s studio, even down to his view of the Surrey countryside at dawn.

Masterpiece London seems to have been accepted into the hierarchy of art fairs and positioned itself firmly as a luxury event on the social calendar, too, a crossover in itself. www.masterpiecefair.com ≠

TEFAF photo HARRY HEUTS/FOTOJOURNALIST