1. 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 FORCE
Robb 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
inLondonhaveallmadeacquisitionsthrough
the fair.
Here is a place you can browse alongside
buyers from national museums, designers,
artists and socialites.
Having stepped inside the temporary
structuredisguisedasanextensiontotheSir
Photo LUKE SHERIDAN-OLIVER

2. 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 2015
The 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 2015
Probably 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-round
The best auction houses,
such as Sotheby’s and Christie’s,
offer wonderful 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.

3. 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,
whetheryourheartdesiresapairofduelling
pistols,aTangdynastyearthenwarecamelor
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
appetiteswithachoicefromalacartedining
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
VandervenofVandervenOrientalArt,based
intheNetherlands,believesthatmixingsuch
a variety of art at one show benefits all the
exhibitors.“Tastesarenowmoreeclecticand
quality will always marry or mix well,” he
tells me.
Old-school collectors are being joined or
evenreplacedbythoselookingforinvestment
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-
basedPatrick&OndineMestdaghagrees.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

4. October – 2014 119ART & DESIGN
STATE OF THE ART
Some 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
Masterpieceisawrithingmassofmummified
creatures cast in sterling silver that creates
a perfect shadow of the artists’ profiles as
though on a pike. It garnered Object of the
YearforthemandtheBlainSoutherngallery.
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