Maastricht meeting exhibits 7,000 years of art history under one roof

Euronews

18-03-2025

From Egyptian jewellery to 15th century armour to medieval illuminated manuscripts, old masters and exceptional contemporary design - Tefaf, Europe's principal fine arts fair, really has something for everyone.
It's a beacon in the knowledge economy that Maastricht is fostering with four universities, gastronomic delights and excellent cultural offerings.
On the opening preview days high rolling collectors, art advisors, over 60 experts from museums and institutions gather padding through the aisles in suitably stealth wealth style elegantly clad in Loro Piana, Bruno Cucinelli and Hermes. Their eyes are firmly on the prize and the socialising is convivial as they weigh up potential acquisitions in whatever niche they collect, whether 18th snuffboxes or Japanese ceramic art.
But there's always time for serendipity over oysters and Ruinart in the aisles and to discuss the prevailing trade winds including fierce new import/export tariffs.
Perhaps at Buccellati, a Blossoms bangle by the Italian jeweller who returns to the fair after the year hiatus, or a dreamy metalwork bed with peacocks and cabbage leaf motifs by Claude Lalanne at Romain Lefebvre which is on the market for €250,000.
With its sheepskin and wool coverings, in a room set featuring an Alberto Giacometti wall sculpture of a white bird, it's love at first sight. 'We want to show the best of the best here,' says Yana Mihailuka of Galerie Lefebvre (Paris). 'There is a good amount of work by Les Lalanne around but not too much and the bed is one of a kind. The appeal is so universal: it is humorous, joyful, surreal,' she adds. Architect Peter Marino, the Rothschilds and Yves Saint Laurent are amongst the roll call of collectors past and present.
Rare and exceptional artworks and artefacts are Tefaf's speciality making it a cornucopia for connoisseurs. Cue a fascination at Dr. Jörn Günther Rare Books, an illuminated manuscript expert from Switzerland, for a book of hours depicting young King Henry VIII of England supplicant to an angel and Catherine of Aragon, the first of his six wives and also with a precious book of wedding prayers.
'We are specialists in cross cultural art and antiques,' says Dickie Zebregs co-owner of Zebregs & Roell (Amsterdam/Maastricht) which has mind boggling stand of furniture and obscure artefacts from Oceania, China, Japan, Indonesia and Europe. He shrugs his shoulders at the impact of luxury's slowdown. 'We sold eight pieces in the first few hours including an East India Company silver bar, an intricate ebony cabinet by a Dutch maker and an engraved Japanese metalware hot water pot. The only other one of this quality and provenance is in the Rijksmuseum,' he says.
While prices can reach well into the multi-millions, in order to attract more customers Dominique Savelkoul, the new managing director, is launching initiatives to entice a new generation of collectors, including an interactive map that spotlights work under €20,000.
Ancient Roman and Greek antiquities can offer up comparative value with a black glazed Greek amphora at Charles Ede for €7,000 and an Egyptian carnelian falcon pendant jewellery at €2,000 from Kallos Gallery.
Mosaics and textile works also offer up alternatives to the hierarchy of painting. Giacometti, Gerhard Richter, Tracey Emin, Titian, Ai Weiwei, Hokusai, De Heem are amongst the fine art highlights from across the centuries. The most expensive artwork reported this year is a 1965 Picasso painting, Les Dormeurs, with an asking price of $50 million (€45 million) at Landau Fine Art. There was great attention at Richard Saltoun's solo display of Surrealist paintings and drawings by the Palestinian-born Lebanese artist Juliana Seraphim (1934-2005), chiming with the desire for underplayed female artists.
Indeed, many galleries are on a mission to blend and mix genres to shift perspectives and stimulate new aesthetic dialogues. The arresting juxtapositions inspire collectors to recalibrate their own domestic environments.
'In Paris, we held a show last year called Serendipity with mixed genres and it worked so well so here at Tefaf we are continuing that idea,' says Lucas Ratton of the Paris gallery founded by his great uncle, which is showcasing jewel coloured art nouveau glass alongside its speciality, tribal art. The booth with its dark green walls, bookshelves and seating evokes a stylish abode. 'People feel the resonance and it peaks curiosity,' adds Ratton.
Cross generational expertise, gallerists and collectors are prominent at Tefaf. Redmond Finer of Peter Finer (London) is a dealer in arms and armour from the Bronze Age to the 19th century. From a young age, he learned from his father about the trade: 'This is the greatest art fair in the world and that's down to the level of vetting. Our stand was looked at by 4 international experts and on the first morning we sold five pieces; we scour the world for finds. This is where you meet collectors and are taken seriously as art dealers,' says Finer.
Armour might seem like boys toys but Finer says more than 50 per cent of clients are women. And the pieces have a rare abstract appeal. A 15th century metal chamfron appears like a beautiful sculpture resonating on and beyond its original battle use.
Innovation and experimentation are part of the collectors story. Dutch tech entrepreneur Joel Kremer created a VR museum that platforms his parent's art collection of old masters online. His father George Kremer passed on good advice during a panel talk.
He and his wife, IIone, started in 1995 with their first acquisition attributed to a pupil of Rembrandt. 'The first is the most difficult hurdle but I persevered studying, following auctions and talking to dealers. I decided to focus on Dutch and Flemish old masters – you have to specialise to do something well. Decide what you love and like what you buy. Forget about the name!' says Kremer. Whether a newbie or an experienced hand, all collections have to start somewhere.
Tefaf Maastrichtruns until 20th March.