The Cultura Basel Fair devoted to archaeology and applied arts opened on October 16th 2000. Sponsored by the UBS bank, this event gathers 78 dealers who are showing many magnificent pieces at prices going up to $ 8 million (for 23 pearls exhibited by Stefan Hermmerle from Munich). Cultura Basel has tried to imitate the Maastricht fair in many ways after hiring its decorator Tom Postma who said that he wanted to create a comfortable setting.
There has been quite a severe selection regarding archaeological pieces some of which are quite extraordinary, such as a pair of silver bracelets (Greece 7th Century B.-C) offered at $ 200,000 or a pre-Columbian treasure exhibited by David Bernstein from New York consisting of 130 gold objects weighing 10 kilos from the Sinu culture (700-1400 A.D) and tagged at $ 3,5 million.
Home
