The Maastricht antique fair had its best start ever with exhibitors netting good results on the day of its opening on March 16th 1999. Over 7300 visitors attended the opening though the fair was less rich with exceptional objects, most great pieces being sold by auction houses at present.
Still, buyers were being offered a large variety of objects apart from a certain lack of choice for 18th Century French furniture and Asian pieces. After the first four days, a majority of transactions revolved within a US $ 50,000-300,000 price range.
Anthony Blumka sold 17 pieces including an alabaster sculpture representing Judith holding the head of Holophern by Gert van Egen (made circa 1570) for US $ 250,000 while Belgian dealer Philippe Denys, specialising in 20th Century furniture was elated after recording over 45 sales.
German bookseller Tenschert sold an illuminated manuscript by the Master of Boucicault for over US $ 1,25 million one hour after the opening while his rival Jorn Günther recorded eight sales concerning manuscripts, miniatures, an early printed book called «Ars moriendi» (US $ 300,000) and his best piece, the «Arenberg Missel» (US $ 1,4 million).
The Neuse Gallery, specialising in Renaissance and 17th Century pieces, sold 12 objects though not his best. However two museums, one American and the other German, have announced their intention to acquire his sculpture of St John the Baptist by Spanish artist Juan de la Huerta for about US $ 250,000. The French gallery Bresset has also been exhibiting another sculpture by this artist (announced at $ 420,000) and sold already ten mediaeval pîeces between US $ 5,000 and 20,000 as well as a painting of the primitive school for US $ 85,000.
Regarding Impressionist and modern paintings the Paris Cazeau-de la Béraudière gallery sold a drawing by Picasso, two works by Vuillard and a 1936 painting by Robert Delaunay (US $ 700,000) on the opening day. Both dealers said they had never worked so well in so short a time in a fair. In addition, French galleries specialising in tapestries such as Chevalier and Blondeel-De Royan registered good results while old master paintings, despite the limited presence of masterpieces, sold relatively well.
The Maastricht antique fair had its best start ever with exhibitors netting good results on the day of its opening on March 16th 1999. Over 7300 visitors attended the opening though the fair was less rich with exceptional objects, most great pieces being sold by auction houses at present.
Still, buyers were being offered a large variety of objects apart from a certain lack of choice for 18th Century French furniture and Asian pieces. After the first four days, a majority of transactions revolved within a US $ 50,000-300,000 price range.
Anthony Blumka sold 17 pieces including an alabaster sculpture representing Judith holding the head of Holophern by Gert van Egen (made circa 1570) for US $ 250,000 while Belgian dealer Philippe Denys, specialising in 20th Century furniture was elated after recording over 45 sales.
German bookseller Tenschert sold an illuminated manuscript by the Master of Boucicault for over US $ 1,25 million one hour after the opening while his rival Jorn Günther recorded eight sales concerning manuscripts, miniatures, an early printed book called «Ars moriendi» (US $ 300,000) and his best piece, the «Arenberg Missel» (US $ 1,4 million).
The Neuse Gallery, specialising in Renaissance and 17th Century pieces, sold 12 objects though not his best. However two museums, one American and the other German, have announced their intention to acquire his sculpture of St John the Baptist by Spanish artist Juan de la Huerta for about US $ 250,000. The French gallery Bresset has also been exhibiting another sculpture by this artist (announced at $ 420,000) and sold already ten mediaeval pîeces between US $ 5,000 and 20,000 as well as a painting of the primitive school for US $ 85,000.
Regarding Impressionist and modern paintings the Paris Cazeau-de la Béraudière gallery sold a drawing by Picasso, two works by Vuillard and a 1936 painting by Robert Delaunay (US $ 700,000) on the opening day. Both dealers said they had never worked so well in so short a time in a fair. In addition, French galleries specialising in tapestries such as Chevalier and Blondeel-De Royan registered good results while old master paintings, despite the limited presence of masterpieces, sold relatively well.
The Trafalgar Galleries have been offering a superb painting by Carlo Dolci for $ 600,000, Noortman has been exhibiting a still life with shells by Adriaen Coorte ($ 700,000), Johnny van Haeften has already sold a work by David Teniers and Colnaghi many paintings in the region of $ 180,000. The star of the show was «The Scourging of Christ» by the Master of the Passion of Karlsruhe, bought in Drouot last December for $ 4,5 millions, presented by Colnaghi of London.
The Hall & Knight Gallery of New York sold a painting by French artist Jean-François de Troy, «Le Jeu pied de bœuf» for $ 1,65 million. A similar scene by Nicolas Lancret, an early 18th Century French artist, has been offered at the same price while the Simon Dickinson & James Roundell Gallery has announced that a pleasant 1814 portrait by Drolling, bought in Tours, western France, for some $ 150,000, was practically sold at about $ 300,000.
The Brussels and Paris dealer Georges de Jonckheere already sold eight paintings between $ 45,000 and $ 1,6 million. He notably sold one of his three Brueghel paintings, the village fair around the May tree, bought $ 1,047 million in New York at Sotheby's last January, the return from the village fair and the wedding dance in an interior but did not say which. Meanwhile Rob Smeets has been exhibiting one of the most attractive paintings, a caravagesque work by Gerrit van Honthorst showing Christ insulted and offered at $ 3 millions.
Richard Green awaited a buyer for his Clara Peeters' cheese still life, bought for $ 1,866 million at Drouot last year and now offered at $ 2,86 millions, while Martin Zimet from the French & Company Gallery has been hoping to sell a Frans Post painting, bought $ 3 millions at Sotheby's in 1994, now offered at $ 6 millions. Zimet has also been showing a painting by Millet (offered at $ 3 millions) and another by Gustave Moreau (at $ 1,2 million).
The French Jean-François Heim gallery, has been exhibiting Danish paintings from the 19th Century and has already registered some 15 orders from buyers, notably for works by Frolich, Barentzen, Kobke or Sofring. Visitors also admired some splendid pieces of jewels exhibited in the fair, notably animals or insects shown by the Hemmerle Gallery, including a spectacular giant spider inlaid with 112 carats of diamonds offered at over $ 2 millions while a Harry Winston set of jewellery with 12 yellow diamonds has been offered at $ 3,5 millions.
The star of the show has been Cartier's «Snake of eternity» adorned with two 205 and 206 carat emeralds offered at $ 11,12 millions. Buyers were however interested in more modest pieces sold between $ 20,000 and 150,000. There were also some good silver pieces such as a 16th Century Strasbourg rock cristal and silver-gilt double cup from the Rothschild collection offered at $ 1,25 million (Phillips Gallery) while some good German pieces were seen at the Neuse Gallery.
Some galleries specialising in primitive and pre-Columbian art scored well with Lin and Emile Deletaille from Brussels selling 16 pieces though they awaited big buyers for their best objects, three Olmec masks at over $ 1 million a piece, a El Bolo Columbian flowered gold crown at $ 750,000 and a monumental Totonac pre-Columbian terracotta statue at $ 1 million.
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