In addition to the traditional areas of Old Master Paintings and antique Works of Art, this edition presents a wide variety of Classical Modern and Contemporary Art, Photographs, as well as Jewellery, 20th Century Design and Works on Paper.
TEFAF Maastricht, the world’s leading art fair, is renowned
for its commitment to excellence, expertise and elegance. This is reflected in the
range and quality of rare works of art that are for sale at the fair, which is held in the
MECC (Maastricht Exhibition & Conference Centre) from 13 – 22 March 2015. More
than 270 of the world’s finest art, antiques and design dealers will bring their very
best pieces to the 2015 edition of TEFAF Maastricht, attracting private collectors,
museum curators, art market professionals and art lovers from many different
countries.
This year the fair will undertake a new initiative in the form of a guest-curated
contemporary exhibition. Night Fishing curated by Sydney Picasso and Hidde van
Seggelen, will present a show of post-modern and contemporary sculpture designed to
complement the TEFAF Modern section and will include artists such as Georg Baselitz,
Tony Cragg and Richard Deacon. The exhibition will offer a view of the contemporary
sculptural landscape, which has a direct classical, cultural, historical and visual dialogue
with artists and art disciplines already present at TEFAF.
TEFAF has long been famed for the quality of pictures on show and for sale ranging from
Old Masters through to the Impressionists and Post-War examples. The Weiss Gallery,
London is bringing a remarkable collection of nine works by Frans Pourbus the Younger
(1569-1622), the most captivating of which is possibly Portrait of a Man, at the age of fifty-
six. This portrait, which is regarded as one of the best works from the artist’s early period
has recently come back onto the market having been in the same private collection for
over fifty years.
Moretti, of Florence, London and New York will show The Madonna and Child with a
Goldfinch by Studio of Alessandro Filipepi, called Sandro Botticelli. Originally attributed to
Botticelli himself and thought to have been painted in the 1480s, in the 1930s opinion
changed and it is now believed to have been created by a painter in Botticelli’s workshop
at the beginning of the sixteenth century. It has been exhibited in the Metropolitan
Museum of Art.
Staying in the 20 century, Thomas Gibson Fine Art, London will bring Laurette au châle
vert by Henri Matisse (1869-1954) which has come directly from the estate of the artist. His
mastery of the expressive language of colour and drawing, displayed in a body of work
spanning over a half-century, won him recognition as a leading figure in modern art.
The TEFAF Paper section was inaugurated five years ago and has become known for the
strength of its offering. On the stand of Crouch Rare Books, London will be all 12 volumes
of Le Grand Atlas, which was in 1663 the largest atlas ever published by Johannes Blaeu. It
was famed for its production values, its high typographic standard, and the quality of its
engraving, ornamentation, binding and colouring. The atlas frequently served as the official
gift of the Dutch Republic to the princes and other authorities. It is one of the most lavish
and highly prized of all seventeenth-century illustrated books.
Les Enluminures, Paris will bring a Prayer Book by Albrecht Dürer, Heinrich Aldegrever,
Johan Wierix, Crispijn de Passe the Elder, and others. Coming from a private collection in
the USA, this previously unpublished Prayer Book constitutes a new addition to the Dürer
canon and is an example of a hybrid manuscript with inserted prints and illuminated
borders. It contains 14 engravings by Dürer, with contemporary hand-colouring, all from
the 'Engraved Passion' executed between 1507 and 1512. Other coloured engravings
complete the volume, the unusual text of which may have been specially assembled and
written circa 1600 to complement a pre-existing collection of prints.
The extraordinary calibre of the objets d’art found at the fair is evident. Hancocks, London
will bring an Art Deco Chinoiserie desk clock (1925) by Lacloche Frères, which since the
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19 century has been synonymous with some of the greatest jewellery and objets d’art
ever produced. Crafted in mother-of-pearl, carved coral, black lacquer, rose quartz, carved
agate, blue enamel and diamonds, the dial decoration is by the famed Russian craftsman
Vladimir Makovsky (1884-1966). Though the art of inlay was primarily credited to Far
Eastern artisans in the Art Deco period, Makovsky is known to have practiced the
technique with as much skill as those in Asia.
TEFAF is celebrated for the breadth of works on offer – presenting 7000 years of art
history under one roof. Starting at the very beginning of this range, the fair showcases the
very finest antiquities, all with impeccable provenances. Charles Ede, London will bring
what will probably be the oldest portrait at the fair: an exquisite Egyptian panel portrait of
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a young woman from the early 2 century AD. Originating from er-Rubaiyat in the Fayum,
south of Cairo, it was excavated in the late 19th century and formed part of the renowned
collection of Theodor Graf (1840-1903), it was then acquired in the late 1920s by the
Viennese collector Irene Heintschel-Heinegg.
These portraits, painted from life, were
unique to the Roman period in Egypt, combining the traditions of Egyptian mummification
and Greek portraiture. After death the panel was used in the mummification process, to
cover the face. These portraits offer invaluable insights into Egyptian society, allowing us
to determine not only the contemporary fashions in clothing and jewellery but also
ethnicity and physical appearance.
Further strengthening the antiquities offering, Rupert Wace, London will exhibit an
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Egyptian painted wood panel from the sarcophagus of Hathorhotep, 12 Dynasty, c.1890-
1800 BC, which is in remarkable condition. This striking piece comes from the collection of
Pasha Sayyid Khashaba and is believed to be from the Middle Kingdom cemetery at Meir,
Upper Egypt on the West Bank of the Nile. Sayyid Khashaba, a wealthy merchant, was
granted the excavation concession to this site by the Egyptian government in 1910.
Sometime prior to 1977 the heirs of the Pasha sold it to the Swiss collector, Mr. A
Thommen in whose collection it remained until recently.
In the Haute Joaillerie section TEFAF is delighted to welcome Alexandre Reza, Paris for
the first time. Alexandre Reza was born in Moscow in 1922 and became one of the most
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influential gem connoisseurs of the 20 century. Not only did he gather one of the greatest
collections of rare gems, he also created true works of art. He became known as the very
private jeweller from Place Vendôme to the royals and the rich and famous. They will
present La Chose Ring, featuring a natural Colombian 11.72ct. cabochon emerald set on a
rose gold and diamond mount.
Photography further widens the breadth of disciplines on offer at the fair and Hans P.
Kraus, Jr. Fine Photographs, New York, will bring A Study of the Cenci, an albumen print
by Julia Margaret Cameron created in 1868. This study portrays Kate Keown gazing into
space with ardent eyes and draped in a striped headdress as the young Beatrice Cenci
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accepting her fate.
The story of this tragic heroine from 16 -century Rome was well known
at that time. Sixteen-year-old Beatrice plotted with her brothers and stepmother to kill her
father as revenge for his violation of her. Found guilty of murder, she was hanged. To the
Victorians, a story like this allowed for a level of emotion and drama that was otherwise
restrained in real life. It also enabled Cameron to tackle a theme of noble and moral intent.
Only one other print from the same negative has been located, in the collection of the
Victor Hugo Museum, Paris.
The rarest furniture from all periods can be found at the fair. From a Louis XV commode
by Master Maker Adrien Delorme in rosewood, amaranth, tinted wood, gilded bronze and
Sarrancolin marble, which came from the Rothschild dynasty on show with Galerie
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Aveline, Paris, to one of the 20 century’s most sensuous and iconic pieces of furniture:
the Mae West Lips sofa designed by Salvador Dali, on the stand of Patrick Derom Gallery,
Brussels.
Conceived in 1936, the lip sofa relates to Dali's paintings and drawings that were inspired
by the Hollywood actress, Mae West. Face of Mae West, for instance, depicts her features
as objects in a surrealist room, with her eyes as paintings, her nose as a fireplace and her
lips as a sofa. Only five sofas are known to have been made.
Press Contact:
Madelon Strijbos, press@tefaf.com
Opening hours
13 - 22 March 2015
Daily 11am - 7pm
Sunday 22 March 11am - 6pm
Maastricht Exhibition & Congress Centre
(MECC) Forum 100 6229 GV Maastricht
Netherlands
Admission:
Entrance ticket € 40
Combined ticket entrance and catalogue € 55
Double ticket, including one catalogue € 95
Season ticket, including one catalogue € 115
Children 12-18 years € 20
Children 0-12 years free
Catalogue € 25