Masterpiece London 2017 – Introduction

Masterpiece London 2017, South Grounds, The Royal Hospital, Chelsea, London SW3, 29^th June – 5^th July 2017

MASTERPIECE PRESENTS
Iván Navarro
Impenetrable Room
2017
Courtesy Paul Kasmin Gallery

Since its inception this fair has grown into one of the most must-visit events of the art and antiques year. Some thirty-seven thousand visitors last year! It attracts museum directors and private collectors from all over the world to see the artworks shown by a hundred and fifty international dealers. The artworks range from antiquity to the present time. The Royal Bank of Canada is once again the principal sponsor

This year the new MASTERPIECE PRESENTS will reveal a large-scale dedicated exhibition space at the entrance which has been transformed by a special artwork – Impenetrable Room, 2017. Created by the Chilean artist Iván Navarro it has been commissioned by the New York-based Paul Kasmin Gallery who are new exhibitors.

Over the coming days I look forward to sharing blogs on some of the leading dealers taking part.

www.masterpiecefair.com

BOOK REVIEW: Going Once

Oct19

Going Once: 250 Years of Culture, Taste and Collecting at Christie’s

ISBN: 978 0 7148 7202 5

Phaidon

£39.95

What better way to celebrate two hundred and fifty years as a leading art business than through the two hundred and fifty objects selected for this book. It is a wonderful survey of these remarkable sales and the high prices achieved whether for a 3,000-year-old Assyrian frieze or Dorothy’s ruby slippers from The Wizard of Oz. Paintings, furniture, gold and silver, sculpture, wine, even a London Routemaster bus are included. One feature I like is that as well as giving the original sale price they also give today’s equivalent value.

This is a great book to dip into time and time again as there is much to learn and enjoy from it.

phaidon.com

Masterpiece London 2016 – Preview

Jun29

Masterpiece London 2016, The Bull Ring Gate Entrance, South Grounds, The Royal Hospital Chelsea, London SW3, 30^thJune – 6^th July 2016

Nazy Vassegh, CEO of Masterpiece with J.F. Courville, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at the RBC Wealth Management
2015
Courtesy Masterpiece London

Now in its 7^th edition one can easily understand why Masterpiece has become a magnet for collectors and museum curators from around the world. There is a great emphasis on quality and connoisseurship and the pieces on show reflect more than five thousand years of art history – and yes they are for sale.

Vetting during Masterpiece London 2015
Courtesy Masterpiece London

Masterpiece’s chief executive Nazy Vassegh says: ‘I am delighted to announce so many exciting additions to this year’s fair. Masterpiece 2016 will have unrivalled depth and quality, and I am pleased that Masterpiece continues to strengthen every edition. We are looking forward to another great year.’

It truly is a must visit fair and allow yourself plenty of time because there are so many exciting things to see and tempt. Like me you may well want visit more than once.

Vetting during Masterpiece London 2015
Courtesy Masterpiece London

Over the coming days I will post varied selections of what is on show.

http://www.masterpiecefair.com

BOOK REVIEW – Marc Allum

Nov29

ALLUM’S ANTIQUES ALMANAC 2016

Marc Allum

Icon Books

£16.99, Demy HBK ● ISBN 9781848319356

9781848319356_lowres

Many of you will know antique specialist Marc Allum from his appearances on the BBC Antiques Roadshow and you can now enjoy more of his anecdotal insights and observations on this specialist world in this new edition for 2016. He reveals a world filled with the unusual, passion and avarice with subtle sense of humour and common sense. It is a book to dip into time and again.

http://www.iconbooks.com

A Royal Welcome

Aug14

A Royal Welcome, The Summer Opening of the State Rooms at Buckingham Palace, until 27^th September 2015.

The Ballroom at Buckingham Palace prepared for a State Banquet
Royal Collection Trust (c) Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, 2015

It is hard to imagine the idea, living in a small flat, that as many as sixty-two thousand guests were invited to Buckingham Palace last year. They came to Garden Parties, receptions, Investitures, private audiences and finally and certainly not least State Visits with their full panoply of splendour.

The Australian State Coach, on display at the Grand Entrance. It is used as part of the arrival procession on the first day of a State Visit.
Royal Collection Trust (c) Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, 2015

For the first time this year visitors to the Summer Opening are allowed to enter the Palace through the Grand Entrance. As you do so you will pass the Australian State Coach which was used to bring Prince Philip and Señora Rivera de Peña, wife of the President of the United Mexican States, in the procession which brought the Queen and the Mexican President to the Palace at the commencement of their State Visit in March this year.

Knighting Stool
Royal Collection Trust (c) Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, 2015

As you progress through the State Rooms you will come upon displays that reflect the various reasons why guests are invited. In the Throne Room Investitures is the theme with a display of orders, the Knighting Stool and sword as well as paintings of recipients of the Order of Merit.

Salt cellar acquired by George I, c.1721 and placed in front of The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh at a State Banquet. It contains two compartments – one for salt, the other mustard.
Royal Collection Trust (c) Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, 2015

The State Banquet in the Ballroom is the highlight of a State Visit and this year visitors see how the table is set-out for a banquet. It is a truly impressive sight with pieces from George IV’s silver-gilt Grand Service adorning the table which has one hundred and seventy place settings. It must be even more spectacular when the Queen and her guests are there.

Historic copper mould used to make ice cream bombes, served at State Banquets
Royal Collection Trust (c) Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, 2015

Just before you go into the Ballroom you pass through the Ball Supper Room which has displays showing some of the behind-the-scenes preparations for a State banquet including the kitchens, silver and china pantries and the wine cellars. The recreation of the Dresser’s workroom includes items worn by the Queen and in adjoining displays there are some of her evening gowns worn at Banquets over the years as well as some of her personal diamond jewellery which she wears with them.

Tree of Life – a traditional Mexican clay sculpture, presented to The Queen by the President of the United Mexican States, 2015
Royal Collection Trust (c) Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, 2015

In the State Dining Room some of the gifts presented to Her Majesty by visiting Heads of State are on show. It is customary for gifts to be exchanged on the first day of a State Visit as a token of goodwill. Garden Parties are celebrated in the display in the Music Room. As you leave the Palace through the Bow Room the doors are open to the 1844 Drawing Room on the right which is set up for a meeting of the Privy Council. It is also the room where new Ambassadors present their credentials to the Queen and where she receives people in audience.

Centrepiece in use during a State Banquet at Buckingham Palace
Royal Collection Trust (c) Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, 2015

Visitors to the Summer Opening always get a most warm and friendly welcome from all the attendants on duty which helps make it such a special pleasure to visit the Palace. What this year’s theme does is show how very special and wonderful it is to be invited as a guest of Her Majesty the Queen.

The Ballroom at Buckingham Palace set up for a State Banquet.
Royal Collection Trust (c) Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, 2015

http://www.royalcollection.org.uk

From Versailles to Masterpiece

Jun25

MASTERPIECE LONDON 2015: From Versailles to Masterpiece

The Antique Wine Company (AWC) is marking its twenty-fifth anniversary by unveiling a rather special wine case at the Fair. It is made from a three hundred and twenty year old oak tree from Versailles which is reputed to have been one of Marie Antoinette’s favourite trees.

It became a victim of drought in 2005 and was felled, with the wood being purchased by Cordier Mestrezat of Bordeaux. Their craftsmen then designed and created this unique piece.

It contains four special bottles of wine which are rarely available on the open market –Château Petrus, Château Latour, Château d’Yquem and Domaine de la Romanée Conti La Tache – which are all 1990 vintage, reflecting the AWC’s special anniversary. A real connoisseur’s treat!

http://www.awc-wine.com