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The Fair Masterpiece London, perfectly situated at the peak of the capital’s summer season, brings together exhibitors from across the world renowned for specialising in art, antiques and design of the highest calibre. Join us for a cultural sensation!
It’s about Excellence This is no ordinary event, but a forum for distinctive design and aesthetic excellence where every exhibit offered is scrutinised by a team of experts to ensure every confidence in each purchase.
It’s about Enjoyment Masterpiece London adds the magnificent Scott’s Champagne & Seafood Bars to its stable this summer, alongside classic Member’s Club Harry’s Bar, The Mount Street Deli, and an a la carte lunch or dinner at the timeless Le Caprice.
It’s about Appreciation Each day, exhibitors will present insights into their given area of expertise so if your interest is portraits or pocket watches, mirrors or miniatures, Degas or diamonds, Masterpiece London gives you the opportunity to get up close and personal with some of the finest examples at the fair and to learn from the world’s leading luminaries.
A unique opportunity to purchase some of the finest pieces on the market
Afternoon Insights at Masterpiece London 2013 08/05/13
Thursday 27 June, Afternoon Insights
12.00
30 minute highlights tour of fair exhibits
By the Sotheby’s Institute of Art, Fair entrance
15.00
From limited editions to exceptional pieces – works of art that happen to write
Mont Blanc, Stand B11
16.00
Contemporary ink painting – China’s new Avant Garde
Michael Goedhuis, Stand B5
17.00
Van Gogh and the ‘Floating World’
Dr Wenny Teo, The Courtauld, Masterpiece London Lecture Theatre
Friday 28 June, Afternoon Insights
The sculptural jewels of Arnaldo and Gio Pomodoro
Didier Ltd, Stand A14
The Metal Middle Ages
Dr Tom Nickson, The Courtauld, Masterpiece London Lecture Theatre
Mapping the world from the Greeks to Google Earth – defining moments in world cartography
Daniel Crouch Rare Books, Stand B30
Saturday 29 June, Afternoon Insights
Pollaiolo’s Renaissance – the brilliance of his Florentine sculpture
Chiale Antiquarato, Stand D22
Botticelli’s Altarpiece for the Reformed Prostitutes
Dr Scott Nethersole, The Courtauld, Masterpiece London Lecture Theatre
Iconic red carpet moments – selecting jewels for the world’s most famous women
Fred Leighton, Stand B20
Sunday 30 June, Afternoon Insights
14.30-15.30 and 17.00-18.00
Ruinart Champagne tasting with Gerard Basset MW OBE
Masterpiece London Lecture Theatre
Every picture tells a story – bespoke commissions and the tales behind them
Edward Barnsley Workshop, Stand B19
Monday 1 July, Afternoon Insights
30 minute highlights tour of fair exhibits by the Sotheby’s Institute of Art
Sotheby’s Institute of Art, Fair entrance
Roman stone – how geology has contributed to our understanding of Biblical art
De Backker Medieval Art, Stand A29
An introduction to and a tasting of The Macallan 1824 Series
The Macallan, Stand B15
Tuesday 2 July, Afternoon Insights
William Scott and friends – a centenary year collection
Osborne Samuel, Stand D25
Oskar Kokoschka’s Prometheus Triptych
Dr Barnaby Wright. The Courtauld Lecture Theatre
17.00 Giacometti - texture and tension in surrealism sculpture
Dickinson, Stand D2
Wednesday 3 July, Afternoon Insights
Sotheby’s Institute of Art , Fair entrance
Harry Beck’s tube – the most important map of the 20th century
The Map House, Stand B38
The Royal Hospital Greenwich – London’s real palace?
Dr Christine Stevenson, The Courtauld Lecture Theatre
The Great Gatsby – F Scott Fitzgerald’s enduring influence on 20 th century American literature
Peter Harrington, Stand D3
New exhibitor BLAIN|SOUTHERN unveil an unseen work by Bill Viola - ‘Lifespans’, 2012, at Masterpiece London 13/05/13
A still from ‘Lifespans’ by Bill Viola, 2012. Colour High-Definition video on plasma display mounted vertically on wall, 155.5 x 92.5 x 12.7 cm / (61.2 x 36.4 x 5 in). Image copyright of Bill Viola and courtesy of the artist and Blain|Southern. Photo by Kira Perov.
This is the first time the work has been exhibited anywhere in the world. Nazy Vassegh says, "We are delighted to have a video installation by Bill Viola, one of today’s most influential international artists and represented by the leading contemporary art gallery Blain|Southern. Its presence at Masterpiece London 2013 highlights the fair’s commitment to showcasing carefully selected works from all collector disciplines."
Graham Southern, Director of Blain|Southern, said, “Masterpiece has a reputation for excellence, and for that reason the gallery and Bill Viola gladly accepted the invitation to participate in this year’s fair. I’m sure Lifespans will be an absorbing experience for everyone who sees it.”
During his forty-year career, Viola has continuously changed and developed the way we view video, pushing boundaries technologically as well as redefining its significance as a valid art form within the historic artistic landscape. His work deals with universal emotions and the concept of memory, engaging viewers on a human level and encouraging them to explore their own situations via Viola’s visual language. Viola represented the U.S at the 46th Venice Biennale in 1995, and his work has been the subject of large solo survey exhibitions, including The Museum of Contemporary Art North Miami (2012-2013), The Whitney Museum of American Art (1992-2000), Mori Art Museum (2006) and Palazzo delle Esposizioni (2008). His works have also been exhibited at the National Gallery, London, Deutsche Guggenheim, Berlin, Guggenheim Museum (SoHo), New York, , The Getty, Los Angeles, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
Blain|Southern is one of the world’s foremost contemporary art galleries, representing leading contemporary artists in both Berlin and London. Represented by Blain|Southern, Bill Viola’s work will be on display and for sale throughout the fair and will present an excellent opportunity to view and purchase the impressive work.
Masterpiece London American Committee Event - 8 May 2013 09/05/13
Left to Right: Thomas Woodham - Smith, Mario Buatta, Susan Gutfreund, Geoffrey Bradfield, Audrey Gruss, Ellie Cullman, Philip Hewat - Jaboor, Nazy Vassegh, Nicola Winwood, Jamie Drake
Last night Masterpiece London welcomed US press, designers, architects and collectors to its annual American Committee Event.
The event took took place at Interior Designer Elle Cullman’s spectacular New York apartment. Philip Hewat-Jaboor, Nazy Vassegh, Thomas Woodham-Smith and Nicola Winwood were present to represent Masterpiece London and a number of influential Friends of the fair attended, including Committee Co-chairs, Susan Gutfreund, Mario Buatta, Geoffrey Bradfield, Susan Gutfreund and Audrey Gruss.
The event was a great success and we look forward to welcoming members of our American Committee to Masterpiece London 2013.
Masterpiece London showcases spectacular royal photograph by Thomas Struth courtesy of Ivor Braka Ltd. 02/05/13
Thomas Struth Queen Elizabeth II & The Duke of Edinburgh, Windsor Castle, 2011 C Print Framed, Edition of 6 (4/6) 163.3 x 206.2cm (unframed)
Masterpiece London 2013 and Ivor Braka Ltd. are presenting a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II & The Duke of Edinburgh by distinguished photographer Thomas Struth. The large-scale portrait was commissioned by the National Portrait Gallery to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee and formed part of The Queen: Art and Image exhibition showing landmark images of the Queen throughout her sixty year reign. The work shows The Queen and Prince Philip seated together in the Green Drawing Room at Windsor Castle and was taken on 7 April 2011.
On loan by International art dealer and collector Ivor Braka, the spectacular image will be on display throughout the fair and will present an excellent opportunity for collectors and visitors alike to view the impressive photograph.
Nazy Vassegh, CEO ‘We are thrilled that Ivor Braka Ltd has kindly agreed to show this wonderful work at Masterpiece fair this year, further strengthening the event’s appeal to all collectors, from antiquities through to the very best in contemporary art."
Born in 1954, Struth studied at Dusseldorf Academy (1973-80) where his teachers included the painter Gerhard Richter and the photographers Bernd and Hilla Becher. His engagement with photography dates from 1976. Working at first in black and white and subsequently in colour, Struth’s mature style is characterised by formal precision and an approach that is essentially straightforward, avoiding narrative or artificial effects. His principal motifs include buildings, street scenes, visitors to churches and museums, landscapes, nature studies and portraits. He recently had a major touring retrospective in the USA which travelled to venues including the Dallas Museum of Art and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
Masterpiece London confirms The Courtauld Gallery as its 2013 cultural beneficiary 10/04/13
This year Masterpiece London welcomes The Courtauld as its cultural beneficiary. As well as being an internationally renowned college for the study of art history, conservation and curating, The Courtauld Gallery has a world famous collection that stretches from the early Renaissance into the 20th century making it the perfect complement to the fair. The Courtauld will also be hosting a number of talks at the fair on masterpieces from its collections, details of which will appear the website shortly.
Visitor rates at top London hotels 27/03/13
Masterpiece London has negotiated a number of special rates and/or benefits with top London hotels for visitors to the Fair.
Please click here for details of these offers, which include preferential rates at 45 Park Lane, St James’s Hotel & Club, The Goring and the Pestana Chelsea Bridge Hotel & Spa.
Aesthetic Excellence at Masterpiece London 2013 13/03/13
‘Personnages et Oiseaux’ by Joan Miró, 1963, POA from Mayoral Galeria D’Art
The fourth edition of Masterpiece London is set to captivate collectors, museum curators, and visitors alike with its impressive offering from over 150 distinguished exhibitors from around the world.
Masterpiece London welcomes more than 20 new exhibitors to the fair this year. These include Ariadne Galleries (New York), Martin du Louvre (Paris), Veronique Bamps (Paris), Galerie Willy Huybrechts (Paris), Galerie Vauclair (Paris), Mayoral Galeria D’Arte (Barcelona), Stockspring (London), Montblanc UK Ltd (London) and Rolleston (London) amongst many others. These new exhibitors, each experts in their fields, join Masterpiece London’s returning exhibitors to present a truly international spectrum drawn from 11 different countries, from the west coast of United States to Europe.
The fair’s returning exhibitors represent several collecting disciplines, each with the finest examples from their respective areas: there are important historic paintings from Dickinson, exquisite jewels from Siegelson, rare silver from Koopman, Renaissance sculpture from the Tomasso Brothers, folk art from Robert Young Antiques, contemporary ceramics and glass from Adrian Sassoon, sculpture from The Sladmore Gallery, and modern art from specialist Whitford Fine Art.
The return of this exhibition in June distinguishes London as a destination for international collectors and those seeking a truly aesthetic, epicurean experience. The opportunity to drink Ruinart Champagne with oysters at Scott’s whilst viewing the best of the best that Masterpiece London has to offer is not to be missed. The rarity and quality of the pieces for sale make Masterpiece London a truly unmissable event for collectors. With each object on display a masterpiece in its own right, there really is something to appeal to everyone from seasoned collectors to first time buyers.
Masterpiece London 2013 takes place from 27 June – 3 July (Preview on 26 June)
Masterpiece London appoints Nazy Vassegh as Chief Executive 14/01/13
Nazy Vassegh
Masterpiece London has appointed Nazy Vassegh as Chief Executive with immediate effect from Monday 14 January 2013. The role is a newly created position and will focus on building, developing and consolidating the Masterpiece brand, both locally and globally. Nazy will work alongside Nicola Winwood who remains as Fair Director and the Masterpiece Board.
Nazy Vassegh is an independent art advisor and consultant. She has over 23 years’ experience in the art world, nearly 20 of which were at Sotheby’s where, by 2009, she was a Senior Director and Managing Director of the European Impressionist and Modern art division. Prior to this she held a variety of key roles in Contemporary Art, Jewellery, Marketing and VIP Client Relations, launching and running ‘Sotheby’s Preferred’ - a highly acclaimed CRM programme for top tier clients.
Her appointment furthers strengthens Masterpiece with her in-depth knowledge of the global art market, specifically in contemporary and modern art, a valuable addition to the impressive decorative arts background already held by the rest of the Board.
‘I am delighted to take on this exciting and challenging role to help develop Masterpiece further. I have admired the energy and creativity that Nicola and the Board have invested in Masterpiece, creating one of the world’s leading fine art and antiques fairs in just three years’, says Nazy Vassegh of her appointment.
The Masterpiece London Board comprises Harry Apter (Apter-Fredericks), Harry van der Hoorn (Stabilo International), Giles Hutchinson Smith (Mallett), Simon Phillips (Ronald Phillips), Nicola Winwood and Thomas Woodham-Smith.
Ends
Masterpiece London appoints Marie Curie as its charity beneficiary for 2013 10/01/13
Marie Curie has been appointed as the Masterpiece London 2013 beneficiary charity.
The Midsummer Party in aid of Marie Curie will take place on Tuesday 2 July and will be hosted by renowned philanthropist Heather Kerzner who is chairing the committee for the event.
Marie Curie nurses with Heather Kerzner, Committee Chairman for Masterpiece Midsummer Party
Heather Kerzner, Marie Curie Ambassador says. “I am honoured and delighted to be chairing the Masterpiece Midsummer Party on behalf of Marie Curie Cancer Care. This is an important fundraising event on the London social calendar and I am delighted that in 2013 it will be raising funds for a cause I am deeply committed to and which is highly deserving of such high profile support.”
Masterpiece London 2013 is delighted to support one of the UK’s most successful charities. Marie Curie is best known for its network of nurses working in the community to provide end of life care, totally free for patients in their homes. Employing more than 2,000 nurses, last year it provided care to more than 35,000 terminally ill patients in the community and in its nine hospices. In addition it is the largest provider of hospice beds outside the NHS.
“A charity evening is an opportunity for a new audience to enjoy the fair and support their chosen charity in an exceptional setting,” states Philip Hewat-Jaboor, Chairman of Masterpiece London. “We are very proud to be able to dedicate an evening to charitable fundraising. This has proved to be a success in the last three years and we are delighted to be working with Marie Curie this year.”
Find the rare and exquisite: Art, Antiques and Design at Masterpiece London 2013 07/11/12
Masterpiece London returns to the world’s capital of culture in June 2013 for a celebration 0f the most exquisite in art, antiques and design from across the world. Hosting internationally renowned exhibitors, the fair will showcase the best objects available, creating an unmissable opportunity for collectors and connoisseurs the world over. The fair will take place from 27 June – 3 July 2012 (with a Preview on Wednesday 26 June) in the South Grounds of The Royal Hospital Chelsea, London SW3. Tickets are only £20 and can be purchased as of 7 January 2013 from the Masterpiece website www.masterpiecefair.com
Masterpiece London 2012
With capacity for up to 150 exhibitors and dealers already signed up, the fair will once again bring to London a wealth of exceptional UK and international exhibitors, including Verdura, Osborne Samuel, Galerie Willy Huybrechts, W. Agnew, Vandermeersch, Charles Ede, Amir Mohtashemi, Rolleston Ltd, A. Pallesi, and Applicat Prazan.
Of the 2012 fair, exhibitor Gordon Watson said “What an exhilarating fair… our first sale was made at 10.05am on Preview Day and continued until the fair closed at 10pm. In this troubled economic climate Masterpiece felt like a haven of beauty... and great business. We sold well and restocked the stand on three occasions! Where in the world would Calvin Klein, Vivienne Westwood and Eddie Redmayne be in the same place at the same time – and more importantly on my stand. I wish Masterpiece was open all year round!”
Objects and artworks of the highest order will be presented across multiple disciplines; old master paintings, yachts, cars, ceramics, rare maps, sculpture, photography, jewellery, fine wines, important furniture and contemporary design will all be offered for sale. All works will be stringently vetted by a committee of experts before the fair opens, giving buyers every confidence in their choice.
Philip Hewat Jaboor, Chairman of Masterpiece London, said, “Masterpiece London hosts world-class exhibitors specialising in art, antiques and design across centuries, cultures and disciplines. Because we bring together exhibitors who achieve excellence in such varied fields, Masterpiece London offers the general public, as well as connoisseurs and collectors, an enriching experience of the arts. With our rigorous vetting procedures in place for each work or art that comes through the doors, Masterpiece London is a fair for museum quality objects that can be enjoyed by all as well as purchased.”
Masterpiece London and the Wallace Collection 15/10/12
MASTERPIECE LONDON REAPS WHAT IT HAS SOWED: CONSERVED PAINTING IS UNVEILED IN NEWLY REFURBISHED EAST DRAWING ROOM AT THE WALLACE COLLECTION 12 October 2012 Jacob Jordaens - An Allegory of Fruitfulness, 1620 -29 The central female nude, embracing a cornucopia of fruit and vegetables, is Pomona, goddess of fruitfulness and fertility, surrounded by acolytes paying homage. Recent conservation has unearthed fascinating discoveries. This week the newly conserved An Allegory of Fruitfulness by Flemish master Jacob Jordaens was unveiled in the recently refurbished East Drawing Room of the Wallace Collection. The painting has been conserved using funds raised by the philanthropic arm of the prestigious art fair Masterpiece London, which was held at the Royal Hospital Chelsea in June 2012 www.masterpiecefair.com. Philip Hewat-Jaboor, Chairman of Masterpiece, said ‘We are delighted that Masterpiece London has been able to contribute to the conservation of this stunning and important work whose unveiling serendipitously coincides with Harvest Festival Week.’ For the second year running, Masterpiece London held a Curators’ Dinner to raise money for the Wallace Collection with the aim of demonstrating the fair’s commitment to education and culture. The 2012 dinner attracted several well-respected curators including Tim Knox, Director of the Sir John Soane Museum, and Steven Harrison, the curator of Decorative Art and Design at Cleveland Museum of Art and of course Dr Christoph Vogtherr, Director of the Wallace Collection. At Masterpiece London, the Wallace Collection held a symposium, given by curators drawing on the extensive works of the Collection, on highlights from great collections, including nineteenth-century collecting trends; European treasure swords; and royal collectors at the court of Louis XVI. Dr Christoph Vogtherr, Director of the Wallace Collection, said ‘The conservation treatment of Jordaens’s allegory has revealed its stunning force but has also provided a chance to better understand the painting’s complicated genesis. The Wallace Collection is very grateful to Masterpiece London for this opportunity. Its beauty can now be fully enjoyed by our visitors.’ Ends For further press information on Masterpiece and the conservation process of An Allegory of Fruitfulness please contact Freya Simms/Claire Owen at Gong Muse on muse@gongmuse.com or 0207 935 4800 Notes to Editors Masterpiece London is no ordinary antiques fair, but a forum for distinctive design and aesthetic excellence. It showcases the best of best in fine and decorative arts with premium collectors’ items such as classic cars, fine wines, exquisite jewellery and design from around the world and will take place from 27 June – 3 July 2013 (with a Preview on 26 June) on the South Grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea, London SW3. For the latest news and developments go to www.masterpiecefair.com, join our Facebook group Masterpiece London or follow us on Twitter at @MasterpieceLndn #MPL13
MASTERPIECE LONDON REAPS WHAT IT HAS SOWED:
CONSERVED PAINTING IS UNVEILED IN NEWLY REFURBISHED EAST DRAWING ROOM AT THE WALLACE COLLECTION
12 October 2012
Jacob Jordaens - An Allegory of Fruitfulness, 1620 -29
The central female nude, embracing a cornucopia of fruit and vegetables, is Pomona, goddess of fruitfulness and fertility, surrounded by acolytes paying homage. Recent conservation has unearthed fascinating discoveries.
This week the newly conserved An Allegory of Fruitfulness by Flemish master Jacob Jordaens was unveiled in the recently refurbished East Drawing Room of the Wallace Collection. The painting has been conserved using funds raised by the philanthropic arm of the prestigious art fair Masterpiece London, which was held at the Royal Hospital Chelsea in June 2012 www.masterpiecefair.com.
Philip Hewat-Jaboor, Chairman of Masterpiece, said ‘We are delighted that Masterpiece London has been able to contribute to the conservation of this stunning and important work whose unveiling serendipitously coincides with Harvest Festival Week.’
For the second year running, Masterpiece London held a Curators’ Dinner to raise money for the Wallace Collection with the aim of demonstrating the fair’s commitment to education and culture. The 2012 dinner attracted several well-respected curators including Tim Knox, Director of the Sir John Soane Museum, and Steven Harrison, the curator of Decorative Art and Design at Cleveland Museum of Art and of course Dr Christoph Vogtherr, Director of the Wallace Collection.
At Masterpiece London, the Wallace Collection held a symposium, given by curators drawing on the extensive works of the Collection, on highlights from great collections, including nineteenth-century collecting trends; European treasure swords; and royal collectors at the court of Louis XVI.
Dr Christoph Vogtherr, Director of the Wallace Collection, said ‘The conservation treatment of Jordaens’s allegory has revealed its stunning force but has also provided a chance to better understand the painting’s complicated genesis. The Wallace Collection is very grateful to Masterpiece London for this opportunity. Its beauty can now be fully enjoyed by our visitors.’
For further press information on Masterpiece and the conservation process of An Allegory of Fruitfulness please contact Freya Simms/Claire Owen at Gong Muse on muse@gongmuse.com or 0207 935 4800
Notes to Editors
Masterpiece London is no ordinary antiques fair, but a forum for distinctive design and aesthetic excellence. It showcases the best of best in fine and decorative arts with premium collectors’ items such as classic cars, fine wines, exquisite jewellery and design from around the world and will take place from 27 June – 3 July 2013 (with a Preview on 26 June) on the South Grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea, London SW3.
For the latest news and developments go to www.masterpiecefair.com, join our Facebook group Masterpiece London or follow us on Twitter at @MasterpieceLndn #MPL13
Masterpiece nominated in three categories at the UK Event Awards 16/08/12
Masterpiece London have been nominated for Best Cultural Event, Best Exhibition and Best PR Campaign (for FocusPR) at the UK: Event Awards 2012!
The awards ceremony takes place on Friday, 23 November, so watch this space and congratulations to all the exhibitors, organisers and partners who helped make Masterpiece London 2012 the #bestofthebest!
http://www.ukeventawards.com/
Masterpiece London 2012 affirms its position as art world heavyweight 09/07/12
“It is a wonderful fair, and everyone who has come has been amazed by the quality of the works on offer. It is such a fantastic place to have a day out and find quite brilliant pieces; things you never knew you wanted until you saw them.” – Theo Fennell
As Masterpiece London’s third year comes to an end, it is clear the fair has cemented itself as a pivotal event within the global art market which few, including the world’s top collectors, museum curators, and even the key movers and shakers of the summer social calendar, can afford to ignore.
Preview Day saw the attendance of a record 5,175 visitors, delighting many dealers who made important sales within the opening hours. Gordon Watson was among them: “What an exhilarating fair… our first sale was made at 10.05am on Preview Day and continued until the fair closed at 10pm. In this troubled economic climate Masterpiece felt like a haven of beauty... and great business. We sold well and restocked the stand on three occasions! Where in the world would Calvin Klein, Vivienne Westwood and Eddie Redmayne be in the same place at the same time – and more importantly on my stand. I wish Masterpiece was open all year round!”
The presence of serious national and international collectors – among them Lord Thompson, Sheikh Al-Thani, Charles Saatchi, Terence Conran and Jeffery Archer – confirms Masterpiece London has become a forceful player within the international art market.
“This year has seen Masterpiece London reach a level of significance denoted not only by the strength of exhibitors, but also the calibre of international collectors”, said Masterpiece London Chairman, Philip Hewat-Jaboor. “The incredible breadth and variety of works of art for sale ensures a thread of excellence runs throughout the fair, which has attracted every foremost collector, curator and patron from the Middle East, the Far East, Europe, America and Canada. This year we’ve proved that for anyone with a serious interest in the arts, it was essential to be here.”
New York jewellery dealer and first-time exhibitor Lee Siegelson reported an excellent fair: “We are very happy with our experience here at Masterpiece London, and it is a privilege to have our masterpieces alongside everyone else’s.”
The unique mix of high-end luxury, fine art and antiques has proved a winning formula at Masterpiece London. New to the fair, Riva, which exhibited its collector’s edition powerboat, the ‘Riva Aquariva by Marc Newson’, reported meeting better prospects at Masterpiece London than at the London Boat Show.
Sales on the Preview were particularly robust and continued throughout the week with 18th century furniture, antiquities, modern and contemporary design, jewellery and pictures all reporting strong sales and interest.
Among the reported sales were:
The Curators’ Dinner, held in aid of The Wallace Collection and attended by Mat Collishaw and Polly Morgan, and the Afternoon Insights programme, demonstrate the fair’s commitment to education and its desire to give something back to the academic world. Among the more notable Afternoon Insights were An Introduction to contemporary ink painting by Asian contemporary art specialist Michael Goedhuis, and Scream: the influence of Edvard Munch courtesy of Kaare Berntsen, whose stand was comprised entirely of Edvard Munch’s works. Additionally, the formation of the American Committee proved a huge success, drawing in many more American visitors and buyers, and notable designers Rose Tarlow, Susan Gutfreund and Scott Snyder.
Projects were very well received, ranging from Brilliant – the spectacular jewellery exhibition curated by Vogue Jewellery Editor Carol Woolton in celebration of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee – to the Gagosian Gallery, the Design Museum, and the specially designed ‘Room to Remember’ curated by New York-based designer Jamie Drake.
Famous faces at the event included design luminaries Jasper and Terence Conran, Vivienne Westwood, Julien Macdonald, India Hicks, Jasmine Guinness and Paul Smith, as well as art world connoisseurs Lady Helen Taylor, Tim Taylor, Charles Saatchi and Henry Wyndham.
Thomas Woodham-Smith, Creative Director and Co-Founder added, “We are very much looking forward to next year, consolidating and building on this year’s unprecedented success.”
Masterpiece London 2013 will take place from 27 June – 3 July 2013 (with a Preview on 26 June), in the South Grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea, London SW3.
Lust List 6 - 1 day to go... 26/06/12
A stunning 1952 Jaguar C-Type racing sports car, once owned and raced by well-known American driver Masten Gregory
The 1952 Jaguar C-Type (chassis number XKC–015) is one of a total of 52 C-Types ever built, and was first delivered new to Mr Charles Hornburg in Beverley Hills, USA.
The car was bought in 1953 and driven with great success by Formula One legend Masten Gregory. He won the Guardsman Trophy race at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, as well as a race at Offutt Air Force Base in Omaha, Nebraska, and by the end of 1953 Masten was considered the top Jaguar driver in the United States. His wins, along with a string of second-place finishes in the car that season, helped Masten to get an invitation to participate in his first international sports car race – a 1,000 kilometre race through Buenos Aires during January 1954.
The car was brought back to Europe in the early 1980s and sold to Mr Tom Candlish, who participated in numerous rallies throughout Europe with great enjoyment. Tom Candlish owned the car for nearly 25 years before passing it on to its current owner.
The car is fitted with 3.4 litre twin overhead cam engine, has a top speed in excess of 150 mph and is a very easy and lovely car to drive, with the added bonus of comfortable accommodation for two people.
The Jaguar C Type became one of Jaguar’s most iconic designs and follows their victories at Le Mans in 1951 and 1953, the year of Her Majesty’s Coronation.
£: Price on application
Roland Mouret becomes the official fashion partner 26/06/12
Masterpiece London is pleased to announce internationally renowned designer Roland Mouret has become the official fashion partner of the 2012 fair. The involvement of the designer renowned for his coveted iconic dresses of a single name – Galaxy, Titanium and Moon – serves to reinforce Masterpiece London’s position as a key player in the international art, design and luxury markets, offering a guaranteed level of excellence across many disciplines. Central to the partnership will be a series of dresses for Masterpiece London’s hostesses. All hostesses will be outfitted in stunning examples of Roland Mouret’s iconic, understated designs, which will see structured silhouettes juxtaposed with the precise yet relaxed draping he is celebrated for. According to Fair Director Nicola Winwood, “We are thrilled Roland Mouret has come on board as official fashion partner for Masterpiece London 2012. Three years ago, at the inaugural fair, we set out with an objective to deliver the very best in art, antiques and design. Roland Mouret’s participation emphasises the importance of fashion within this spectrum, and who better than the man with arguably the most intuitive understanding of the female form to represent the very best fashion has to offer.” Roland Mouret is also delighted with the partnership: “I am extremely honoured to be the official fashion partner of Masterpiece London 2012. As an avid collector and admirer of the arts it is a true pleasure to merge two of my passions - I am thrilled to be providing my signature pieces. ” Roland Mouret has made his name in fashion by creating garments which highlight and complement the female silhouette. Mouret embraces the female form, whilst epitomising uncomplicated luxury. His collections reflect a modern, elegant perspective using a signature technique of draping fabric. Roland Mouret’s collection is available to buy in a selection of premier locations all over the world, as well as in his new flagship store located at 8 Carlos Place, Mayfair, London.
Masterpiece London is pleased to announce internationally renowned designer Roland Mouret has become the official fashion partner of the 2012 fair. The involvement of the designer renowned for his coveted iconic dresses of a single name – Galaxy, Titanium and Moon – serves to reinforce Masterpiece London’s position as a key player in the international art, design and luxury markets, offering a guaranteed level of excellence across many disciplines.
Central to the partnership will be a series of dresses for Masterpiece London’s hostesses. All hostesses will be outfitted in stunning examples of Roland Mouret’s iconic, understated designs, which will see structured silhouettes juxtaposed with the precise yet relaxed draping he is celebrated for.
According to Fair Director Nicola Winwood, “We are thrilled Roland Mouret has come on board as official fashion partner for Masterpiece London 2012. Three years ago, at the inaugural fair, we set out with an objective to deliver the very best in art, antiques and design. Roland Mouret’s participation emphasises the importance of fashion within this spectrum, and who better than the man with arguably the most intuitive understanding of the female form to represent the very best fashion has to offer.”
Roland Mouret is also delighted with the partnership: “I am extremely honoured to be the official fashion partner of Masterpiece London 2012. As an avid collector and admirer of the arts it is a true pleasure to merge two of my passions - I am thrilled to be providing my signature pieces. ”
Roland Mouret has made his name in fashion by creating garments which highlight and complement the female silhouette. Mouret embraces the female form, whilst epitomising uncomplicated luxury. His collections reflect a modern, elegant perspective using a signature technique of draping fabric. Roland Mouret’s collection is available to buy in a selection of premier locations all over the world, as well as in his new flagship store located at 8 Carlos Place, Mayfair, London.
Lust List 5 - 2 days to go... 25/06/12
A gun collector’s dream: the only known pair of solid gold, diamond encrusted handguns in the world
Set to be showcased by New York-based Alexander Gallery, these “Model One” handguns were created in the year of the inception of Smith & Wesson (c. 1857). The handguns comprise pure gold handles set with Russian old-mine cut diamonds, steel cylinders and barrels engraved by L.D. Nimschke.
Out of the hundreds of thousands of “Model Ones” manufactured in its production years from 1857 until 1882, one is marked #86 and the other #1, establishing it as the first gun officially produced by Horace Smith and Daniel Wesson.
Larry Wilson, the leading expert on American Firearms, suggests the handles were made by Tiffany and Company, which is congruent with the workmanship and materials employed in that period, and these exceptional examples of firearms were exhibited at the 1867 Paris Exposition Universelle – the greatest exhibition of its time.
Smith & Wesson is synonymous with the notorious figures of the Wild American West, and helped define the fate of battles throughout the world. One of the company’s greatest clients was Grand Duke Alexei of Russia. The Tsar’s son visited the company headquarters in 1871 after meeting with President, Ulysses S. Grant, and went on to order 720,000 weapons from the company.
£: 1.5 million
Lust List 4 - 5 days to go... 22/06/12
Riva Collector’s edition powerboat: The ‘Riva Aquariva by Marc Newson’
Collectable industrial design doesn't come much more beautiful or enjoyable than this. This special edition Aquariva powerboat is built by the iconic Italian company Riva, and styled by one of the most celebrated designers of our time, Marc Newson.
The work of Australian Marc Newson will be well known to connoisseurs of fine design, from his exclusive furniture and watches, to large scale commercial projects such as his aircraft seats and departure lounge for Qantas. A common theme in Newson’s more sculptural work is the style known as ‘biomorphism’, characterised by contours, forms and patterns inspired by the organic, ‘living’ shapes found in the natural world.
Newson was instantly attracted by the wonderfully flowing and curvaceous lines of the Riva Aquariva, and inspired to create the ‘Riva Aquariva by Marc Newson’, which is only available in a limited edition of 22. Working alongside Riva’s designers, Officina Italiana Design, Newson employed all of his skills in form,
function and materials to create this very special version of the Aquariva. Its simplicity and functionality are what make the boat so exceptional, and Newson’s reinterpretation of the Aquariva draws on both the current model and its forebear from the 1960s, the legendary Riva Aquarama.
Mechanically, the Aquariva by Marc Newson is virtually identical to the current Aquariva Super from which it is derived. Twin 380hp Yanmar diesel engines drive conventional shafts through two-speed automatic gearboxes, giving the boat a top speed of 41 knots (47mph). The only addition is a bow thruster to aid slow speed manoeuvrability.
Lust List 3 - 7 days to go… 20/06/12
A thrilling Egyptian polychrome wood “Posno” sarchophagus, representing a highly important chapter in the history of ancient funerary art
Measuring 73.5 inches (187 cms) in height, this stunning museum-quality sarcophagus dating back to Dynasty 21, circa 1000-900 BC, is set to be exhibited at Masterpiece London by New York-based gallery Safani.
Dynasty 21 signifies a time of political upheaval when the tombs of the rich and famous pharaohs in the Valley of the Kings were systematically looted. The Egyptian elite consciously chose to overcome these vulgarities by altering their millennia-old funerary customs, and depicting the extraordinary array of funerary images and inscriptions on their sarcophagi rather than on the walls of sumptuously decorated tombs.
They considered the corpse to be of utmost importance, and devoted so much time and energy to the art of embalming that never before and never after were Egyptian mummies so meticulously prepared and wrapped. These mummies were then placed into elaborately decorated sets of nested sarcophagi, as represented by this piece.
Their sarcophagi were then complete, containing all the necessary spells and images necessary for the afterlife. They were then placed into simple and unassumingly small sepulchres, devoid of all decoration so as not to draw any attention, therefore maximizing their chances of undisturbed survival.
The orginal owner, Gustav Posno, ranks among the famous collectors of antiquities of the 19th century. In 1883, most of the collection was sold to the Louvre and other important European museums. This piece remained with Posno’s heirs until 2004, when it was sold along with other masterpieces.
Lust List 2 - 10 days to go… 17/06/12
An aquamarine and ruby belt with buckle necklace, designed by Fulco, Duke of Verdura, for jeweller Paul Flato, New York, circa 1935
This exceptional necklace comprises 566 pavé-set fancy brilliant-cut aquamarines accented with 39 contrasting oval-cut and fancy-cut rubies detailing the buckle, eyelets, and strap trim, mounted in platinum. The piece will be available to purchase at the fair courtesy of renowned New York jeweller Siegelson.
Designed, owned, and worn by American legends, including composer and songwriter Cole Porter, this necklace ranks as one of the greatest pieces of American jewellery in the twentieth century. The necklace was even used as inspiration by Karl Lagerfeld for a belt in the Chanel Paris-Byzance 2011 collection.
In the 1930s and 1940s, Paul Flato’s expressive, daring style contrasted with the conventional diamond designs available and appealed to big names such as Joan Crawford, Marlene Dietrich, and Laurence Olivier. Flato had extraordinary ideas and oversaw gifted designers who realised his designs on paper. The most noted was Fulco, Duke of Verdura, who designed this very necklace.
Verdura has transformed an ordinary utilitarian item into a show-stopping piece, a remarkable feat at a time when most jewellery featured flowers or geometric designs. The necklace is cleverly designed to look as though the belt were knotted, to enable it to be worn centred, or off to the side.
Siegelson is recognised by museum curators, magazine editors, and jewellery houses as a leading source of and authority on rare jewellery, gemstones, and objects of art. Lee Siegelson, a third-generation gem and jewellery dealer, has a discerning eye for acquiring unique and important creations.
US$: 2.5 million
The Masterpiece London 2012 - Lust List 20 days to go… 07/06/12
The countdown to Masterpiece London 2012 is on, and as we draw ever closer, we plan to present to you a weekly update on the most coveted pieces which will be on sale at the fair.
This week's lust-worthy piece is an exceptionally rare Henry Moore boxwood carving - examples of which are very seldom found on the open market.
Held back by Lefevre Fine Art especially for exhibition at Masterpiece London 2012, the carving is available to purchase at a time when Moore’s sculpture is reaching record prices at auction.
Masterpiece London therefore not only presents an exciting opportunity to own a work by the UK’s most celebrated sculptor, but also an exciting investment opportunity.
The exceptional carving was executed in 1932, at the starting point of Henry Moore’s illustrious career, when wood and stone were the sculptor’s primary media of focus, before he became renowned for his
more ubiquitous post-war bronzes.
The uplifting, tactile piece is carved from boxwood, a notoriously restrictive material due to the diminutive proportions of the wood. It demonstrates the heavy influence of Primitive Art on Moore’s formitive years, as he spent much of his time studying Egyptian, African and Oceanic art at the British Museum.
Bought directly from the sculptor in c.1949 by avant-garde American dealer Harold Diamond, the carving has remained in the United States until it was purchased by Lefevre Fine Art.
Henry Moore is only the third Briton, after painters Francis Bacon and Lucian Freud, to exceed £15million at auction.
£: Price on application.
American Committee Event 09/05/12
Across the pond, we have been working with Marilyn White on Masterpiece London’s first American Committee reception to promote the fair to US press, designers, architects and collectors.
The reception took place on Tuesday 8 May in Susan Gutfreund’s stunning apartment and was a resounding success. Philip Hewat-Jaboor, Thomas Woodham-Smith and Nicola Winwood were present to represent Masterpiece London and a number of influential friends attended, including Committee Co-chairs, Mario Buatta, Ellie Cullman, Scott Snyder, Geoffrey Bradfield, Susan Gutfreund, Jamie Drake and Audrey Gruss. We were delighted that a number of our US exhibitors could join us as well.
We look forward to welcoming a number of our American Committee to the fair this summer.
Wallace Collection Symposium 04/05/12
The Fine Art of Collecting: A Question of Taste Saturday 30 June, 11.30 - 16.00
We are delighted to announce that the Wallace Collection will be hosting a symposium on Saturday 30 June, led by Director, Dr Christoph Vogtherr.
There will be four talks by Collection curators, from 11.30 - 16.00, on great collectors and their collections, to include the French court of Louis XVI and British collecting in the 19th century.
11.30 - 12.15, A Golden Age: collecting Medieval and Renaissance sculpture and decorative arts in the 19th century Jeremy Warren, Collections and Academic Director
12.15 - 13.00, 19th-century British collectors of contemporary French paintings Stephen Duffy, Curator of 19th-century Pictures
13.00 - 14.30, Break for lunch Please visit the dining page of the Masterpiece website to view the various options available for visitors
14.30 - 15.15, Royal Collectors at the Court of Louis XVI
Helen Jacobsen, Curator of 18th-century French Decorative Arts
15.15 - 16.00, Queen of All Weapons: European Treasure Swords and the Art of the Renaissance Fencing Book Dr Tobias Capwell, Curator of Arms and Armour
The symposium and each individual talk is free to Masterpiece London ticket holders.
To reserve a place at the symposium, please email contact@masterpiecefair.com with your full name and address, with the subject: Wallace Collection symposium, indicating how many spaces you wish to reserve and a confirmation letter will be sent to you. Places are subject to availability.
Saturday 30 June, 16.30, Tour of Masterpiece London by Dr Christoph Vogtherr, Director of the Wallace Collection
Following the symposium, Dr Christoph Vogtherr will conduct a tour of the fair, emphasising his personal favourite pieces.
Spaces are limited to 15 people and are reserved for those attending the Wallace Collection symposium. If you are interested in joining the tour, please indicate this in your email for a place at the symposium. Please see instructions above. Places will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
Edvard Munch at Masterpiece London 2012 02/05/12
On Wednesday 2 May Edvard Munch's painting ‘The Scream’ sold for $120m at a Sotheby's auction in New York, but there are more examples of the highly acclaimed Norwegian Expressionist’s work if you know where to look. Masterpiece London presents an extraordinary opportunity to see and purchase a collection of Munch’s works, including an original print of ‘The Scream’, courtesy of reputable Oslo-based gallery, Kaare Berntsen. An original ‘The Scream’ print of this kind has only been offered at auction twice in the last 20-30 years. According to the Munch Museum, it is one of only 26 prints and one of very few which includes both a signature from the artist and inscribed poem, rare features which contributed to the high value of last night’s auctioned piece. The exhibit is valued at approximately £2 million (approximately NOK 15 million). Kaare Berntsen’s stand at Masterpiece London 2012 will be made up entirely of Edvard Munch’s works, many of which have been held back specifically for sale at the fair. In contrast to most Munch exhibitions, which focus on the late works of Edvard Munch (after 1908), at Masterpiece London there will be paintings, watercolours and prints from all aspects of the artist’s oeuvre. During the fair, Kaare Berntsen will also be holding informative talks on its stand; entitled ‘The Scream’, the talks will focus on the painting, on Munch’s graphical works and on the artist himself. Additional works from Munch’s collection set to be exhibited at Masterpiece London 2012 include: ‘The Girls on the Bridge’ (1918); ‘Jealousy II’ (1896); ‘Madonna’ (1895), ‘The Heart’ (1898-99), ‘Kiss IV’ (1902) and ‘Evening. Melancholy I.’ (1896).
Restaurant booking lines now open! 17/04/12
Gagosian Gallery to unveil special project at the fair 16/04/12
Masterpiece London 2012 is pleased to announce that the internationally renowned Gagosian Gallery will take part at the fair for the first time with a special project. The addition of Gagosian further underlines Masterpiece London's essential position on the international stage that presents the best of the best from around the world.
Gagosian Gallery is one of the world’s foremost modern and contemporary art galleries with eleven locations worldwide, including New York, Beverly Hills, London, Rome, Geneva, Athens, Paris and Hong Kong. Over the last three decades, Gagosian Gallery has presented countless memorable exhibitions of leading international artists and has mounted ambitious, museum-quality exhibitions of the work of modern masters.
“Brilliant” Diamond Exhibition 30/03/12
Masterpiece are delighted to announce a specially curated diamond exhibition in celebration of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee will be created at this year’s fair. Entitled “Brilliant”, the exhibition is the first of its kind to be undertaken by the fair, and will offer all visitors a visually arresting and intimate experience curated by Carol Woolton, jewellery editor of UK Vogue, author and leading international authority on jewellery.
Pushing the boundaries of how diamonds are used and viewed in our society, Carol Woolton has structured the diamonds according to four artistic disciplines – art, architecture, fashion and sculpture – to provoke surprise and discussion about the role of the world’s most coveted gems. Whether incorporated into decorative artistic works such as chandeliers, seen as objects of beauty, or used as fashionable fastenings in the form of diamond zips, cuffs and collars, the exhibition will comment on the enduring hold diamonds have over us.
True to the fair’s commitment to showcase the best of the best, “Brilliant” promises to wow visitors with the finest diamond jewellery, as well as diamond performance art and never-before-seen, innovative one-off pieces. Drawn towards a darkened space by the glow of fluorescent piping spelling out the word “Brilliant”, visitors will have an exceptional opportunity to witness unparalleled gems in a spectacular environment. Presented with a guide to the exhibition, visitors will wander throughout the space, and be given a chance to study the light and fire of the stones, and appreciate the extraordinary craftsmanship of each piece.
American Committee Announced 01/03/12
Masterpiece London are pleased to announce the fair’s first American Committee. The Committee co-chairs include Geoffrey Bradfield, Mario Buatta, Ellie Cullman, Jamie Drake, Audrey Gruss, Susan Gutfreund, Scott Snyder, and Rose Tarlow. The Committee will total approximately 100 influential individuals from the worlds of decorators, design and architecture and Masterpiece will be hosting a special event for them in New York on 8 May.
Masterpiece welcomes new Chairman 24/02/12
Philip Hewat-Jaboor has been appointed as (non-Executive) Chairman of Masterpiece London. Thomas Woodham-Smith, co-founder of the fair, takes on the role of Creative Director after his two year tenure as Chairman.
Philip Hewat-Jaboor, an international art advisor to private collectors, museums and designers has been closely involved with the fair as the Masterpiece London Chairman of Vetting since its launch 2010 and is the natural successor for this two year appointment.
Philip began his career at Sotheby’s in 1972 specialising in 18th and 19th century furniture and works of art; before developing the auction house’s client services department. In 1982 h e opened his consultancy business with the aim of providing totally independent advice to new collectors keen to acquire works of art.
As an independent museum consultant he was the inspiration behind, and co-curator of, the exhibition 'William Beckford, An Eye for the Magnificent' held at the Bard Graduate Centre for Studies in the Decorative Arts in New York in October 2001 and at Dulwich Picture Gallery in 2002. He curated the esteemed exhibition 'Thomas Hope: Regency Designer' held at the Victoria and Albert Museum from March to June 2008 and then at the Bard Graduate Centre in New York from July to November 2008 and co-edited the catalogue.
It is a pleasure to welcome Philip to the Board and we look forward to working with Thomas in his new role.
We are moving! 07/02/12
Tickets now available 17/01/12
Masterpiece tickets are now for sale online. Order yours today at https://www.masterpiecefair.com/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=64!
Save the Date 30/11/11
The Masterpiece London website is undergoing scheduled maintenance on 25 May 2012
We apologise for the inconvenience. For information on Masterpiece London 2012, please contact the Fair Office on +44 (0)20 7499 7470.
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If you would like to book a table at Le Caprice or Harry's Bar at Masterpiece London, please contact our reservations team. Le Caprice – +44 (0)7881 249181 Harry’s Bar – +44 (0)7881 249182