The Mary Tudor Pearl, 64.5 carats (258.12 grains) is the third largest well-formed pearl documented today. Exhibited by Symbolic & Chase. P.O.A

This year, jewellery exhibitor Symbolic & Chase will be showcasing an extraordinary jewel from European Royal history– The Mary Tudor Pearl. The Renaissance pearl surfaced in 2004, having been lost since the late 16th century, and can be dated back to 1526. It measures 258.12 grains (64.5 carats, 69.8 carats with its diamond cap) making it the third largest well-formed natural pearl documented today. 

Martin Travis, Director at Symbolic & Chase, says, ‘Coming across one of the most astonishing natural pearls to date is a once in a lifetime opportunity and I am delighted to be showcasing this recent Royal discovery at Masterpiece London this June and July’.

Following its debut at Masterpiece London the pearl will be exhibited at the V&A as part of the Pearls exhibition, which will run from 21st September 2013 to 19th January 2014.

'Cement Truck’,  2008 by Wim Delvoye, laser-cut corten steel, 912 x 238 x 370 cm

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. 

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.

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. 

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 20^th 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.

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. 

‘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)

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.”  

Ends