New London Antique and Art Fairs Planned for June

Masterpiece, one of the proposed antique and art fairs replacing the historic Grosvenor House Art and Antique Fair is now starting to contractually sign up and release the names of top line dealers planning on displaying at the new fair.  The show to be held in June at the Chelsea Barracks June 24-29 is starting to shape as a premier event based upon the early dealers now considering and contracting to display at the show.  The Antiques Trade Gazette is reporting contracts have gone out, so the list is by no means finalized, but early indicators are the Fair should become a destination show for collectors. The show is expected to have a mix of dealers specializing in the decorative arts, fine arts and luxury goods. This along with some additional news reported in the Financial Times on the June London art and antique fairs is very positive. The closing of the Grosvenor Fair was disappointing, but I believe that was based more on the size and expense of the venue.

The ATG reports

Those confirmed as participating in the launch event are acknowledged international names and set the fair on a firm footing to be a destination event – planning permission allowing – next June 24-29.

Among them are A La Vieille Russie from New York; Marchant, S.J. Phillips and Peter Finer from London; and sculpture specialists the Tomasso Brothers from Leeds.

These join the already declared four established London firms who together founded the new fair, Mallett, Ronald Phillips, Apter-Fredericks and Asprey.

Contracts have only recently been issued so the Masterpiece organisers are in the very early stages of naming names, although more will be announced in the coming weeks.

However, those named as having signed up already are a strong line-up in diverse disciplines and give welcome credibility to the upmarket fair billed as ‘the best of the best’, mixing art, antiques and luxury goods.

While contracts have been signed, no money has changed hands since the fair is still awaiting planning permission to use the Chelsea Barracks site. However, the fair’s board insist the procedure could not be progressing any more encouragingly and there should be a result by January.

 To read the ATG article, click HERE.

Earlier, the Financial Times reported on the June Art and Antiques Fairs to be held in London. The article states that both dealers and collectors are looking forward to the show, but some are still concerned about the poor economic conditions and the changing buying patterns of collectors (code words for a slower decision making process). The number of shows scheduled for June in London reveals a strong demand.

The FT reports

The month will kick off with the four-day West London Art and Antiques Fair beginning on June 3, quickly followed by the London International Fine Art Fair at Olympia (June 4-13), then Art Antiques London (June 9-16) and, finally, the ambitious Masterpiece event due to be held at the Chelsea Barracks (June 24-29). This has a projected 150-strong list of exhibitors selling everything from diamonds to contemporary furniture, wine and classic cars.

But, in straitened financial times, will the buyers be around to make so many events viable? Competition for galleries and collectors will be intense.

According to the silver dealer and experienced fair organiser Caroline Penman, whose Penman Fairs company is behind the West London Art and Antiques Fair, both dealers and buyers are crying out for such an event.

To read the FT article, click HERE (you may need to be registered to read).