London in June

Scott Reyburn writing for Bloomberg previews the upcoming June London art and antique fairs.  June was the time of the now defunct Grosvenor House Art & Antiques Fair which is being replaced  by the new Masterpiece London show in Chelsea, the Art Antiques London in Kensington Gardens, and the 37th annual Olympia art and antiques fair.  The different shows hope to promote London as the mecca for art and antiques in June and attract international collectors.

The shows will carry a mixture of antiques, fine art and luxury goods, including Picasso's, Bentley racing cars and 20th century modern. All in all, there should be something for every collector. Promoters are continuing to expand the type of property being offered in shows to appeal to a wider collecting audience.

Reyburn reports

A mix of luxury items is being offered at the first Masterpiece London show in Chelsea, while Art Antiques London in Kensington Gardens also aims to fill the gap created by last year’s closure of the Grosvenor House Art & Antiques Fair. Both will compete against the 37th edition of the longstanding Olympia art and antiques fair.

London dealers are trying to keep summer sales going as billionaire collectors come to the U.K. for auctions. The 75- year-old Grosvenor House event was the most prestigious of the traditional antiques events and ended with its organizers citing declining profit, increased costs and pressure on space.

“You could say it’s a pity there are three fairs competing with each other,” said London-based modern-art dealer James Holland-Hibbert, who will be exhibiting at Masterpiece. “Or you could say it’s a good thing for London, the more events the better. It’s important there’s a high-quality fair in the city in June.”

Holland-Hibbert was one of more than 90 dealers who showed at the Grosvenor House fair.

“It had become tired and long in the tooth, and was constricted by its hotel venue,” he said.

To read the full article, click HERE.