Apollo Magazine, Sponsors of TEFAF: DAY 7

TEFAF Paperwas introduced in 2010 and was such a success that the section has expanded this year. TEFAF Paper comprises Old Masters to contemporary art, photography, antiquarian books and manuscripts, Japanese prints and even wallpaper!   Among the beautiful and delicate showcase is a rare Monet (see above) exhibited by Stephen Ongpin of London. Waterloo Bridge, London (see above), is a lose pastel drawn during Monet’s stay at the Savoy in 1901. Throughout his four days he made a total of 26 drawings because his painting materials had been held up by customs. This one has never been exhibited before....

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Apollo Magazine, Sponsors of TEFAF: DAY 6

TEFAF 2011 hosts 260 exhibitors from 16 countries in nine sections, among which there are several modern and contemporary galleries exhibiting for the first time, including Blain|Southern (London). Founders Harry Blain and Graham Southern have demonstrated that, since their departure from Haunch of Venison last year, which is also exhibiting at TEFAF, they have already established the gallery as an important player in the contemporary market.
Works catching the eye include Duane Hanson’s famous Bus Stop Lady, 1983, exhibited by Van de Weghe Fine Art (New York). The life-like sculpture poses at the edge of their stand, confusing...

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Apollo Magazine, Sponsors of TEFAF: DAY 5

What has been observed throughout the fair, so far, is the increase in Chinese buyers and interest in Asian art in general – this weekend TEFAF 2011 hosted the World Chinese Collectors Conference from Shanghai, comprising 21 prestigious collectors.   Sales in Asian arts and antiques have been doing extremely well. Japanese art specialists Malcolm Fairley and Grace Tsumugi Fine Art (both London) are exhibiting for the first time and between them have sold over 20 pieces, including a late 19th century hardwood Japanese vase, bought from Fairley by a Chinese collector for approximately €40,000. Tsumugi sold a stunning Meiji...

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Apollo Magazine, Sponsors of TEFAF: DAY 4

TEFAF has so far attracted a staggering 31,921 visitors. This includes guests invited to the exclusive preview and collectors who have descended upon the fair throughout the following days, including groups from China and the US.   Sales continue to grow strong and good relationships are being built between the exhibitors as they discuss familiar works and post-fair sales, having made several more contacts. Charles Ede Ltd (London), specializing in classical antiques, has announced over 14 sales, including an Egyptian sculpture of a kneeling offerant, dating back to 1,000BC. Each piece sold to private buyers for six figure sums.  ...

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Apollo Magazine, Sponsors of TEFAF: DAY 3

TEFAF is a prestigious VIP event with some of the wealthiest clientele. It is therefore not surprising that the fair and its exhibitors offer their guests respective treatment, with courtesy BMW cars providing lifts to and from hotels, fresh roses every day, red carpets and, most importantly, a certain level of anonymity. Buyers are therefore remaining unnamed and big institutions are waiting to announce their acquisitions formally and via their own press departments. Sales are, however, being announced and happening on a grand scale. Daniel Katz gallery (UK) has proudly announced their sale of magnificent marble sculptures Jupiter and Juno...

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Apollo Magazine, Sponsors of TEFAF: 19 March 2011, DAY 2

It’s day two of TEFAF and at 11am this fine Saturday morning the visitors were queuing out of the door, waiting to be let in. Yesterday, over 8,000 people attended and the weekend is set to bring even more.   Works catching the eye include a ferocious-looking pair of Chinese leopards dating from the reign of the Kangxi Emperor, c1720. The enameled porcelain figures sit in the front of Cohen & Cohen”s (UK) stand and are believed to have been made for the Emperor himself. Subtle but exquisite is Gianmaria Buccellati’s (Italy) prize possession, a Valenciennes bracelet (see above) that...

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Apollo Magazine, sponsors of TEFAF: 18 March 2011, DAY 1

Yesterday was the preview of The European Fine Art Fair (TEFAF), the most prestigious and exquisite art fair of the year. Exactly 10,018 guests attended and approximately 1,800 bottles of champagne where served in addition to 3,500 bottles of wine! Apollo is situated at stand number 815, just meters away from the BMW M3 Gt2 Art Car, a predictably bright and colourful piece designed by Jeff Koons. The car is the most recent addition to BMW’s art collection, which includes Art Cars by Andy Warhol and Roy Liechtenstein.   Other highlights include Portrait of a man with arms akimbo (see...

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Apollo at The European Fine Art Fair (TEFAF)

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Ida Kar: Bohemian Photographer, 1908-74, at the National Portrait Gallery

Much like the Hoppé exhibition at the other end of the National Portrait Gallery, Ida Kar’s photographs feature numerous portraits of the rich and famous cultural ‘avant-garde’ of her time, except that, unlike Hoppé’s, her works cannot be praised for their innovation, composition or revealing intimacy. Instead, they have a tendency to fall pray to the tired-old criticism that it is the fame of the sitter, rather than the touch of the author, that makes these portraits engaging.   Unfortunately for Kar, suspicions over her ‘due credit’ are confirmed by the fact that her first solo show, ‘Forty Artists from...

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Lalique & Yves Klein

René Lalique (1860-1945) was a major player of the Art nouveau and subsequent Art deco movement. His perfume bottles and glass designs transformed the female shape into a sensuous and mysterious body within the decorative home. Three generations later and now owned by Silvio Denz, the company has aptly created a work of art inspired by the late artist Yves Klein (1928-1962), entitled Yves Klein’s Winged Victory of Samothrace By Lalique, 2011 (see above), based on Klein’s appropriation of one of the most celebrated female figures of the world representing victory.

Yves Klein’s Winged Victory of Samothrace By Lalique is...

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