TEFAF

TEFAF stands for ‘The European Fine Art Fair’. It is an organisation that runs some of the world’s leading art and antiques fairs: TEFAF Maastricht, which takes place annually in March, and TEFAF New York which takes place twice a year in the autumn and spring.

The former event takes place at the Maastricht Exhibition and Congress Centre (MECC) in The Netherlands. The fair began life in 1975 as the bi-annual Pictura Fine Art Fair with 28 dealers specialising in Old Master paintings and medieval sculptures.

It has since expanded with exhibitors numbers increasing ten-fold and has become widely recognised as a leading art and antiques fair, attracting major collectors, both private and institutional, from around the world.

Showstopping pottery model of a recumbent Bactrian camel

19 March 2001

TEFAF Maastricht closed on Sunday with museum-quality goods having sold well – particularly Old Masters, Contemporary art and Oriental – but business was being achieved from the opening party on March 9, when collectors converged on this showstopping pottery model of a recumbent Bactrian camel, 101/2in (27cm) high, on the stand of London specialist Ben Janssens.

Signing up for new-look Maastricht

11 December 2000

NETHERLANDS: EARLY news of the world’s top fair, TEFAF Maastricht, which will be held in the Dutch city from March 10 to 18. Six dealers are joining the fair and the whole event is to have a new look.

Basel goes on... without TEFAF

26 April 1999

SWITZERLAND: TEFAF Basel, the sister fair to Maastricht, has broken all official ties with its founders TEFAF (The European Fine Art Foundation) who have handed over the organisation to Messe Basel, the exhibition hall which has hosted the fair since it was launched in 1995.

Hamptons’ new name

01 January 1996

HAMPTONS Auctioneers of Godalming will change their name to Dreweatt Neate this month. Having become part of The Fine Art Auction Group earlier this year, the saleroom will be rebranded under the Dreweatt Neate banner in time for the Surrey firm’s April 13 sale.

TEFAF faces global competition but remains Europe’s number one