TEFAF

Established in 1988, TEFAF is widely regarded as the world’s pre-eminent fair of art and antiques. The fair, located in Maastricht, supports the finest quality of art from antiquity to modern. It is a gathering of the world’s top art and antique dealers and experts and draws buyers and lovers of  

beautiful objects from afar. It’s held every March at the Maastricht Exhibition and Congress Centre, a massive building, that each March contains fabulous choices for art connoisseurs. The great public come to catch a glimpse of and enjoy just what the 1% might buy.

The entrance was lined with masses of large urns holding stunning bouquets.  However, the best surprise was just inside the exhibit hall; an art installation composed of two segments made entirely of flowers. Some of the pictures below show the magnitude of the fabulous floral sculpture. Compared to this amazing work of art, everything else was interesting and grand and in many cases stunning but the floral work was the star for us. Our friends Hans and Joke, who collect sculptures, attend every few years and asked us to join them for the day. Buyers are evident everywhere, from the small collector to the substantial and extensive one. There were many red dots, showing that the item was sold. All this takes loads of Euros and some of the prices, where they were discreetly posted, astound. Most items are unmarked but do show their provenance, which can be intriguing. I was checking out some lovely little boxes, which are prime collector items. A man, beautifully dressed, was hovering beside the case and obviously looking carefully at the selection. The vendor, wearing fancy large-framed designer glasses and sitting at his computer, was asked by the gentlemen the price of one pretty gold-chased box. €1,300,000 was the soft reply. The gentlemen turned back to ponder again.

Window shopping can be wonderful entertainment especially when combined with people watching!

Entry halls were lined with these massive flower-filled urns

Swooping tulips, allium, roses and gloriosa to name a few 

Viburnum tucked in

And enjoy those Blue Delphinium

The first of two floral sculptures

The shape of this one is a long oval

Second Sculpture

It made me gasp to see this

Each piece is hung from the ceiling at varying levels to create the overall shape

With Silver Wire

Even the shadow is beautiful

Looking up from below

Astonishingly beautiful 

Orignial Organic Art!

Note the special tulip vase

Doubles. . . oh to grow these in the garden

A fascinating Light Sculpture...each light is a dandelion fluff...truly

Unique Bench Sculpture 

Just the thing for your dining room

Just one of a fabulous collection of Automatons. this one does many things...the elephants even toss their heads

Too many stunning ceramics to absorb

Clocks

More clocks and walls and entire rooms of clocks. The beaded bezel on this one rotates with each pendulum swing

Very expensive cows...€26000 on the bottom shelf but you get two!

A mere €17000 for the top two

Tea table set for a Princess

Hand painted china with hundreds of pieces each piece with differing flora & fauna

Do not be fooled. . .the number on the card is not the price

Just a little coffee and teapot set

Fabulous floral column

These squirrels cannot be had for peanuts

Royal Pug

and Pup

Very collectable little Boxes

Note the one in the top right hand corner. .  . gentleman may still be thinking about it!

Watercolour on mulberry paper

It is stunning

and Exquisite

and Exquisite

Just a few Calder Mobiles lying about

Caged Pencils with Glass Shards

A very poor photo of a very lovely modern art painting

The illuminated book section was riveting

Botanical drawings from 13th century

 Artists  who created these centuries ago were so talented at their craft

So. . . . can you tell which one is the Faberge Potato? 

Our eyes were like those in this painting all day. Cannot begin to list the fabulous objects and artworks we saw.