Today in Maastricht opened the world's largest fair of art and antiques - The European Fine Art Fair (TEFAF). It is already in the 23 th time. This year the fair boasts a record number of exhibitors: enrollment filed 263 dealers from 17 countries. The total cost of their proposed works is 2,7 billion dollars.

«If you want to participate only in a fair, it must be Maastricht" - said Jean-Luc Baroni (Jean - Luc Baroni), dealer of old masters in London. "Some collectors, of course, will only buy at auctions, but TEFAF dealers are always a lot of customers who are always selling. [Fair] gives us a chance to stand up against the auction houses ».

TEFAF will show how the market feels sverhdorogih works outside the auction, in which, as we know, in recent months, achieved a record prices. In February Sotheby's unknown collector - according to rumors, it was a Brazilian billionaire widow Lily Safra (Lily Safra), - bought a sculpture by Alberto Giacometti (Alberto Giacometti) «walking man I »for 103,4 million dollars ; in December, Leon Black (Leon Black) paid 29.2 million pounds for the graphic work of Raphael, exhibited at Christie's. One of those who fought for the drawing was Baroni. He offered a price on behalf of a collector.

One of the most interesting exhibits will TEFAF painting by Sandro Botticelli (Sandro Botticelli) «Madonna and Child with Saint. John the Baptist ", written in the mid 1490-ies. Work, previously owned by the Rockefeller family, worth 15 million dollars. It is sold at the booth of the London gallery Dickinson.

In addition, Dickinson offers a canvas by Paul Gauguin (Paul Gauguin) «Two Women" (1902), for which hopes to gain 18 million euros (24, 4 million dollars). Products and Gauguin, Botticelli, and exhibited at TEFAF commissioned by private collectors. It is known that the painting "Two Women" was bought at auction in 2006 for 12.4 million pounds.

New York Hammer Galleries brought the famous portrait of George Washington (George Washington), made in 1822 by Gilbert Stuart (Gilbert Stuart). This portrait, according to the dealer, became the basis for creating the image of Washington on the one-dollar banknote. The work is estimated at 5 million euros.

Hammer is one of 30 dealers who have not participated in the fair last year. Among the newcomers can be noted gallery L & M Arts, also based in New York. It deals with modernism and contemporary art. Stand Gallery is decorated in the form of living collector of postwar art. There you can see the work of Jean Arp (Jean Arp), Franz Kline (Franz Kline) and Jean Dubuffet (Jean Dubuffet), as well as a picture of Andy Warhol (Andy Warhol) «Flowers", which sold for 9.8 million dollars.

As the director of L & M Levy, Dominique (Dominique Levy), the high auction prices are good for the market, but not for dealers. According to her, in the first six months after the collapse of Lehman Brothers they have access to a phenomenal number of works are in private hands.

According to a report published on March 1 the European Foundation for Visual Arts (The European Fine Art Foundation), last year's sale of works of fine and decorative art brought to 31,3 million euros, 26 per cent lower than in 2008. About 45 percent of the market "grabbed" auction house for the rest of the sale must thank dealers.

Most dealers TEFAF specialize in painting to the twentieth century. Nevertheless, Section of modernism and contemporary art in 2010, increased - such work submitted more than 40 participants. The booth gallery Borzo Modern and Contemporary Art (Amsterdam) you can see the white relief Shonhovena Jan (Jan Schoonhoven) - Dutch minimalist, a member of the "Zero", the work which has recently become fashionable. Last month, one of the reliefs Shonhovena brought at Sotheby's record 780.5 thousand pounds sterling, which is four times the estimate. The product, which offers Borzo, estimated at 175 thousand euros.

Fair will continue until March 21. Details - site Tefaf.com.

article prepared by Julia Maksimova, AI

Sources: bloomberg.com , artinvestment.ru