This week, a new art fair opens in London bringing international galleries presenting works by the most highly rated artists in their respective fields.
The Treasure House Fair, which takes place at Royal Hospital Chelsea between 22 and 26 June, crosses the centuries, featuring ancient objects to contemporary art, and including sculpture, tapestry, ceramics, jewellery, and design, as well as furniture, clocks and watches and rare books.
Highlights include:
Long-Sharp Gallery from Indianapolis, with a number of drawings by Andy Warhol from the artist’s estate and offered for sale for the first time. Dating both from the early stages of his career in the 1950s when he worked as a fashion illustrator before the advent of Pop art in America, and from the last decade of his life, they show how “drawing was vital to Warhol’s artistic practice” (Vincent Fremont, former co-head of the Andy Warhol Foundation)
Wartzski with, amongst other eye-catching works, a blue topaz and diamond brooch by Carl Fabergé, signed by August Holmström. The natural sky-blue stone is brilliant-cut and weighs 134 carats, and the brooch is signed with the initials of the chief jewellery workmaster August Holmström. St. Petersburg, before 1899.
Geoffrey Diner Gallery, Washington, with furniture by George Nakashima (1905-1990), one of the most influential furniture makers of the post-war era. Born in America and of Japanese descent, Nakashima trained as an architect before turning to furniture design. It was during the Second World War whilst interned in the USA that he learnt to use traditional Japanese woodcutting tools from a fellow inmate, marking a turning point in his career.
Univers du Bronze, Paris, with two exceptional examples by Francois-Xavier Lalanne. Husband and wife team Francois-Xavier and Claude Lalanne continue to be widely admired for their work which spans design and sculpture, attracting interest from illustrious collectors including Queen Elizabeth II, Yves St Laurent, Karl Lagerfeld, Valentino and Tom Ford. One of the objects presented at the Fair is a 21cm silver barn owl from an original edition of eight and one of very few Lalanne owls to come to the market.
“We are extremely proud to set the tone for The Treasure House Fair in 2023 with some of the great family-owned shops and galleries in the UK, many of them third generation and beyond, including S.Franses, Ronald Phillips, Butchoff Antiques, S.J. Phillips, Wartski, Koopman Rare Art and Richard Green,” said Thomas Woodham-Smith, co-founder of the Treasure House Fair. “In addition, we will have an impressive selection of exhibitors from America, such as S.J. Shrubsole, Michele Beiny and the Geoffrey Diner Gallery.”
The Fair will be open to the public from 23-26 June. To book tickets, visit: treasurehousefair.com
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Image: WARTSKI: Blue topaz and diamond brooch by Carl Fabergé, signed by August Holmström (St Petersburg, before 1899). Photo courtesy of Wartski and the Treasure House Art Fair