Art
TEFAF Maastricht
Maastricht, Netherlands
Maastricht · March · Subject to availability
Mid March — dates to be confirmed
The most rigorously vetted fair in the world, covering seven thousand years of art, in a small Dutch city near three borders.
TEFAF's distinguishing feature is its vetting. Every object on every stand is examined by committees of specialists before the fair opens, and works that do not survive that scrutiny are removed. The effect on the material is considerable: this is the fair at which old master paintings, antiquities, furniture, silver and historic jewellery of genuine museum quality are shown together and can be bought with a level of confidence that the wider market does not offer. It is also the fair the institutions attend seriously, and a significant volume of museum acquisition is transacted here each year. Maastricht itself is a small city in the southern Netherlands, close to both the Belgian and German borders, and the fair effectively takes it over for ten days. The pace is slower and more considered than the contemporary fairs, which suits the material.
- Month
- March
- Recommended stay
- 2–3 nights
- Nearest airports
- MST · BRU
- Typical clientele
- Collectors of old masters, antiquities, historic jewellery and decorative arts, museum directors and acquisition committees, specialist dealers, and advisers to established family collections.
Why it matters
For collectors of historic material, TEFAF's vetting removes the single largest risk in the market, which is attribution. Nowhere else can objects of this quality be compared side by side with that assurance, and the institutional presence means the fair sets reference points for the year in several categories. The concentration of specialist dealers also makes it the most efficient place to build relationships in fields where the trade is small and dispersed.
How access is arranged
Preview attendance is determined by the fair and its exhibitors. Scott & Vale makes introductions to advisers and dealers where such relationships exist, upon request and subject to availability, and coordinates travel, accommodation and the viewing schedule.
Scott & Vale coordinates travel, accommodation, ground and air movement, security, dining and itinerary design around this occasion, and makes introductions to authorised hospitality providers where such programmes exist. The firm does not sell, allocate, resell or guarantee admission.
Hospitality and travel
Where to stay
- Château St. Gerlach
- Kruisherenhotel Maastricht
- Hôtel Amigo Brussels
- Château Neercanne
- Botanic Sanctuary Antwerp
Properties are listed as editorial guidance. Scott & Vale holds no inventory and no claimed relationship with any property named here.
Arrival by air
- MST — Maastricht Aachen Fifteen minutes from the fair; business aviation capacity is limited and taken early.
- BRU — Brussels Ninety minutes by road, with full handling and greater availability.
Helicopter. Rotations from Brussels, Amsterdam and Düsseldorf operate during the fair, and are the usual answer to Maastricht Aachen's limited parking.
Dining
- Beluga Loves You
- Château Neercanne
- Tout à Fait
- De Mangerie
- Sofa
Reservations are requested on a member's behalf, subject to availability.
Suggested itinerary
- 01 Day One Arrival and a preview afternoon, with an adviser walking the vetted stands in the categories of interest.
- 02 Day Two A full day at the fair. The pace here rewards a second and third look at the same objects rather than breadth.
- 03 Day Three Closing negotiations and export and shipping arrangements, then departure or an onward transfer to Antwerp or Brussels.
Scott & Vale support
- Private Jet
- Luxury Hotels
- Luxury Chauffeur
- Private Guides
- Restaurant Reservations
- Family Office Coordination
- Travel Planning
Enquiry
Plan this properly, and plan it early.
An enquiry reaches the team directly with the context of this entry attached. A member of the team will respond within the hour, wherever you are.
Frequently asked
What does the vetting actually cover?
Attribution, condition, restoration and provenance, assessed by category committees of independent specialists before the fair opens. Objects that fail are withdrawn from the stands.
Is TEFAF relevant to contemporary collectors?
Increasingly. Modern and contemporary sections have grown, though the fair's centre of gravity remains historic material.
Where should a visitor base themselves?
Maastricht and the surrounding Limburg countryside for proximity, or Brussels and Antwerp if greater choice is required, accepting ninety minutes each way.
What does Scott & Vale arrange?
Travel, accommodation, ground movement, dining and the viewing schedule, with introductions to advisers and dealers where such relationships exist.
Related events
Direct: info@scottnvale.com
Event names, marks and logos referenced on this page are the property of their respective owners. Scott & Vale is not an official partner, supplier or licensee of any event, organiser or rights holder named here, and no affiliation is implied. Scott & Vale does not sell, allocate, resell or guarantee admission to any event. Travel, accommodation, ground and air movement, security, dining and itinerary design are arranged around these events, and introductions are made to authorised hospitality providers where such programmes exist.
Photography: Henk Monster — CC BY 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
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