TEFAF Maastricht (The European Fine Art Fair) is known as one of the world’s leading art, antiques and design fairs with a vetting process that is considered by many to be among the most stringent in the art world. It will be held March 10 – 19 in the picturesque medieval city of Maastricht in Southeastern part of The Netherlands on the Belgium border.
In the midst of the 275 dealers and designers from 20 countries attending TEFAF there will be a handful of world-renowned contemporary high jewelry artists, a couple of internationally known high jewelry and watch brands selling antiques and new pieces, and several dealers of antique and period jewels.
The high jewelry artists range from the large dramatic pieces of Hong Kong-based Wallace Chan to two German firms, Otto Jakob, who specializes in wearable miniature art jewels, and Hemmerle, which uses traditional and unorthodox materials to create its bespoke pieces.
Wallace Chan Birth and Blossom earrings
Wallace Chan, who began his art career as a sculptor, uses precious gemstones and metals to basically recreate his dreams. His pieces are reported to sell for upwards of tens of millions of dollars (he never talks price). One way he’s different from just about every designer in the world who produces work at the highest level is that he does nearly everything himself. He’s a master gem carver and one of the early adapters to using titanium for jewels. He often develops his own techniques and builds his own tools to make his creations.
New Pieces at TEFAF
Among his new pieces for the TEFAF show are the Birth and Blossom Earrings, made with two emeralds totaling 30.88 carats and 30-carats of pearls with yellow diamonds, white diamonds, pink sapphires and conch shell. Chan hollowed out two pearls and set inside them diamonds and sapphires in a spiral arrangement. Titanium stems reach out and sprawl downwards, depicting the growth of a magical blossom with pieces of conch shell turned into petals, echoing the pearls’ smooth texture. The pistils are surrounded by diamond sparkles. Dangling underneath the flowers are two pieces of luxuriant green emerald.
Hemmerle bangle
Inspired by ancient Egypt
Among the new introductions produced by Hemmerle for TEFAF, is bangle crafted out of sapphires, aquamarines and aluminum presents that are inspired by the ornamentation seen on the capitals of columns of temple of Karnak in ancient Egypt, constructed nearly 2,000 years ago.
Otto Jakob Xuanas
The self-taught jewelry artist, Otto Jakob, is inspired by Etruscan, Celtic and Hellenic masterpieces. He studied painting but devotes his works to jewelry. Among the items he will be displaying is his 2016 creation, Xuanas, which consists of yellow gold casts of St. John’s Wort petals, the ovaries made of white gold, set with micro pavé diamonds and surrounded by stamens and pollen grains covered with dark red enamel.
Verdura Medusa ring
Ward and Nico Landrigan, the father and son team that owns the historic brands, Verdura and Belperron, will be exhibiting antique pieces and those recreated from the original drawings of the famed mid-20th Century jewelry artists, Duke Fulco di Verdura and Suzanne Belperron at TEFA 2017.
Belperron Congo Cuff
Among the pieces are the Verdura Medusa Ring made of gold and ruby, created during Verdura’s 1941 collaboration with Salvador Dali; and the Belperron Congo Cuff, made of ebony wood and 18k gold.
Reza Délhéa necklace
Place Vendôme jewellers
The Place Vendôme high jewelry house, Reza, will return to TEFAF with its exceptionally designed and crafted gem-focused jewels. Among them is the Délhéa necklace featuring a 30.34-carat yellow cabochon Ceylon sapphire, a 5.76-carat Troidia Brazilian emerald, 11 yellow oval cabochon sapphires, 103 princess-cut diamonds weighing 16.17 carats and 28 brilliant-cut, diamonds, all set in white browned gold. The necklace converts into a bracelet.
Parisian jewelry house, Van Cleef & Arpels, and Swiss jewelry and watch brand, Chopard, will bring their uniquely designed vintage and new pieces to the fair.
Van Cleef & Arpels Édaillons necklace and Etoiles earrings
The Van Cleef exhibition will include “Édaillons necklace and Etoiles” earrings featuring round diamonds and sapphires with cabochon-cut turquoises. The motifs and the association of precious and hard stones reveal an Indian influence. The necklace is transformable and can be worn in a shorter version with a matching bracelet. Paris, 1968 and 1971
Chopard L.U.C. Full Strike watch
The Chopard display includes the L.U.C. Full Strike watch strikes the hours, quarters and minutes on transparent sapphire crystal gongs. The 42.5 mm case is made of Fairmined rose gold and an open worked dial. Ref. 161947-5001.
Chopard Emerald and Gem-Set ring
Chopard emerald and gem-set ring features a flower motif with a center-set 19-carat heart-shaped emerald surrounded by colorful overlapping gemstones.
Among the antique jewelry dealers at the fair will be the Hancocks, the London-based firm with a range of products from every artistic period, Wartski, the London firm that specializes in the works by Carl Faberge, Véronique Bamps of Monaco, who specializes in European and American jewels, and A. Aardewerk Antiquair Juwelier, a Netherlands-based firm that specializes in antique Dutch silver and jewelry.
Spencer family tiara
Among the 100 or so items being exhibited by Hancocks is an Edwardian diamond tiara that belonged to the Spencer family. It was given to Lady Delia Spencer, great aunt to Princess Diana, by her father the 6th Earl Spencer, on her wedding day on February 18, 1914. Set with more than 800 old cut diamonds, estimated to weigh a total of 48 carats, the tiara can be transformed into a choker necklace and bracelet.
Wartski Gold and Enamel Fringe Necklace
Wartski will have an exhibition filled with period and antique pieces including a gold and enamel fringe necklace by Giacinto Melillo (1845-1915), Naples, circa 1875
Véronique Bamps gold and diamonds earrings
Véronique Bamps’ display will include gold and diamonds earrings, circa 1870
A. Aardewerk Antiquair Juwelier archaeological style bracelet, circa 1870
The collection from A. Aardewerk Antiquair Juwelier will include an archaeological style bracelet designed by Giacinto Melillo, Naples circa 1870. The gold, pearls and enamel jewel has seven square panels joined by gold hinges with semicircular end plaques. Each panel is decorated with motifs in the Etruscan style executed in fine granulation and wirework with applied florets. The reverse of the plaque is decorated with a four-petal motif in applied wirework.
source: Forbes Magazine
