Offered on its original stand for €170,000 by Dutch firm Kollenburg Antiquairs, the cabinet is notable for its relatively large size, measuring 5ft 2in (1.57m) high. A similar example is in the V&A collections.
One of the many online art fairs that have cropped up since the pandemic began, ArtCity is unusual for having no physical counterpart.
It has been organised by Brussels-based firm MasterArt in response to the pandemic, bringing on board some major international dealers such as Tomasso Brothers Fine Art, Cahn International, Galerie Meyer – Oceanic Art and Stern Pissarro.
To recreate the experience of buying in an actual space, the website has been designed to look like a city, with various ‘houses’ representing different galleries. Each building links to a participating dealer, and by ‘entering’, visitors can tour the available artwork in a 3D gallery set-up. The site also offers news and educational content for ‘the high-end art market’.
The inaugural event runs from October 23-28 with a preview on October 22.
Evolving market
Exhibitor Lewis Smith, director of Koopman Rare Art, calls the fair a good example of “how the art market is evolving” in reaction to a world changed by the pandemic. He says: “Continued sales during and post-lockdown have proved that collectors continue to be as passionate about high-quality antique silver as we are. Dealers and collectors are all simply adapting to new and creative ways of conducting business.”
Among Koopman’s highlights is a pair of George IV silver gilt marine-inspired sauceboats, made by Robert Garrard II in London, 1820. They have detachable liners marked by Sebastian Crespell II and are offered for a price in the region of £160,000.
ArtCity is planned to be a recurring event timed not to conflict with the traditional dates of major fairs.
MasterArt runs an online platform featuring 300 galleries from around the world.
