News | March 19, 2013

TEFAF Announces Opportunity to Expand into China

Maastricht, 19th March 2013 — TEFAF announced today that it has entered into exclusive discussions with Sotheby’s to explore the possibilities of developing a high-end art fair for China, via Sotheby’s Joint Venture in Beijing with GeHua in 2014. “TEFAF Beijing 2014” would represent a ground-breaking collaboration between a leading international auction house and the world’s most important art and antiques fair.


Ben Janssens, Chairman of TEFAF’s Executive Committee, said: “It has always been TEFAF Maastricht’s aim to be responsive to global trends in the art market. We feel now is the time to further develop our presence in China, one of the most important art markets.   As TEFAF has in recent years made great efforts to explore the market in China, we are excited to have agreed with Sotheby’s exclusively to explore the possibilities of a partnership with Sotheby’s Joint Venture to establish “TEFAF Beijing”. TEFAF is committed to contribute to the further growth of the market for European Art in China by facilitating a high end art market platform for Chinese collectors and international art dealers.”

About TEFAF:
The European Fine Art Foundation, TEFAF, was founded in 1988 in Maastricht, The Netherlands, by art and antiques dealers to run an international art and antiques fair of the highest quality, The European Fine Art Fair, known as TEFAF Maastricht. From its very beginning the Fair installed a strict vetting procedure and 175 international experts in 29 vetting committees check every work of art for its quality, authenticity and condition. TEFAF Maastricht was also the first Fair to introduce the Art Loss Register, the world's largest private database of stolen art. Thus visitors to the Fair can buy with the highest possible confidence. In its 26 years of existence TEFAF Maastricht has become a major annual meeting point for the global art market. Each year in March the Fair attracts over 70,000 private collectors, art advisers, art dealers, interior designers and representatives of over 200 major museums. Visitors come from circa 55 countries from all over the world.

TEFAF Maastricht continues at the MECC Maastricht until March 24, 2013.