46 15th January 2011 international events Brussels’ bellwether fair ■ Europe’s first major fair of the year sets an early test for the international market Anne Crane reports BRUSSELS will provide an early test of the market as the setting for Europe’s first major fair of the New Year. BRAFA (The Brussels Antiques and Fine Arts Fair) stages its Oriental and Occidental ceramics and Above left: Queen Antinea of Atlantide, 56th showing this month, works of art, furniture, tribal art, books 1920-1921 by Manuel Orazi, a 2ft 2in x 3ft from January 21-30. and numismatics all feature. 9in (65.5cm x 1.15m) gouache on paper priced Given its history, it is hardly surprising at €32,000, which Parisian dealer Vincent BRAFA has a long history there, that Belgian exhibitors make up the Lecuyer will be taking to BRAFA this month. holding a fair in Brussels since 1955. At biggest showing (albeit slightly fewer Above: Whitford Fine Art, one of the 20 first open only to Belgian dealers as the than last year) with over 50 exhibitors, new exhibitors to this year’s BRAFA, will be Foire des Antiquaires de Belgique, it grew closely followed by dealers from France. taking this 9½ x 5½in (24 x 14cm) pencil and ink to take in foreign dealers in 1995, but Together these account for around 70 study for a portrait of Jeanne de Bauer, 1890, has grown considerably since it moved per cent of the exhibitor numbers. But by Belgian artist Fernand Khnopff, priced at from the Palais des Beaux Arts in the BRAFA’s organisers have also been on €22,000. city centre to the Tour & Taxis, a former a longstanding campaign to make the Left: Galerie Slomka from Paris will be taking railway station yard on the outskirts. event more international, and exhibitors this 6½ x 4¾in (17 x12cm) Tintin artwork from If that makes it sound less than from other countries are gradually 1960 to BRAFA featuring Tintin, Snowy and glamorous, think again; it’s actually a broadening the international tag. Captain Haddock, signed and dedicated by large and flexible space that can be easily Dealers from a dozen other countries Hergé priced at €60,000. transformed which is what a fair needs. are participating, notably Spain and The venue is fitted out by an interior Germany, with six apiece, and London arrival of Schoffel-Valluet from Paris, designer team (Volume Architecture) to with four. Nassar & Co from New York and Adrian accommodate a restaurant, champagne Anyway, Belgium and France count Schlag from Brussels. bars and space for 132 exhibitors with many big hitters on the international and Galeries Mathivet and Marcilhac BRAFA also continues its tradition of ample cark parking. dealer front. BRAFA regulars include with 20th century decorative arts. a link with a Belgian museum. This year This year 20 new names have joined, plenty of well-known names, such as Parisian dealers returning to BRAFA after they have allocated 200m² to Antwerp’s while some others have left, but the Bernard de Leye; Axel Vervoordt; some years absence are Steinitz; Asian Musée Mayer van den Bergh, which is overall number is slightly up on last year’s Berko Fine Paintings; De Jonckheere; art specialist Christian Deydier and Art sending a loan display of 20 works from with “a waiting list that means we can Mermoz; Galerie Bérès and Jean- Deco specialist Alain Marcelpoil. New its collection. choose and if necessary repeat the range Jacques Dutko. from London are Whitford Fine Art BRAFA 2011 at Tour & Taxis, Avenue of specialities offered”, affirms BRAFA Many of the new additions to the with modern paintings. Tribal art, a field de Port 86C Boite 2A, B-1000 Brussels. President Bernard de Leye. Old Masters exhibitor list have come from Paris, for which Brussels is well known, will Further information on admission and modern art, antiquities, jewellery, including François Hayem with furniture be boosted to eight participants by the times and tickets see www.brafa.be.