Dealers at TEFAF Maastricht Report Robust Sales

Works ranging from two-inch enameled gold paintings to room-size Neapolitan crèches dazzle at the art fair.

Mar. 13, 2026 at 5:51pm

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Despite global unrest, dealers at the TEFAF art fair in Maastricht reported strong sales, with works ranging from tiny enameled gold paintings to massive 18th-century Neapolitan crèches and sleighs. Highlights included a $5 million illuminated manuscript, recently restituted paintings, and contemporary art displayed alongside old masters.

Why it matters

TEFAF Maastricht is one of the world's premier art fairs, showcasing the highest quality works across millennia. The robust sales at this year's edition, despite broader economic and geopolitical challenges, demonstrate the continued strength and resilience of the global art market, especially for rare, museum-quality pieces.

The details

Dealers reported strong interest and sales across a wide range of media and time periods. Highlights included a $5 million 15th-century illuminated manuscript from Jorn Günther Rare Books, a $600,000 Greek sculpture from the 4th century BCE sold by David Aaron Gallery, and several recently restituted paintings that found new buyers, including works by Camille Pissarro and Jacob Jordaens. Contemporary galleries like Marianne Boesky and Kamel Mennour also saw success, mixing modern and old master works.

  • The TEFAF art fair took place in Maastricht in March 2026.

The players

TEFAF Maastricht

One of the world's premier art fairs, held annually in Maastricht, the Netherlands, showcasing high-quality works spanning 7,000 years of art history.

Alison Jacques

A London-based art dealer exhibiting at TEFAF Maastricht for the first time, who noted strong international attendance and placed works by artists like Eileen Agar and Sheila Hicks.

Jorn Günther

A rare books dealer from Basel, Switzerland, who has exhibited at TEFAF for 30 years and reported this year as his best, including the sale of a $5 million 15th-century illuminated manuscript.

Brimo de Laroussilhe

A Paris gallery featuring three tiny, exquisite enameled gold plaques from a 15th-century gold book made for Anne of France.

Pierre Maes

The director of De Wit Fine Tapestries from Mechelen, Belgium, who offered a 14-foot-wide 16th-century tapestry depicting a Tree of Life.

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What they’re saying

“The caliber of collectors is extraordinary.”

— Alison Jacques

“There's email. There's WhatsApp.”

— Anonymous dealer

“The oldest item on the stand is a 10th-century manuscript. It makes you think: how many revolutions, how many plagues, how many wars, over that time? It slows you down. Contemporary art is all about speed. We have slow art that speaks of values—like the devotion and patience it took to create these things.”

— Jorn Günther, Rare books dealer

“But, when you run a gallery, you have bills to pay.”

— Kamel Mennour, Paris dealer

The takeaway

TEFAF Maastricht's ability to attract top-tier collectors and dealers, even amid global instability, underscores the enduring strength and prestige of the high-end art market. The fair's diverse offerings, from ancient artifacts to cutting-edge contemporary works, demonstrate the breadth and depth of the art world's resilience.