The European Fine Art Fair (TEFAF) in Maastricht closed earlier this week. 263 dealers from around the world exhibited the best they had to offer to over 70,000 visitors, a 7% increase over 2009's attendance. As another indicator that the art market is recovering more robustly than the overall economy, dealers report significantly stronger sales at this year's fair compared to last year's. The fact that strong sales were reported in a range of periods from Old Masters to Contemporary is even more encouraging. Some highlights:
- Lucas Cranach the Elders's Bathsheba, 1534: $7.1 million
- Mark Rothko's Untitled (Red, White, Orange), 1967: $3.1 million
- Jean-Michel Basquiat's Busted Atlas 2, 1982: $2.4 million
- Jean-Baptist-Camille Corot's View of Florence, 1834: $2 million
Sales in furniture and decorative arts were equally strong.
