Why treasure is a universal word

The new Treasure House fair carries the hopes of the art and antiques market

- Huon Mallalieu

HARRY VAN DER HOORN and Thomas WoodhamSmith show a confident swagger in the naming of their fairs: Treasure House opens at Royal Hospital Chelsea, London SW3, tomorrow as a replacement to their previous Masterpiece, which fell victim to the turbulence of recent years. A ‘talking head’ I used to know would say ‘ah well, only the next 24 hours will tell’—but all parties in the art world will be wishing success to this new venture. The prospect of London without a major summer art and antiques fair was deeply worrying, as testified by the enthusiasm with which this initiative was welcomed.

Mr van der Hoorn is the owner of Stabilo, which builds elegant stands for TEFAF Maastricht and the Frieze autumn fairs in London, as well as Masterpiece, which he founded in 2009 with Mr Woodham-Smith, a long-experienced antiques dealer. He comments that the new name points to continuity as well as quality: ‘Our choice of title reflects the wide range of disciplines and masterpieces in the fair, each piece a treasure in its own right. From my perspective, and I speak as a Dutchman, “Treasure” is a word that is understood throughout the world and “House” is a mark of respect to the Grosvenor House Fair, a fair that inspired so many of us over the years.’