Michel Witmer

New York art historian and collector Michel Witmer provides an insider's look at TEFAF, the world's leading art and antiques fair. Mr. Witmer gave his first art lectures at The Tate Gallery in London, receiving certification from The Louvre in Paris, and continues to lecture in art history to this date. He is a consultant to private art collectors, researching the historical significance, provenance and condition of works of art. He is also an active collector of paintings, most of which are lent to museums.

He learned to appreciate the process of art collecting at a young age, going to auction previews, antiques shops and galleries with his parents, who were art collectors. After an accelerated college admission program while still in high school, he completed his first year of college in England. He majored in art history, graduating with a Bachelor's degree from Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. He returned to London and attended a master's program at Christie's, completing post-graduate courses at The Courtauldt Institute and Oxford. 

What drove you to get so involved with this particular fair?

My first visit to TEFAF was 15 years ago. I went there in search of the best paintings for my collection, and to see what might be of interest to my clients. Like all visitors there, I was completely overwhelmed by TEFAF's greatness.

I was first interested because TEFAF has by far the world's largest and toughest vetting committee. TEFAF was also the first fair to invite into the fair the Art Loss Register, which holds all of the records of the Nazi era, and of the FBI, Interpol, and others, ensuring that all items are free and clear.

TEFAF does not open its doors until every item has been cleared, so it remains the safest place on earth in which to make a fine art purchase.

What specifically is your personal involvement with TEFAF?

I serve on the board of TEFAF, and represent TEFAF in the U.S as its official ambassador. TEFAF is a non-profit organization whose proceeds go to worthy causes, mostly cancer research. In New York, I am involved with Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, so this is a cause that interests me. In Europe, art is a regular topic on national television. TEFAF, one of the biggest events, and widely known as the world's greatest, is a big story on the news throughout Europe. For the first week leading up to TEFAF, I'm busy with television interviews. During the past few years, Dutch film crews came to New York, Greenwich, and Florida to film me for a documentary, and for a European reality TV show. During the fair, I am busy with the remaining television interviews, with journalists writing about the fair, and with visiting museum groups. Because Maastricht is a charming historic town, and TEFAF is the world's greatest art event, it is a very popular destination for museum groups visiting from America. I enjoy touring them around and sharing the art with them.

Why was Maastricht selected as the site of the fair, relative to other possible sites in Europe?

Originally Maastricht had two fairs, a paintings fair and an antiques fair. Each was of the highest quality, so they decided to combine to be one super-fair. Maastricht is centrally located in Europe, and was not bombed during the wars, so it is preserved and charming. The Convention Center there works well for TEFAF, and visitors like the town.

How does TEFAF compare to other major international art fairs, what makes it stand out, and what is its impact in the global art market among collectors, museums, auction houses and galleries?

TEFAF is widely recognized as the world's best art and antiques event. Our exhibitors hold their best works of art in secret all year long, so that they can show them for the first time at TEFAF. With 239 of the world's leading galleries, in a space nearly 10 times the size of the average New York fair, its impact is major. It contains well over a billion dollars worth of treasures, in addition to the billion-dollar jewel collections.

What can you tell us about the location and type/genre of dealers/exhibitors?

TEFAF presented 239 of the world's top galleries from 20 different countries, divided into the following seven sections:

1. Paintings, Drawings, and Prints
   
2. Antiques and Works of Art
3. Classical Antiquities and Egyptian Works of Art
4. Illuminated Manuscripts, Rare Books, and Maps
5. La Haute Joallerie du Monde
6. TEFAF Design
7. Modern Art

Are details of the art purchasers and the sales volume at each year's fair made public?

This is never publicized in Europe. I have read that TEFAF attracts more private jet traffic than any other event in the world. All of the exhibitors tell us that it is the busiest fair. We attract nearly 10,000 visitors per day during its 10 day run each March.

What were this year's TEFAF highlights and ultimate results?

We were very pleased that TEFAF 2009 was such a huge success. Numerous publications reported that there was no economic crisis at TEFAF. Each TEFAF fair features between 15,000 and 35,000 items, all of high quality, so there are very many highlights. Dickinson Gallery, London, had a beautiful, rare Van Gogh painting. Moretti Gallery, Florence, showed the finest Canaletto scene of Venice available for sale. Ben Janssens, London, showed ancient Chinese pottery that was so refined and perfect, it was more interesting than any other pottery I've seen. Brimo de Larrousilhe had amazing medieval decorative works of art, like an ivory altarpiece as good as those at any museum. The stand of Daniel Katz, London, was like a museum of sculpture, with masterpieces of 18th century bronze. Ultimate results are not known, although we know of numerous museum purchases, like The Louvre and others.

What were your favorite exhibits and works of art at TEFAF 2009?

I enjoy the Old Master paintings at the stands of Johnny Van Haeften, with Dutch Old Masters, and at Bernheimer-Colnaghi's, with a museum caliber array of masterpieces, including Rubens, van Dyck, Cranach, and others. Beres brings the best cubist paintings from Paris, which I love.

Concerning your overall experience at this year's fair, what did you come away with personally?

I always come away from each TEFAF having learned more art and history. It is a fun and fascinating educational experience, in the most spectacular, opulent environment. I also come away with an acquisition for my collection.

In the face of the current global financial crisis, what is the outlook for art fairs, dealers and collectors in the near future? Who will be the winners and losers in this market?

The winners will be those who bought right. If they bought the right, authentic painting, with a place in art history, in adequate condition, and paid a fair price, they can win. A great way to win is to go against the current trends, look for paintings that are meaningful in art history and currently undervalued. The losers will be those who bought anything devoid of artistic and intellectual value, but was "in" at the moment. Anyone who overpaid for contemporary art just because it was trendy, will lose.

What are TEFAF's plans for the future?

Our priority is to maintain the highest standards with the greatest integrity. We regularly redecorate and renovate our fair, so that it remains fresh. This year, we went through about 300,000 live fresh flowers, to decorate the entrance and hallways. We refurbished our restaurants and opened a new Modern Design section. The Dutch are brilliant with contemporary design, so our fair maintains a new, fresh look, in which to showcase the finest art of many centuries.