Thomas Woodham-Smith and Harry Van der Hoorn are staging the third edition of the Treasure House Fair at London’s Royal Hospital Chelsea, running until 1 July. The fair, which launched hastily in 2023 after the collapse of Masterpiece London, features 72 exhibitors spanning ancient to contemporary art, design, jewellery, antiques, and even a meteorite. Woodham-Smith reports a mood of optimism despite global turmoil, with strong ticket sales and a 40% share of new exhibitors, including many from outside the UK.
The Treasure House Fair matters because it aims to fill the void left by the demise of major London summer events such as Masterpiece, the Grosvenor House Art and Antiques Fair, and the Art & Antiques Fair Olympia. In a season diminished by Brexit and Covid-19, the fair represents a rare cross-disciplinary counterpoint to the contemporary-art fair circuit, and it continues to attract American buyers and museum visitors. Its survival and growth signal resilience in the high-end art and antiques market and the enduring appeal of a traditional, broad-spectrum summer fair in London.