À Bâle, la foire Antike fait dialoguer l’art ancien avec le contemporain d’Art Basel
For the first time, the Antike antiquities fair in Basel will take place during Art Basel in June 2026, moving from its usual November slot. The fair, which traditionally focused on Mediterranean antiquities (Roman, Greek, Etruscan, Egyptian), is expanding to include classical African, Oceanic, and Asian art. Dealers like Antonia Eberwein and Robert R. Bigler are showcasing rare pieces, including an Egyptian pyramidion and a painted Tau-Tau head from Indonesia, aiming to bridge ancient and contemporary art.
This shift matters because it reflects a growing trend toward "cross-collecting"—mixing ancient and modern works in private collections. By aligning with Art Basel, Antike hopes to attract a younger, broader audience and create synergies between the two fairs. The expansion beyond Mediterranean antiquities also acknowledges the influence of non-Western art on modern movements like Cubism, making the fair more relevant to contemporary art discourse.