A Trove of the Rare and the Exceptional

NATURAL WONDERS From a 180-million-year-old pregnant dinosaur fossil to Some of the world’s rarest 100-carat gems

5,000 YEARS OF MANKIND’S CREATIVITY From an early Cycladic sculpture to preparatory works for portraits of HM King Charles and Queen Elizabeth II

A year after its creation, and following a successful inaugural edition, The Treasure House Fair returns to the historic Royal Hospital Chelsea this summer. Taking place from 27 June through 2 July, the fair will bring together 70 leading galleries– up 30% on last year – and feature over 20 collecting categories in the fields of fine art, furniture, antiquities and jewellery. A veritable Wunderkammer, this second edition will also showcase natural wonders, including the fossil of a 180-million-year-old pregnant Ichthyosaur, meteorites and some of the world’s largest and rarest gemstones, alongside classic cars and one of the most stylish boats ever made.

A “treasure house” of the rare and the beautiful, the historic and the cutting-edge, the fair offers a unique blend of quintessentially British character with an unerring international outlook. From the century-old jewellers who crafted Their Majesties King Charles and Queen Camilla’s wedding rings to the young Japanese art dealer breaking new ground in the international art sphere, the fair will showcase galleries working at the apex of their disciplines. All vetted by independent experts, the carefully curated works on display will take visitors on a journey through a million years of the Earth's history and millennia of mankind’s creativity.

A “Wunderkammer” of the rare and the exceptional
For the first time in London, the public will have the opportunity to discover some of the world’s largest and rarest gemstones, all weighing over 100 carats and gathered in an unprecedented exhibition The Great 100-carat Gems (for more details, please see separate release). These natural wonders will feature alongside other whimsical artefacts, such as a 50,000-year-old complete Woolly Rhino skull and a two-meter-high mammoth hindleg.

The fair will also celebrate five millennia of human creativity, from a strikingly modern Cycladic figurine, 2700-2300 B.C. to preparatory works for portraits of HM King Charles and Queen Elizabeth II. Other highlights include storied furniture, prized old masters, exceptional impressionist and modern works and contemporary art by leading artists coming from all corners of the globe, from Asia through to the Middle East. (Please see highlights document for more details)

A highlight of the London summer season
Pursuing a tradition of summer art fairs in London going back to 1934 (see Notes to editors), the 2024 edition of the fair is also testament to the strength of the British art market – the world’s second largest - and the fact that London remains a unique destination and magnet for international art collectors. Much anticipated by both the trade and the public, The Treasure House Fair is also set to become a fixture of the city’s vibrant summer season, which each year sees local and international visitors converge on the city, determined to take advantage of all the culture, art and sport on offer, from blockbuster exhibitions to the Wimbledon Championships.

Expanding the fair’s global presence
This year also sees the fair pursuing its internationalisation, with groundbreaking initiatives reinforcing its links with both the US and Europe. The recent appointment of Helen Allen - the Executive Director of The Winter Fair, New York - as Development Director, started an unprecedented collaboration between two premier interdisciplinary fairs, actuating Treasure House’s ambitions to cement the synergies between the UK and US art markets.

In order to ease the trade complexities and costs faced by international exhibitors, a pioneering deal has also been struck with logistics firm, Momart. Overseas galleries can use the customs procedure known as Temporary Admissions (TA) via Momart to import and export their items for the fair under a single arrangement with the shipping firm. Exhibitors will get a special rate for the use of the TA and the fair and Momart will jointly subsidise this cost and manage paperwork.

In the Gardens of the Royal Hospital Chelsea
On entering the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea, visitors will be welcomed by the sight of three classic cars presented by Hilton & Moss in collaboration with the London Concours - the capital’s leading automotive summer event.

Sculpture Walk
Deeper in the gardens, esteemed London art dealer and director of Thirsk Hall Sculpture Garden in North Yorkshire, Willoughby Gerrish, will once again be curating the Sculpture Walk. The show, which will extend into the fair, will be highlighted by works by 20th and 21st century British women artists, including Barbara Hepworth, Emily Young, Mona Hatoum, Sophie Ryder and Nicola Anthony.

Harry Van der Hoorn, Co-founder of The Treasure House Fair and owner of the leading stand building company Stabilo said: “The success of last year’s event which came together in record time is a real show of strength for the UK art market. London remains a vibrant hub for international trade. There is a strong local market and it is also a gateway to both Europe and America.”