Dutch TEFAF arts fair breaks attendance record

This year’s TEFAF art and antiques fair, held in the southern Dutch city of Maastricht, attracted 73,000 visitors, 2,000 more than last year.

A number of top pieces were sold, including The Sacrifice of Iphigenia by Jan Steen which fetched almost 8 million euros. A huge yellow diamond also changed hands. Although the asking price was 7 million euros, the final sale price has not been disclosed.

The TEFAF art fair began just over one week ago with bad publicity when a diamond necklace worth 1.2 million euros was stolen during the opening. Three people were arrested in connection with the robbery but the jewellery has not yet been recovered.

Source: Radio Netherlands, 17 March 2008