Royal Hospital Chelsea + Treasure House Fair London 2024

Love Rides Pillion

Only in its second edition, summer in London without Treasure House Fair would be like a cheeseboard without chutney or a cappuccino without chocolate. The fair has grown by almost a third with an international cohort of 70 exhibitors this year. Beverly Hills jeweller Robert Procop continues the tradition of exhibitions first established at Treasure House’s predecessor, Masterpiece, with The Great 100 Carat Gems. One of the priceless pieces is The Majestic Kryptonite, a vibrant blue aquamarine crystal with blue and pink sapphires.

Several vintage JD Classics cars lining the avenue of Royal Hospital Chelsea grounds set the tone. Fine Art Commissions is the first indoor stand beyond the entrance to the fair. Artist Nicky Philipps is at work conjuring up a portrait of a model. She is best known for her 2011 oil on canvas of Queen Elizabeth II wearing the Order of the Garter robes which now hangs in Buckingham Palace. Nicky carries on the enchanting school of portraiture realism favoured by Sir John Lavery, Sir William Orpen and John Singer Sargent.

There’s a mix of familiar and new faces at the fair. Ken Sims of Bernard Goldbery Fine Arts says, “New York is so quiet in the summertime. We have a lot of European clients so it makes perfect sense to have a presence at The Treasure House Fair. It is good to support a new growing fair too.” One of Bernard Goldberg’s standout pieces is The Altneuschul Prague, a richly atmospheric 1913 oil on panel by Oldrich Blazicek. The 13th century Altneuschul is Europe’s oldest synagogue. Another unavoidable eyecatcher is Gustav Klimt’s Dozing Woman, chalk on paper circa 1900.

“This painting of Admiral Sir John Norris dates from about 1735,” explains Martyn Downer, “and I believe is the only portrait which features the rebuilt HMS Britannia.” The ship can be seen in the corner of the oil on canvas. Beside it is the model of Britannia made by the workshop of John Hayward Master Shipwright at Woolwich Dockyard which is two decades older than the painting. Measuring 1.4 metres long, the model is made of yellow pine, box and fruitwoods. He adds, “It’s a contemporary dockyard model, fully decked and equipped and made to separate at the gun deck to reveal the dock beams.” The ship model is sold already – and it’s only Preview Day.

A gentle breeze ripples through the open French doors of Lulu as sea bass is served followed by chocolate mousse. Danny Piers from the Julian Jazz Academy is playing the concert gran Steinway in the brasserie. This being Treasure House, the piano is an artwork: Chromasoul by Argentina born Mària Inès Aguirre, 2019. The instrument is vividly painted incorporating a range of musical references from Claude Debussy to Italian conductor Arturo Toscanini. Afterwards, everyone from Hampton to The Hamptons will be swapping notes and sipping Pommery Brut Royal at the Red Oyster Bar. Actress Sienna Miller swishes by looking resplendent in a fretwork edged black dress and studded buckled high heel clogs.