Chinese Collectors Rare Sight at TEFAF

The art world is agog over the money Chinese collectors. But Bloomberg’s Scott Reyburn points out that mythical Chinese buyer is more heard about than seen in the wild. The art fair, the collector’s natural habitat, has yet to see an influx of these rare birds:

The London- and New York-based Asian art specialist Littleton & Hennessy has priced an early Yuan-dynasty lacquered bronze at $8 million.

Though Chinese dealers turn up in force at European auctions of Chinese art, wealthy collectors from the region have yet to make an impact at fairs such as Tefaf.

“I’m not expecting to sell to hordes of Chinese on my stand,” gallery director James Hennessy said in an interview. “It’s still quite difficult for wealthy mainlanders to leave the country. I’ll be selling mostly to Europeans and Americans.”

Rembrandt Leads $1.4 Billion Art Fair as Dealers Vie for Buyers (Bloomberg)