Masterpiece 2015 Opens with Significant Sales

Drawing collectors, curators, and designers from all over the world to pore over works of art spanning over 4,000 years of art history, this year the Fair welcomed a record 8,900 visitors on its opening day to the Thames side location of the Royal Hospital Chelsea, an increase of over 26% on last year.

"Opening day has proved better than ever" said Raffaello Tomasso, at Tomasso Brothers Fine Art. "Visitors have loved the stand," added Dino Tomasso, "and we've met an enormous number of new contacts."

Notable sales reported include that of the prime piece at Rupert Wace Ancient Art, Hygiea for a six figure sum, while Symbolic & Chase sold an important diamond and ruby Boucheron cuff for a seven figure sum.

Modern British art also performed well on preview day with a previously unknown work by Henry Moore, a lead Helmet, 1950, discovered by Osborne Samuel and sold to a private Canadian collector.

Richard Green also got off to a good start, including the sale of a fine painting by L.S. Lowry and Dickinson sold works by Chagall, Miró and Rodin.

High profile guests that attended preview day included Evegeny Lebedev, Mila Kunis, Andrew Lloyd-Webber, Jasper Conran, Jade Jagger, Roman Abramovich, Paul McCartney, Tamara Ecclestone, Terence Disdale, Nick Foulkes, Princess Michael of Kent and Sol Campbell, as well as the Chelsea Pensioners.

Masterpiece 2015 runs until 1st July.