An extraordinary display of masterpieces will be on show at TEFAF Maastricht when the world's most influential art and antiques fair opens its doors at the MECC (Maastricht Exhibition and Congress Centre) in Maastricht in the southern Netherlands from 18-27 March 2011. Among the highlights of the 24th edition of The European Fine Art Fair will be the imposing and important Henry Moore sculpture Mother and child block seat, Pierre-Auguste Renoir's superb depiction of his son Claude, and an extremely rare Greek idol made about 7,000 years ago. They will be among more than 30,000 works of art at TEFAF Maastricht, all rigorously vetted by teams of international experts to maintain the Fair's reputation for exhibiting only the best pieces.
Rupert Wace Ancient Art of London will be bringing a rare and important Greek idol dating from the Late Neolithic period c5300 – 4500BC to TEFAF Maastricht. The small yet monumental 11.7cm high white marble figure of a woman is one of less than a dozen known pieces dating from this early era, most of which are in museums. It is 2,000 years older than the majority of surviving Cycladic works of art. Although it is recorded as having been in private collections since the 1950s, it has only recently been rediscovered. The female idol, representing fertility, would almost certainly have been placed in a tomb to accompany the deceased person on their journey to the afterlife. Some 7,000 years after it was carved, it is in extremely good condition and will be offered for sale at TEFAF