Treasure House Fair returns to the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea with a host of historic and antique jewels – check it out below
London’s flagship summer art fair is back at Royal Hospital Chelsea with rediscovered treasures from British history, the highest chivalric honour of the Spanish Crown, and pieces from Cartier and a host of other leading Houses.
We broke down all the details you need to know, from the must-see highlights to the newcomers on the block:
What is Treasure House Fair?
Treasure House Fair is an art fair which displays some of the most precious and relevant pieces from the now and throughout history.
It was founded by Thomas Woodham-Smith and Harry Van der Hoorn he co-founders of Masterpiece (2009-2022), in 2023. Following Masterpiece’s closure, they created the Treasure House Fair and had it brought to life in less than six months.
The Treasure House Fair is described as: “the rare and the beautiful, the historic and the cutting-edge, the interdisciplinary
art fair blends items of quintessentially British character with hand-picked treasures from around the world.”
It brings the new and the old together to showcase galleries at the peak of all their disciplines. The works are vetted by independent experts and then expertly curated so the displays take the visitors on a journey through the antique to the modern.
Whats on show?
Rosior marks their first-ever participation in a European fair. The highly-respected Portuguese jewellers will present some of the House’s most recognisable and emblematic design along with new creations.
S.J. Phillips, London, beloved by the likes of Anna Wintour, are showcasing the 16th Duke of Alba’s order of the golden-fleece, the highest Spanish chivalric Honour.
It is a diamond, sapphire, and ruby full order with stickpin and medal miniature which was commissioned in 1900 from Chaumet. The Duke of Alba was the nephew of Empress Eugénie, wife of Napoleon III, Carlos María Fitz-James Stuart y Portocarrero y Palafox XVI Duke of Alba de Tormes.
The fair also features a Mourning Ring for Edward IV (1442-1483), Richard III’s brother, beautiful pieces from the 18th century, along with a host of Cartier pieces from the 1900’s.
Two British Historic Jewels Rediscovered
Two very different pieces from British history which have been rediscovered will be on display.
The first is from Martyn Downer, specialist dealer in historic objects and works of art, who has conceived his stand as an exploration of death in the time of Shakespeare.
The whole stand will be devoted to a piece of Hamnet-era mourning jewel which has been identified after four centuries.
The hear-shaped pendant was made to commemorate the death of Sir Thomas Aston’s six-year-old son, Robert, who died in 1634. It features a tassel of the child’s blonde hair, the site demonstrating the different traditions in death throughout history.
Despite the jewel being depicted in the life-size 1635 masterpiece Sir Thomas Aston at the Deathbed of His Wife by John Souch, now in the collection of Manchester Art Gallery, it’s true meaning and importance has only been unveiled through the discovery of the actual pendant.
The heart-shaped pendant is enamelled in black and white and features with a death’s head skull and inscriptions in Latin on both
sides. The translation reads: ‛Your Robert died 4th May 1634’ (front) / ‘In whom was our delight, through whom was our consolation, with whom the hope of his parents first perished’ (reverse).
The second is Sir Thomas Tresham’s Signet Ring, circa 1557, presented by Greens of Cheltenham, London.
This gold and crystal ring is one of the last physical objects which represents a family whose name faded from history after being implicated in the Gunpowder Plot of 1605.
The ring was likely intended to be worn over a gloved thumb due to its large nature. It belonged to Sir Thomas Tresham (d.1559), a knight and one of England’s most ardent Catholic recusants. The ring was made fir him and he was a known close confidant of Henry VIII and Queen Anne. He carried out some of the monarchs’ most delicate and historically relevant missions – including
welcoming Henry’s fourth wife, Anne of Clèves, at Calais.
When and where can i find it?
The Treasure House Fair will take place from the 24th to 30th of June at Royal Hospital Chelsea, South Grounds London, SW3 4SR. More details can be found over on their website.
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