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Belgium has been a land of collectors from time immemorial. Ancient art has not escaped the practised eye of these collectors, and their generosity is such that numerous private collections of the past form the core of today’s public collections.
Bequests and donations from patrons such as Emile de Meester de Ravestein (Musées Royaux d’Art et d’Histoire – Royal Museums of Art and History), Raoul Warocqué (Musée Royal de Mariemont - Royal Mariemont Museum) or Lucien de Hirsch (Cabinet des Médailles de la Bibliothèque Royale de Belgique – The Department of Coins and Medals at the Royal Library of Belgium), to name but a few, were instrumental in paving the way for these institutions. This is something worth remembering.
And so the collectors and dealers of today, since the one cannot exist without the other, are the heirs of a very long tradition passed on from generation to generation.

In 2011, Mr Pierre Loos, President of BRUNEAF (Brussels Non-European Art Fair) decided to create a January event to work in synergy with BRAFA (Brussels Antiques and Fine Arts Fair) and bring together primitive, oriental and archaeological art dealers. Ars Antiqua Brussels therefore came into being as part of the wider Winter B Sablon. Its aim was to represent the various players in antique art in Belgium, and given that hospitality is a valued tradition here, foreign colleagues were also invited.

The event was immediately successful, word got out, and we have expanded from 9 exhibitors in 2011 to 16 in 2012.
We were genuinely surprised to see several prestigious galleries – including Khawam Brothers (Paris) founded in 1862, David Aaron Ancient Arts (London), Medusa Ancient Art Ltd (Montreal), Keramion (Paris and Berlin), ArtAncient Ltd (London) and Galerie L’Ibis – especially since they were taking part in an antiques fair for the first time. We are also delighted to welcome Numisart (Brussels) and Cybèle (Paris) as new exhibitors. It is also noteworthy that last year’s core exhibitors have remained loyal.

An important new development for Ars Antiqua Brussels compared to last year is an experts committee made up of scientists and experts from around the world. They have been very carefully chosen to guarantee that our visitors are seeing high quality, authentic objects.

Brussels, the capital of Europe, is ideally situated just a stone’s throw from Paris, London, Amsterdam and Cologne.
It is also a pleasant city, on a human scale, where life is good.
The Sablon district is home to all that can enhance the life of an enlightened collector: the welcome and human warmth of people sharing the same passion for art combined with a very wide range of items, not to mention the delights of good cuisine.
We hope to have the pleasure of seeing a great many of you at Winter B Sablon 2012.

Jacques Billen
Ars Antiqua Brussels Organising Committee

Agenda

Winter B Sablon

18 - 22 January 2012

• Wednesday 18 : 11.00 - 20.00
• Thursday 19 : 11.00 - 19.00
• Friday 20 : 11.00 - 20.00
• Saturday 21 : 11.00 - 19.00
• Sunday 22 : 11.00 - 17.00

BRAFA

21 - 29 January 2012

• 11.00 - 19.00
• Tuesday 24 & Thursday 26 : 11.00 - 22.00