Koopman Rare Art sold so many of its best silver antiques at TEFAF Maastricht this year that it's finding it hard to replace them all, signalling a return for pieces made from the precious metal following a tough period following the financial crisis. The market suffered in recent years as the price of silver as a commodity meant that some lower-quality pieces were more valuable once melted down. The items sold by Koopman's at TEFAF are unlikely to face the same fate - a set of four George II silver-gilt candlesticks made by Paul Crespin to the design of William Kent sold for £440,000, while a mid 18th-century French gold box fetched £450,000.
Koopman Rare Art sold so many of its best silver antiques at TEFAF Maastricht this year that it's finding it hard to replace them all, signalling a return for pieces made from the precious metal following a tough period following the financial crisis. The market suffered in recent years as the price of silver as a commodity meant that some lower-quality pieces were more valuable once melted down. The items sold by Koopman's at TEFAF are unlikely to face the same fate - a set of four George II silver-gilt candlesticks made by Paul Crespin to the design of William Kent sold for £450,000, while a mid 18th-century French gold box fetched £440,000.