14 DAY TRIAL // The sunken treasure rescued from the Spanish trade galleon Nuestra Señora de la Limpia y Pura Concepción in 1993, which includes some valuable jewelry, has been put up for sale at the European Fine Art Fair in Maastricht, Netherlands, the world's greatest art and antiques fair.
According to New York Times, jewelry accounts for about one billion euros, or $1.38 billion, of the fair, which is about half the entire estimated value of the art, antiques and other collectibles that are on sale at Tefaf, as the fair is known.
The galleon Nuestra Señora de la Limpia y Pura Concepción sank off the coast of the Dominican Republic in 1641. After surviving a hurricane, the Concepción ran aground on a reef just North of the Dominican Republic. Together with it disappeared one of the richest cargoes ever to embark from the New World to Europe. However, the treasure was retrieved in 1993 with the help of National Geographic and an expedition company called Silver Bank.
A set of gold, crystal and enameled buttons and a jewel found in an obliterated wooden chest are among the pieces to be exhibited at the art fair. In addition, an unusual thick gold necklace, which is believed to have been worn by a man during the journey across the Atlantic has also been put up for sale.
This set of jewels was found on the shipwreck along with 3000 silver coins, a Ming jar and ambergris inside the aforementioned chest.
Deborah Elvira is the only Spanish woman and art gallery director at Tefaf Maastricht and she has been entrusted with the sale of the accessories.
“I’ve never seen anything like that before — only in paintings. For me personally, as a Spanish dealer focusing on 17th century jewelry, it’s like being a kid again to have these treasures,” said the Spanish antiques dealer.
The European Fine Art Fair is considered the world's best and most important art fair and attracts about 70,000 visitors each year. It showcases the best works of art from 7.000 years of history currently on the market, as it encompasses 260 of the world’s leading galleries from 20 countries.
This year, the so-called Haute Joaillerie section of the exhibition will include six of the world’s best known jewelers, such as Van Cleef & Arpels and Graff Diamonds.
The event officially opened on March 14 and runs until March 23.