Last Sunday I spent few hours in Milan visiting ”Amart”, the antiques and art exhibition organized by the Association of Antiques Dealers of Milan. It was really nice to be there. It has passed quite a lot of time since my last visit to this type of event and I have to say that in last years the market for ancient artwork was decreasing, not only about the prices but also about the quality of the manufactures.
In this case, I saw a great exhibition, full of masterpieces from the XII century to the contemporary period. There were lovely and important paintings and sculptures, but also some furnishings, silver objects, carpets, and many other art examples. In some stands, there were antiques from China, Japan, and various Asian and African countries. To be there gave me the chance to learn something new about art and history.
Anyway, I noticed how the antique market is going to live again a good period, also if not many young people were visiting the exposition and this is not a good sign for the future. Anyway, ancient artworks are considered a luxury, some objects to be bought as an investment or to decore prestigious houses. They indeed have this function as well and it is correct to consider those objects as a status symbol, but they are more.
To have into the house an antique painting or sculpture is a pleasure. It is a piece of history that can tell a lot, a unique expression of art, a technique to be analyzed. So it is a luxury now, coming from the past and staying forever as a witness of a past period. Each artwork is also an inspiration for a new piece of art because the real modern artists always start studying the old ways and techniques.
I love antiques and I consider each masterpiece more than a luxury to put in my home.
