MAASTRICHT—The 22nd edition of the storied art and antiques fair TEFAF Maastricht, taking place March 13 through 22, has attracted 239 participants — its largest number ever. This year, in response to the rising popularity of contemporary furniture, the fair is launching a section devoted to the category. "The design market comes of age a bit by being included in Maastricht," says Nicholas Kilner, the creative director of Sebastian + Barquet, of New York and London. The gallery, one of eight 20th-century and contemporary design dealers invited, is bringing mostly American pieces, including a circa 1974 George Nakashima Conoid bench from Nelson Rockefeller’s famed Japanese house in Pocantico Hills, New York.

As always, Old Masters are heavily represented. Among the striking examples is the 1613 Pindar, an oil portrait of the ancient Greek poet, by the Italian Baroque artist Mattia Preti (also known as Il Cavalier Calabrese), at Florence’s Piacenti Gallery.

Standout offerings in other categories include the early van Gogh watercolor Town View of the Hague with the Nieuwe Kerk, circa 1882, brought by Richard Feigen, of New York, and a 16th-century manuscript of the Vita Christi by Ludolphus Carthusiensis, for €2.4 million ($3.2 million) from Dr. Jörn Günther, of Hamburg.

The London firm Wartski, which specializes in jewelry, silver and Russian works, is featuring a Fabergé striated-agate basket with a gold handle and a diamond-encrusted bow, circa 1900.

Medieval specialist Sam Fogg, of London, is returning to TEFAF after a 10-year hiatus with a circa 1440 painted miniature by the Dunois Master depicting a scene from the 13th-century romance Livre de Lancelot del Lac showing a knight with slain giants. "We are positive that it will bring some success," says Fogg, who is also offering stained glass, enamels, ivories and manuscripts. " Success can be measured in terms of the people we meet, as well as the sales we make."

"Tried and True" originally appeared in the March 2009 issue of Art+Auction. For a complete list of articles from this issue available on ARTINFO, see Art+Auction's March 2009 Table of Contents.