LONDON – David Moss, an experienced journalist who had worked with The Daily Mail and various antiques publications, including more than 25 years with Antiques Trade Gazette (ATG) , died in January following a short illness.
Born in 1945, David joined ATG as an auction reporter in 1983. He later launched the “Dealers’ Dossier,” ATG‘s first column reporting on dealer news and fairs.
Across 20 years the Dossier (later renamed “Dealers’ Diary”) became the first-read choice of many professionals in the art world and made David a well-known face at all major UK and international art and antiques fairs.
Later, David was a cherished member of the MasterArt team, an online portal that showcases more than 15,000 works of art from 300 of the world’s leading art dealers and galleries. From 2012, he served as MasterArt’s chief editor, producing the popular monthly column “MasterArt Storybook.” He will be remembered for his wit, elegance and tireless commitment to the arts.
A highly respected art fair veteran, David’s lifelong passion for the arts was best reflected in his writings, according to colleague Henry Blundell of MasterArt. “These writings will continue to serve as a reminder of David’s diligence, skill and flair for life,” he said. “Our deepest condolences go out to his wife, Isabel, and his family and friends around the world. He will be sorely missed.”
The MasterArt team collected tributes to David from colleagues and peers who were deeply saddened by the news and chose to share their thoughts and memories of David.
Said Beatrix Boudon, fair manager for BRAFA. “It was a great sadness to hear that David Moss had passed away. It was the first BRAFA in more than 20 years during which we did not have the great pleasure to welcome him. He was on his way to the fair last month when he decided to return back home, only a few days before his death… David was a really fine journalist and a perfect gentleman. He had a broad and very precise knowledge of the art market, and a rare and instinctive appreciation of it. He was also very much respected by the art dealers and his colleagues. You always learned something interesting at discussing with him or reading his articles. He was also a very sweet person, always courteous and cheerful with everyone. The art world has definitely lost a great personality, we will very much miss him!”
Fair organizers Anna and Brian Haughton said, “David Moss was a great friend since the beginning of our fair organizing days. He was always very supportive and such an incredibly good writer who everyone admired. We shared many good lunches and dinners together and David met Isabel at our Asian Art Fair in New York in 2002. David was an elegant man, always well dressed and full of fun and laughter. He had so many friends and had great character. He was a great supporter of the trade and could be seen at all antiques fairs in whatever country, and you could always be sure that he reported evenly and had checked his facts. He was a larger-than-life character in many ways and I always opened ATG at the ‘Dealers’ Dossier’ page first when he was there and have missed it ever since. We will miss you so much, David. ”
From Sandra Hindman of Les Eluminures came this remembrance. “David Moss was a great enthusiast of medieval manuscripts. He always did such a superb job presenting our niche field of medieval treasures to the wide public. We are sad to hear this tragic news; however, his family should be proud, for he has left a great legacy to journalism.”
Angela and Nick Mullany of Mullany Haute Epoque Fine Art recall David as “old school, a gentleman, genuine. Invariably interesting and interested, wherever we met in the world, we always felt uplifted from his visits to our stands. Not unknown to push a copy deadline to the wire, calls from David, always welcome, could come at any time. Knowledgeable, balanced and never unkind, fairs and arts journalism will not be the same without him. He was a lovely man and will be missed.”
Said Dino Tomasso of Tomasso Brothers, “David was, without doubt, one of the most genuine human beings I have ever met and he was an incredibly positive soul. He always brought a smile on the many occasions that we met and he will be sincerely missed in the art circles he used to frequent.”
Funeral services took place on February 16 at St John’s Wood Church.
The family has requested that memorial donations can be made to St John’s Hospice, 60 Grove End Road, London NW8 9NH.
