Visitor numbers to this year's European Fine Art Fair, known as TEFAF, dropped by 15 per cent, figures show.

The number of visitors to the prestigious fair reached 71,000 this year, down from 81,650 in 2006.

But the organisers said they had aimed to lower attendance numbers in an attempt to reduce overcrowding in the aisles.

"Many exhibitors commented that the lower visitor number had made the fair more comfortable and the atmosphere more conducive to buying," a spokesperson for TEFAF said.

TEFAF was held at the Maastricht Exhibition and Conference Centre (MECC) from March 9-18.

During the fair 305 private planes landed at Maastricht Airport, a 45 per cent increase on a year earlier.

Ben Janssens, TEFAF: "This year TEFAF celebrated its 20th anniversary, and while we look back on 20 successful years our focus is now firmly on the future."

Littleton and Hennessy Asian Art sold one of the highlights of the fair, a 2,500-year-old Chinese bronze tapir.

The tapir, inlaid with gold and turquoise, was bought by a Chinese collector for $12m (£6.1m) - a world record price for an ancient Chinese bronze.

James Hennessy, from Littleton and Hennessy Asian Art, said: "We are delighted that the tapir has found a Chinese collector and we are delighted that TEFAF now holds the world’s record price for an archaic Chinese bronze.

"The new purchaser is considering presenting it to a major Chinese museum."

Wildenstein and Co sold a 1936 Pablo Picasso painting for $15m, while an American private collector bought a Jan Lievens masterpiece for nearly $4m.

TEFAF chairman Ben Janssens said: "This year TEFAF celebrated its 20th anniversary, and while we look back on 20 successful years our focus is now firmly on the future."

Next year's event will take place from March 7-16.