Biennale des Antiquaires – High End Weekly™

The Grande Dame of Antique Fairs

Biennale des Antiquaires, Paris

The XXVI Biennale des Antiquaires:

Part 3 of 3

There is some considerable talk about the Biennale coming to New York this November. Christian Deydier, the president of the Syndicat National des Antiquaires, has long toyed with the idea, and it’s becoming quite clear that this may become a reality this fall. If that’s the case, I venture that it will be well received by many people from the United States. This past week, I’ve gotten a great deal of feedback, and read a lot of press about this foremost fair of antiques, fine art, and jewelry.

Fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld was invited to “reimagine” the exteriors of the old palais. Being that he is one to dazzle his audience at all times, the majority in attendance anticipated an extravaganza in the style of the Chanel shows that he’s become so well known for. Instead, what they got was a demure and uncharacteristic scenography from the Ice Man. Nevertheless, as his hot air balloon took center stage, the euphoric atmosphere was elegant, most appropriate, and for the well-heeled who were seriously interested in collecting design, and jewelry, this was the place to be. Are you ready to enter the festivities inside the grand palais?

Photos courtesy Billy Farrell Agency

Photo courtesy Vogue

Notable attendees: Karl Lagerfeld, Former First Lady Bernadette Chirac, Calvin Klein, Benjamin Steinitz, Becca Cason Thrash, Dominique Levy, Christian Deydier, Peter Marino, Sheikh Hassan bin Mohamed bin Ali Al Thani, Didier Claes, Bernard Arnault, Gisele Croës, Sophie Marceau, Pierre Bergé, Hubert de Givenchy, Yue Sai Kan, Charlotte Casiraghi, Diana Widmaier Picasso, Eugenie Niarchos.

Biennale des Antiquaires – Part 1 of 3

The fêted Biennale des Antiquaires was announced last March at the French Consultat General de France. Looking back, the actual fair seemed so far away…. Nowadays I’m reminded that it is just about a little over a month away. This grande dame of antique fairs will take place at the Grand Palais in Paris from September 14th through the 23rd.

Galerie Jousse, 2008

FINE ARTS

Etienne Dinet (1861-1929), “La Lutte Des Fillettes” (“Young girls fighting”), Oil On Canvas, Signed on the left flower side

(Chadelaud)

The idea of an “antique dealer fair” first appeared in the 1950s and more precisely in 1956 under the aegis of the new chairman of the SNA (National Union of Antiques Dealers), Pierre Vandermeersch. The dream was to create an event where the beauty of the objects on show could compete with that of the women who come visit the exhibition, a venue where elegance, prestige and celebration would await a host of art lovers and collectors. – SNA-France. The 26th Biennale des Antiquaires will feature an unprecedented 120 leading international art, antiquities and fine jewelry dealers representing over $50 billion worth of Archaeological treasures, arms and armor, furniture, paintings, drawings, graphic works, sculpture, books and illuminated manuscripts, tapestries, rugs, objects d’art, coins and medals, stamps, ceramics and jewelry.

Jean Raoux, (Montpellier 1677 – Paris 1734), “Portrait of a woman slightly undressed”, Oil on canvas

(Alexis Bordes)

FUN FACTS: Key People from BDA: Karl Lagerfeld, Scenographer Christian Deydier, President of the Syndicat National des Antiquaires. Sample List of Exhibitors: Wallace Chan, Chaumet, Bulgari and Boucheron, Piaget, Chanel, Van Cleef & Arpels, Harry Winston, Cartier, Christian Dior.

Johann-Ernst Heinsius, (Thuringe 1731 – Erfurt 1794), “Portrait de Pierre-Simon de Laplace, mathématicien” Oil on original canvas. Inscription ” N. Largillière” On the book, bottom right

Elizabeth Taylor by Andy Warhol, silkscreen ink and acrylic on linen

(L& M Arts)

FINE JEWELRY

Chanel Necklace

FUN FACTS: Did you know that it was André Malraux who opened the path to the Grand Palais, a legendary Parisian landmark built for the Universal Exhibition of 1900? Yes, the first International Biennale, in its present form, was held in 1962. It was a focal gathering of the greatest French and foreign antique dealers, decorators, jewellers and book store owners under the famous glass roof in a magic setting made up of pavilions, gardens and fountains.

Bague (ring) Piaget

DECORATIVE ARTS

Eugène Printz (1889-1948) , Jean Dunand (1877-1942)

Galerie Marcihac

Art & Décoration 1933, modèle similaire avec un décor différent reproduit page 297. Guy Bujon et Jean-Jacques Dutko, E. Printz, éditions du Regard, Paris, 1986, modèle reproduit page 278

Paul Evans Sideboard in structure in bronze, wood and covered with weld steel plates. Bronze low relief in front, like patchwork, circa 1970

(Galerie Yves et Victor Gastou)

Marcel Coard (1889-1974)

Galerie Marcihac

Provenance : Ancient collection of Monsieur E. , collaborator at La maison Jansen Décoration.

2012 Biennale des Antiquaires Officially Announced

Biennale des Antiquaires, Paris 2012

A global group of esteemed guests both from the US and France, gathered at the French Consulate last week to celebrate the official announcement of the Biennale des Antiquaires which is set to take place on September 14th through the 23rd.

Pictured: Juan Carlos, Dominique Levy, and Peter Marino

Fashion Designer and Renaissance Man, Karl Lagerfeld will be the Scenographer this year. Peter Marino, who attended the event with Juan Carlos, will share double billing with another world renowned designer, Jacques Grange, by creating some of the most remarkable and noteworthy booths one will ever find at a furniture fair. Over 100,000 visitors are expected to attend the fair. This year show will also be held at the landmark Grand Palais – Le salon d’honneur which has been closed since 1940. All this is nice to hear, but you may ask yourself why is the Biennale des Antiquaires different, and worth spending time in Paris in the fall?

Christian Deydier

Christian Deydier, Corice Arman, Xavier Samson

Scott Buccheit, Emma Snowdon Jones, Gillian Hearst Simonds

Vyna St Phard, Laura Rothfuss

Milly de Cabrol, Sabine Bourgey

Jonathan Farkas, Somers Farkas

Chip Kidd, Yvonne Bendinger Rothschild

Lauren Remington Platt

Karl Lagerfeld Designed USB Drive

Images courtesy Billy Farrell Agency

The genesis of the fair dates back to the 8th arrondissement on the Avenue Winston Churchill. The Biennale des Antiquaires will expand within the Grand Palais for the first time this fall, and this will re-open the famed Salon d’Honneur wing after years of renovations. Since 1962, the Syndicat National des Antiquaires has hosted the Biennale des Antiquaires, which will welcome the foremost art and antiquities exhibitors. An unprecedented 150 exhibitors are eager to show their works for this grand occasion. From what I gathered, the expanded venue means more first-time exhibitors will be welcomed in the new wing. However, 80% of the booths will represent Parisian galleries, many of whom boast an impressive roster of American clients. The luminous Marlborough Gallery will return to the show, as they did two years ago. Be prepared to be dazzled by fine jewelry houses such as Wallace Chan, Chaumet, Bulgari and Boucheron. Let’s not forget Piaget, Chanel, Van Cleef & Arpels, Harry Winston, Cartier and Christian Dior. Paris is an international style capital, and this September will surely see an influx of collectors, dealers, curators, designers and art connoisseurs to the city of lights, fashion, unparalleled gastronomy, and of course, art and design. With all that said, see you at Biennale for the fair. But then again, who needs an excuse to visit Paris!