Paris Fairs

A trip to France before Christmas to buy unusual gifts is always a good plan. Here are three antiques and vintage brocantes to visit: two well-known weeklies in Paris and a biannual event in Bordeaux.

Fine Arts Paris is the young November arrival on the fairs scene in the French capital. Launched last year, it celebrates its second staging in a new venue with a much enlarged exhibitor list.

Science fiction is the theme for the 110-dealer BiblioMania in Paris’ 17th arrondissement, held at the Espace Champerret from Wednesday to Sunday, October 17-21.

There is a decidedly French flavour to the loan exhibition at this year’s Biennale. Prominently displayed under the central dome of the Grand Palais will be a selection of works from the extensive Napoleonic collection of Pierre-Jean Chalençon.

The September return to work (and school) after a long summer break is significant enough in France to have its own title: La rentrée.

Fair aims to capitalise on the event’s past heritage and more recent major innovations.

In Paris later this month? As well as marvelling at the beauties of the vast and ornate 18th century Église St Sulpice in Paris’ 6th arrondissement, pictured below, with its chapel murals by Delacroix, you can peruse antiques delights on offer at the Place St Sulpice Antiquités Brocante.

A cluster of new fairs is planned in Europe this year.

The roster of exhibitor names at the Salon du Dessin underscores the international standing of this specialist event. Although it is organised by a committee of Paris dealers, more than half the participants come from overseas.

The Parcours de la Céramique has become a well-established feature of the Paris rentrée.

ATG canvasses the opinion of two exhibitors, one returning for the second time and a new recruit.

More than 90 exhibitors will gather at the Grand Palais in September for the Biennale Paris, France’s premier art and antiques fair.

As France’s main tribal art showcase, the 'Parcours des Mondes', prepares for its latest staging ATG speaks to Pierre Moos, director of Tribal Art Management, organiser of the event. Moos outlines its origins, his role in its growth and how it has changed since its inception.

The Biennale has restructured as the fair evolves into an annual event. ATG talks to chief organiser and SNA president, Mathias Ary Jan, to hear how the changes are not just practical but cultural as well...