North Indian red sandstone head of Buddha from the Gupta period, early 4th century, priced at €58,000 by Christophe Hioco.
Photo: Galerie Hioco
Printemps Asiatique Paris (PAP) is the relatively new French version of the longer standing celebrations that take place in the UK each autumn as Asian Art in London and the USA each spring as Asia Week New York.
Like the UK and US models, it takes in selling exhibitions in the galleries of participating dealers as well as Asian art auctions plus lectures, guided tours and other events at Parisian museums and institutions such as the Musée Guimet, the Louvre and the Musée Cernuschi.
PAP holds its fifth edition this year from June 8-16 and has expanded in size from its initial staging in 2018.
For 2022 more than 30 galleries, around a dozen auction houses and a selection of institutions are taking part. This year’s exhibitor list has an international element, with around 10 galleries from outside France participating in the event.
“The first editions of the Printemps Asiatique Paris allowed us to firmly establish the event within the art market and institutional calendar”, says Christophe Hioco, president of PAP.“I am convinced that Paris deserves an Asian art week like those of New York and London. Our aim today is to continue to develop the event in order to deploy the concept of Printemps Asiatique, or Asian Spring, on an international scale thanks to a network of galleries, experts and leading museums.
“For this new edition, we bring forth an attractive programme, marked by conferences, thematic exhibitions and a high-quality auction calendar.”
Pagoda venue
International participants will be showing their works alongside some auction houses and French galleries in the special setting of the Pagoda, an impressive building on the rue de Courcelles that once belonged to the Chinese Asian art dealer Ching Tsai Loo (1880-1957).
Loo purchased the two-story building in 1922 and transformed it into an edifice with distinct Asian architectural elements and a red exterior.
Among the international exhibitors showing here will be Malcolm Fairley, Brandt Asian Art, Susan Ollemans, Grace Tsumugi and Runjeet Singh from the UK; Alan Kennedy from the US and Adam’s auction house from Dublin.
Alongside the Pagoda display will be all the works on show in Paris’ specialist Asian galleries and the dedicated Asian art auctions that are a traditional feature of the summer sale season. Participating auction houses include Sotheby’s, Christie’s, Bonhams, Artcurial and other Paris auction firms including those holding sales at the Drouot auction centre.
Details of the exhibitors and events taking place plus a map showing the locations of the participants can be found on the website.
Buddha head
Christophe Hioco, who has a gallery on the rue de Phalsbourg, is the president of Printemps Asiatique Paris. He specialises in Indian art and will be exhibiting in his gallery and at the Pagoda. Among the works he will be showing is a 6¼in (16cm) high north Indian red sandstone head of Buddha from the Gupta period, early 4th century (pictured top). It is priced at €58,000.
Porcelain panel procession
Meiji-era signed enamelled and gilt porcelain panel by Rotakudo of Tokyo decorated with The Procession of the Thousand Warriors of the Nikko Shrine, priced €40,000 by Malcolm Fairley.
Image copyright: Richard Valencia/Malcolm Fairley Ltd
Among the overseas participants showing at the Pagoda will be London dealer Malcolm Fairley, specialist in Japanese works of art.
For his Paris staging he will be taking among other pieces this Meiji-era signed enamelled and gilt porcelain panel by Rotakudo of Tokyo decorated with The Procession of the Thousand Warriors of the Nikko Shrine. The 12 x 19in (30 x 48cm) panel which, says Fairley, is in mint condition with some of the finest painting of that style, will be priced €40,000.
Shishi pair
Pair of Japanese Edo period, c.1670-90, Arita porcelain figures of Shishi set on ormolu mounts that are probably French from the first half of the 18th century, priced at €85,000 by Galerie JM Béalu & Fils.
Image copyright: JB/JM Béalu & Fils
Among the Asian pieces on display at the specialist ceramics Galerie JM Béalu & Fils on the rue du Bac will be this pair of Japanese Edo period, c.1670-90, Arita porcelain figures of Shishi set on ormolu mounts that are probably French from the first half of the 18th century, measuring 7¼in (18.5cm) high.
They are priced at €85,000.
Archer's ring
A 19th century north Indian archer’s ring in smoothly carved agate inset with diamonds in the kundan style, priced at €4500 by Sue Ollemans.
London dealer Sue Ollemans specialises in Chinese, Indian and south-east Asian antique jewellery. Among the pieces she will be showing at the Pagoda for Printemps Asiatique Paris will be this 19th century north Indian archer’s ring in smoothly carved agate inset with diamonds in the kundan style. It has a provenance to a US private collection and is priced at €4500.
Japanese abstract
Abstract work by Japanese artist Toshimitsu priced in the region of €10,000-15,000 by Louis & Sack.
Photo copyright: Christian Baraja
The Paris gallery Louis & Sack based in the Cour de Rohan in Saint-Germain-des-Prés was founded in 2020 by Aude Louis Carvès and Rebecca Sack and specialises in the Japanese artists of the Nouvelle École de Paris.
For Printemps Asiatique Paris it will feature works by Toshimitsu Imai, Key Sato, Hisao Domoto, Yasse Tabuchi and Kumi Sugai. Pictured here is an abstract work by Toshimitsu (1928-2002). Painted in acrylic on paper measuring 15 x 21½in (39 x 54.5cm) and signed and dated 1974 lower right, it has a provenance to a French collection and will be priced in the region of €10,000-15,000.
