It may be a global event with an unparalleled reputation today, but the Paris Biennale was originally a simple antique fair. The year was 1956, and Pierre Vandermeersch, recently elected president of the Syndicat National des Antiquaires was seeing his dream become reality. What he and his colleagues desired was to: “Create a manifestation where the beauty of objects will compete with that of the women that visit the exhibit, where elegance, prestige, and parties will be available to a crowd of art lovers and collectors.” The most beautiful marvels of Paris and its surroundings would occupy a space at Porte de Versailles until 1971. In that year, with help from France’s then-Minister of Culture André Malraux, the fair became a Biennale and would end up setting up someplace that was at the same level as its aesthetic ambitions. In 1972, a regular visitor to the Biennale collaborated with them for a special edition at the Grand Palais: Karl Lagerfeld would highlight the work of lacquerer Jean Dunand for Anne-Sophie Duval’s stand. This edition was enriched with some of the first Art Deco pieces.
This year, the Biennale is giving us the occasion to discover an exceptional heritage acquired over three generations by the Barbier-Mueller family. From September 11th to the 17th, the 61st edition of the Biennale will celebrate the plurality of this collection as well as the passion of collectors. Among the most exceptional pieces are a sumptuous necklace that was an homage to Empress Eugénie. Shaped like a feather, composed of titanium and diamonds, including a 3.29 carat pear-shaped rose, this piece is presented by the brand Moussaieff. In the watches department, the Himalaya of watches is attracting all the attention. This watch, presented by F.P. Journe, is an engineering marvel. It’s a watch bracelet with a large bell and a minute repetition, the most complex watchmaking composition. No less than ten patents and six years of research and develop were required to create it. Even better, visible through the sapphire background, its 408 components are sure to fascinate many a spectator.
On the design side, the Downtown gallery is offering a specific scenography conceived as an homage to the work of Le Corbusier, an architect but also a sculptor. A tremendous Ozon Opus I sculpture created in 1947, previously kept in the family by their cabinetmaker and friend Joseph Savina, will be shown for the first time. Composed in polychrome wood, monogrammed and dated, this major work bears the name of the Pyrenees village Ozon, where Le Corbusier sought refuge in 1940. This sculpture couldn’t have been presented without the revolutionary work of Charlotte Perriand, Jean Prouvé, and Pierre Jeanneret. The staging is brightened up by the contemporary work of Ettore Sottsass and lighting by Serge Mouille. All these marvels and more can be discovered in the Grand Palais starting September 11th.
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