It is a critical moment for the Biennale des Antiquaires in Paris — and for the French art trade.
It is a critical moment for the Biennale des Antiquaires in Paris — and for the French art trade. For this year’s edition of this most august art and antiques fair (which ended last week) — ostensibly celebrating its 25th anniversary — came as a real shock. It was not that the fair was poor; it was simply underwhelming. How can it be that this once peerless event is no longer distinguishable from any other good international fine art and antiques fair?
First, there was only a handful of outstanding stands — Phoenix Ancient Art, Vallois, Gisele Croes, Kraemer, Bernard Dulon and Christian Deydier among them — and a great deal of exhibited material was already familiar. Where once distinguished works of art were unveiled with flair and theatricality, the lion’s share of the exhibits was presented rather apologetically along aisles resembling nothing so much as a shopping mall.
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