Susan Moore

Art fairs: Satellite superiority

It is a critical moment for the Biennale des Antiquaires in Paris — and for the French art trade.

issue 02 October 2010

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.

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