A book that opens houses

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Le chat Polymorphe by François-Xavier Lalanne, 1968 in Peter Marino's Southampton garden

“Le chat Polymorphe” by François-Xavier Lalanne, 1968,  in Peter Marino’s Southampton garden, © Eric Jansen

The first time I was invited at Guy de Rothschild’s house in Normandy,  he graciously welcomed me in the parking and said : « It’s amusing to discover a new house isn’t it ? » This was the most understated remark he could make and I always remember his voice when I enter a new place. His stud farm of Meautry was a little paradise in modesty and excellence. Eric Jansen’s new book, « Nouveaux Cabinets d’amateurs » is a little bit like entering 24 new houses at once. Some are fairly predictable, but others are a true surprise, like Pierre Bergé’s light decor of « santibelli » in Saint Rémy or Peter Marino’s sculpture garden in Southampton.

At Hervé Aaron, objects and precious stones form a real cabinet de curiosité.© Eric Jansen

At Hervé Aaron, objects and precious stones form a real “cabinet de curiosité”. © Eric Jansen

In his introduction, former minister of culture Frédéric Mitterrand mentions the « subtle complicity with those who opened their doors ». And that is exactly what Eric Jansen, a French journalist and a writer specialised in beautiful people, managed to do. He takes pictures himself with no assistant, and does all the interviews. A very light structure that enables intimacy and trust.

Terry de Gunzburg and her Bacon triptych, Jean Marie Rossi and his Gustave Doré « Little red riding hood » over his bed, Franck Laigneau and his Parisian collection of Northern pale furniture that transports you to Sweden or Norway, are all the result of the collectors’ immense curiosity and style.

IN Saint Rémy de Provence, Pierre Bergé collects santibelli et a painting by Monticelli. © Eric Jansen

In Saint Rémy de Provence, Pierre Bergé mixes “santibelli” and a painting by Monticelli. © Eric Jansen

Marie-Thérèse Perrin, who started the “Printemps de Septembre” festival in Toulouse in 2001, has furnished Château de Lagrézette with Ingo Maurer suspensions, a César compression, a chapel painted by Gérard Garouste (one of my favorite painters) and a Santa Fe baroque bed. Artist Pierre Le Tan, uses pastis green for his library and drawing room and shows a mish mash of Oriental books, objects, photographs.

Chez Roberto Polo, Brussels, a suspension by Henry Van de Velede and a painting by Pierre-Louis Flouquet © Eric Jansen

At Roberto Polo, in Brussels, a suspension by Henry Van de Velde and a painting by Pierre-Louis Flouquet © Eric Jansen

Roberto Polo, who now lives in Brussels and deals in contemporary art, has one of the most intriguing interiors where he mixes belgian art nouveau and Piet Hein Eek’s contemporary chest.

Joseph Ashkar and Michel Cahrrière have created a perfect decor in Paris: here three "salons en enfilade"© Eric Jansen

Joseph Ashkar and Michel Charrière created a perfect decor in Paris: here, an extraordinary picture of three “salons en enfilade” with Pluvinet armchairs in front of the fireplace © Eric Jansen

Photographer Andres Serrano has a collection of religious statues near Union Square in New York. Hervé Aaron who has always collected « pierres dures », rocks and corals,  shows us a real cabinet de curiosité.
The series of houses is very international with Belgian, French and American collectors. And each one is portrayed at the beginning of the chapter.

One could criticize the fact that the author concentrated on too many decorators and antique dealers, but his descriptions of each interior are very detailed and they have such eclectic taste, imagination and style! And the printing of the book is excellent. (Ed. Gourcuff Gradenigo, 49€)

Pierre Le Tan chose pastis and oriental paintings and photographs for his busy interior in Paris,© Eric Jansen

Pierre Le Tan chose pastis green for his busy interior in Paris,© Eric Jansen

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