Napoléon in full majesty at la Villette

parisdiaArt, Furniture, History3 Comments

With la Grande Halle de la Villette, a gigantic cultural space set in the former meat market, in the North of Paris, Emperor Napoléon has found a perfect celebration spot two hundred years after he died on the island of Sainte Hélène 2 600 kms west of Angola… The exhibition which is just opening there instead of at the Grand … Read More

Musée Carnavalet has great surprises after a four year renovation.

parisdiaArchitecture, Art, Furniture, History, Photography9 Comments

Musée Carnavalet has been closed for four years but it was worth waiting and spending 58 million € under the supervision of Chatillon architects. Nathalie Crinière was in charge of the museography. Valérie Guillaume, its director since 2013, introduced our visit with a very politically correct speech on the importance of caring to young visitors and on the increase of exhibition … Read More

In Rambouillet, antiques make a come back with Gabriel Wick

parisdiaArchitecture, Art, Furniture2 Comments

Château de Rambouillet is not the most interesting building in the world but this new exhibition, “Vivre à l’Antique“, curated by Gabriel Wick  and Renaud Serrette, makes us discover fantastic wood panelings and la Laiterie, a building conceived by Louis XVI with painter Hubert Robert to lure Marie Antoinette into this hunting lodge which the king loved particularly of its … Read More

Chantal Thomass puts her life’s creations up for auction and Kenzo’s furniture is also sold

parisdiaArt, Auction, Fashion, FurnitureLeave a Comment

We mostly know Chantal Thomass  for her whimsical luxury lingerie which she sold for many years on rue des Petits Champs near the gardens of the Palais Royal but she started designing fashion at 20 with Dorothée Bis and was part of the trendy “Le Palace” crowd in the late 1970’s.  The auction organized by Millon at Hôtel Drouot on … Read More

Jean Dunand is everywhere this week!

parisdiaArchitecture, Art, Books, FurnitureLeave a Comment

Editions Norma is a remarkable publishing house which always publishes refined books with the greatest care. Founded and run by Maïté Hudry, it specializes in 1920 to 1970’s architecture and design, but has recently published the catalog of an exhibition of sneakers “Playground” which took place in Bordeaux.  And their latest publication is about “Jean Dunand”, by Amélie and father … Read More