Gathered together under the prestigious dome of the Grand Palais from 15th until 22nd September 2010, 80 art dealers and 7 great jewellers will present to the public their most beautiful masterpieces.

Created in 1956 by the Syndicat National des Antiquaires (SNA), the Biennale trully made its debut in 1962, the year of the first International Biennale des Antiquaires. Today, presided over by Hervé Aaron, it gathers the most internationally renowned art dealers, all members of the SNA.

During this major event in the art market calendar that attracts collectors from around the world, visitors will discover more than 4000 square meters of stands with exceptional works of art spanning from archaeology to modern paintings.

With a visual identity made of vivid colours, a simplified floor plan, new exhibitors and displays where works of art take the leading role, the Biennale des Antiquaires celebrates its 25th edition with enthusiasm!

An elegant decor and a simplified floor plan 

 Created by the Agence Decoral the scenography for the 2010 Biennale, conceived as a discrete and elegant showcase, is intended to highlight the works of art. A dark and covered entrance animated by 25 alcoves full of roses will guide the visitor towards a large square at the centre of which a basin will reflect the dome of the Grand Palais. On each side of this central point, a unique and large alley punctuated by 8 squares will lead to the stands. Spacious entrances framed by arches and openings on all sides: all will be made to arouse the visitors’ curiosity. The dark decor, in light and charcoal grey, will be punctuated by basins with stones and flowers, places for the visitor to rest. Structures in vivid colours and slender bamboos will lend to the whole fair a particularly warm and serene atmosphere. In the evening rays of light and the illumination of the basins, vegetation and the stand’s porticoes will highlight the displays.

A Biennale rich in various disciplines

The Paris Biennale celebrates Antiquity and the Fine Arts with the most distinguished art dealers. The range of art represented is particularly wide and, without listing them all, one can note the return of the following leading art dealers:

Archeology and tribal arts: the galleries Kevorkian, Phoenix Ancien Art, Bernard Dulon

Silver, objects of vertu and jewellery: the galleries Au Vieux Paris, Martin du Daffoy, Balian, Castiglione, Faerber

Asian arts: the galleries Jacques Barrère and Christian Deydier, which will be joined for the first time by the Galerie J.-C. Charbonnier (Verneuil Extrême-Orient)

Furniture and works of art from the 17th, 18th and 19th century: Didier Aaron & Cie, Galerie Gismondi, Kraemer & Cie, François Léage, Perrin Antiquités, Steinitz, Michel-Guy Chadelaud

20th century decorative arts: DownTown François Laffanour, Jousse Entreprise, Franck Laigneau, Galerie Vallois, Yves Gastou

Sculpture: Galerie Patrice Bellanger, Galerie Pierre M. Dumonteil, Univers du Bronze

Old master paintings and drawings: the galleries de Bayser, Canesso, De Jonckheere, Sarti, La Scala, Leegenhoek

Modern paintings and drawings: the galleries Applicat-Prazan, Jacques de la Béraudière, Berès, Boulakia, Brame & Lorenceau, Krugier & Cie, Pascal Lansberg, Antoine Laurentin, Galerie de la Présidence, Le Minotaure

Books and manuscripts: Thomas Scheler and Jean-Claude Vrain

Seasoned collectors will be delighted to visit once again numismatic treasures on Sabine Bourgey’s stand or antique arms and armours at Bernard Croissy’s.

Opening up to modern art through new exhibitors

Among the exhibitors selected by the Syndicat National des Antiquaires, 12 will be appearing for the first time at the Grand Palais and many of them will be featuring modern art. Art lovers will therefore have the pleasure to discover galleries focusing on 20th century decorative arts and furniture, such as Alain Marcelpoil, Dansk Mobel Kunst, Michel Giraud, Marcilhac and specialists in modern paintings and drawings like Galerie Zlotowski and Galerie Tornabuoni.

Prestigious international galleries

This year again, the Biennale is very international and will welcome 24 international art dealers.

The United States will be particularly well represented by prestigious galleries, notably the Marlborough Gallery, specialised in modern art and participating in the Biennale for the first time, as well as L&M Arts, dealers in modern sculpture, the old master paintings and drawings specialist Adam Williams Fine Arts and the Chinese art specialist J.J Lally & Co, also new under the Grand Palais glass-roof.

The most renowned British art dealers in the fields of old masters and modern paintings and drawings as well as sculpture will be present: Bernheimer-Colnaghi, Richard Green, Richard Nagy, Stoppenbach & Delestre, Sladmore Gallery. Finch & Co with its famous cabinet of curiosities will be present for the first time. Entwistle, specialised in tribal arts will also be part of this Biennale.

Belgium is especially well represented this year with the return of Axel Vervoordt, famous for his inspired and eclectic decors, Bernard de Leye, a distinguished dealer in silver and objects of vertu, Yves Macaux for the 20th century decorative arts, Berko Fine Paintings specialised in paintings and drawings from the 19th and early 20th century, Antoine Lebel specialised in ceramics, Véronique Bamps, who focuses on antique jewellery and Gisèle Croës who will present a selection of Asian works of arts.

Visitors will also discover the Portuguese dealers Luis Alegria and Jorge Welsh, both specialised in ceramics.

And Italy will also be represented with the old master paintings and drawings galleries of Cesare Lampronti and Moretti.

The jewellery: the realm of dreams

 Grouped together under a large covered patio with a serene ambiance, the exhibitors of contemporary jewellery will offer their most beautiful and often unique creations to the visitors, in a comfortable and peaceful atmosphere punctuated by flowered basins. Van Cleef & Arpels and Louis Vuitton, who will be participating for the first time, as well as Chanel, Cartier, Harry Winston and Piaget will form part of this oasis where the wildest dreams can be answered.

An anniversary edition

In celebrating its 25th anniversary, the Paris Biennale will pay tribute to the past with an exhibition of photographs and videos dating from 1962 until today.

Practical information

Dates: from 15th until 22nd September 2010

Opening hours: from 11am to 8pm, late openings until 10pm on the 16th and 21st September.

Opening night: Tuesday 14th September, from 2 to 11pm

Gala dinner: Monday 13th September

Address: Grand Palais – Avenue Winston Churchill – 75008 Paris

Organisers: Syndicat National des Antiquaires – Tel: + 33 1 44 51 74 74

Website: www.bdafrance.eu

U.S. Press Relations:   Marilyn White – 973-783-3649 – Marilyn@MWhitePR.com

French and International Press relations:

Agence Colonnes – Claire Galimard – Adélaïde Demerville – Emilie Jean

16 rue des Saints-Pères 75007 Paris – Tel: +33 1 42 60 70 10 - contact@colonnes.com