Design Miami/ Paris Concludes a Successful Inaugural Edition at L’hôtel de Maisons

Paris, 24 October 2023 - Design Miami/ Paris concluded its highly successful first edition on Sunday, 22 October. The new Parisian fair ran alongside Paris+ par Art Basel over October 18-22, with Preview Day on October 17. Presented in L’hôtel de Maisons, an 18th century mansion in the heart of Saint-Germain-des-Prés, the fair showcased works by 27 of the world’s leading collectible design galleries, strikingly installed across the interior of the historic house and its gardens.

During the week, further news was shared from Paris, as Basic.Space, a digital marketplace with a curated blend of pre-owned/vintage and new, exclusive products, announced its acquisition of Design Miami/.

“This week marked a significant milestone for Design Miami/. The success of our inaugural Paris fair is a tribute to our incredible gallerists, designers and partners as well as both the emerging and established collectors who came together for this first edition. We have reached a key moment in the fair’s evolution, as we look towards our Miami Beach fair in December, our 20th anniversary next year, and of course the acquisition of the fair by Basic.Space, which presents endless opportunities for us.” - Jen Roberts, CEO, Design Miami/

Gallery Highlights/

The gallery program presented museum-quality works in the context of a magnificent collector’s home. From iconic pieces of 20th century design to impactful contemporary creations, each presentation offered a unique visual dialogue with L’hôtel de Maisons. 

Award Winners/

On 16 October, the eve of the fair’s preview,  Design Miami/ announced the fair’s Best of Show award winners, selected by the esteemed Vetting Committee, including Simon Andrews, Al Eiber, Lee Mindel, Jeremy Morrison, and Grela Orihuela. The Best of Show award went to Lebreton (Monaco), celebrating a gallery presentation entitled Sculptors with Clay: A Tribute to 20th-Century Ceramic Masters. The exceptional showcase invited collectors to pay homage to the profound beauty of ceramics, charting the remarkable artistry of several renowned creators who wielded clay as their medium of choice during the latter half of the 20th century, with an array of exquisite works on show including Ruth Duckworth, Jean Derval, Suzanne Ramié, André Borderie and more. Lebreton’s presentation of intricate, tactile, and emotive forms delved into the multifaceted world of clay sculpture - from abstract and minimalist compositions to figurative and ornate sculptures. The showcase was a testament to the evolution of clay as a medium, its transformative power, and enduring impact.

The Best Design at Large was awarded to Âne Attelé (grand), 1989 by François-Xavier Lalanne, presented by Galerie Mitterrand (Paris). The iconic piece - a harnessed donkey pulling a cart, crafted from bronze - greeted visitors in the entrance courtyard to the house. The donkey is a key figure in François-Xavier Lalanne's bestiary, having accompanied the artist's career from the 1970s until his death. This specific piece, Âne Attelé, was designed for the Georges-Brassens Park in Paris' 15th arrondissement. The donkey and cart, which can also be used as a planter, was notably exhibited at the Château de Chenonceau in 1991 and at the Château de Versailles in 2021. 

Best Contemporary Work was awarded to The Long Stripe Chair, 2021 by Full Grown, presented by Sarah Myerscough Gallery (London), a spidery, organically formed seat with an interesting production story. Described as botanical craftsmen, Full Grown employ ancient techniques to grow their tree-chairs, manipulating a bough’s directions of growth through custom frames and grafting together new furniture forms in the living tree. Integrating the artistic and romantic into the scientific, they urge us to reconsider the way we produce our everyday objects. The willowy, mysterious, grown sculptures are functional, beautiful objets d’art.

Lastly, Best Historic Work was awarded to the Polar bear sofa suite by Jean Royère, circa 1958, presented by Galerie Jacques Lacoste (Paris). The suite comprised of a sofa, two armchairs and two footstools, was purchased directly from the first owner’s relatives. A major figure in the history of 20th-century French decorative arts, Jean Royère (1902-1981) established himself in the line of great ensembliers décorateurs. Dedicated to the concept of a holistic vision for each interior design project, throughout his career and successive commissions he developed an elegant signature. 

Design at Large Highlights/

The fair also presented a Design at Large program, expanding the dialogue between the works presented and the historic surroundings of L’hôtel de Maisons throughout the courtyard and gardens. 

Highlights included Jakob Jørgensen’s Totem presented by Hostler Burrows (New York). Jørgensen’s practice harnesses the manipulation of low carbon steel to explore possibilities and avenues for artistic expression. Jørgensen’s craft is grounded in investigation and exploration, pushing the limitations and resistance of this industrial material as it is sculpted by heat and pressure. In the creation of Totem, Jørgensen utilized torching and tooling to transform a steel pipe, an everyday object, into a monolithic column. The result is a structure that invites rethinking of the medium and its potential, whilst evoking the natural world from which he draws inspiration.

Ketabi Bourdet (Paris) presented a demountable structure by Marc Leschelier, titled Pavilion X. Situated between sculpture and architecture, the function of the building is not defined. Pavilion X is constructed from aluminum frames clad in a cement textile that has been crumpled and stiffened by the action of water. Each of the façade panels is unique to the next, with a folded and textural appearance creating a striking juxtaposition to the angular aluminum frame.

Galerie Patrick Seguin (Paris) presented a 6x6 Demountable House designed by Jean Prouvé in 1944, designed as a temporary housing solution for those made homeless in France by the Second World War. 

Key Sales/

The fair reported strong sales throughout the week across both historic and contemporary. On opening day, Galerie Mitterand (Paris) sold its prominent Design at Large presentation, Âne Attelé (grand), 1989 by François-Xavier Lalanne, for over 4 million euros. Another significant sale from the Design at Large programme was Parisian Galerie Patrick Seguin’s 6x6 Demountable House by Jean Prouvé.

Speaking about the success of the fair, Patrick Seguin said: "The first Parisian edition of Design Miami/ attracted a large number of international collectors. The exceptional nature of the place helped to promote this event, as L’Hôtel de Maisons provided a rare opportunity to show modern design in the luxuriance of 18th century decor." 

Thomas FRITSCH - ARTRIUM (Paris) sold 5 key pieces to a wide geographical spread of private collections across Europe, America and Asia, including collectors from Korea, Japan and Singapore. Meanwhile, Galerie Downtown François Laffanour (Paris) also reported a number of noteworthy sales.

Commenting on the success of the first edition, François Laffanour said: “This formidable first edition of Design Miami/ Paris was a great success, thanks to the quality of the 18th century historic setting of the L’hôtel de Maisons, and the large number of international collectors who turned out. The challenge of sharing a stand with another gallery, in this case Thomas FRITSCH - ARTRIUM, was an exciting one that was greatly appreciated by the public. The Downtown François Laffanour gallery presented some design masterpieces for this edition: Jean Royere, Charlotte Perriand, Jean Prouvé and Serge Mouille, all of which quickly found buyers.”

Partner Projects/

On occasion of Design Miami/ Paris, the Miami Design District presented Expression. Service. Essence. by Samuel Ross, a prototype bench set to go on show in the Design District during Design Miami/ 2023 this December. In a society that is often connected through digital surfaces, the functional sculpture encourages physical engagement: allowing viewers to transition from actor to protagonist through the basic acts of sitting, standing, and leaning.

Paulin Paulin Paulin and Mobilier National (Paris) collaboratively presented an ensemble of furniture designed by Pierre Paulin for Président François Mitterrand, prototyped with the Mobilier National, and offered as a limited edition by Paulin, Paulin, Paulin. Design Miami/ was proud to count the Mobilier National as their Institutional Partner, and contribute to the recognition of this wonderful institution.

On the evening of 18 October, Design Miami/ CEO Jen Roberts and WSJ. Magazine publisher Omblyne Pelier co-hosted a dinner at Paris’s Palais Galliera. Set in the candlelit paved courtyard, surrounded by the iconic peristyle of the historic museum, a creative community of gallerists, collectors, industry leaders celebrated the inaugural edition of Design Miami/ Paris, and the fair’s partnership with WSJ. Magazine, valued internationally for its authoritative design reporting. 

Acknowledgements/

Design Miami/ would like to thank its partners for the inaugural Paris fair: Sèvres - Manufacture et Musée nationaux, the Design Miami/ Paris Show Partner; Audi the fair’s Official Automotive Partner; Cova Paris, the Official Food & Beverage Partner; and Crozier Fine Arts ,the fair’s Shipping Partner for the event.
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​Design Miami/ Paris was also delighted to partner with Maison Ruinart as the Official Champagne Supplier.

Future Fair Dates/

The 19th edition of Design Miami/ runs December 6-10, 2023, with Preview Day on December 5. Taking place in its established location at Pride Park, opposite the Miami Beach Convention Center, the fair will feature over 40 gallery and Curio exhibitions, presented alongside a rich program of partnerships, collaborations and design talks. Programming will respond to this year’s theme, Where We Stand, as selected by Curatorial Director Anna Carnick, a celebration of design inspired by place, community, and heritage—and the beauty and power that can be drawn from our most intimate, rooted connections. 

NOTES TO EDITORS

Design Miami/ Paris 2023 Galleries
​Demisch Danant/ New York
​Friedman Benda/ New York
​Galerie Chastel-Maréchal/ Paris
​Galerie Desprez-Breheret/ Paris
​Galerie Downtown François Laffanour/ Paris
​Galerie Eric Philippe/ Paris
​Galerie Jacques Lacoste/ Paris
​Galerie kreo/ Paris
​Galerie Meubles et Lumières/ Paris
​Galerie Mitterrand/ Paris
​Galerie Patrick Seguin/ Paris  
​Galerie SCENE OUVERTE/ Paris
​Galleria Rossella Colombari/ Milan
​Gokelaere & Robinson/ Paris
​Hostler Burrows/ New York
​Jousse Entreprise/ Paris
​Karry Berreby/ Paris
​Ketabi Bourdet Design/ Paris
​Lebreton/ Monaco
​Moderne Gallery/ Philadelphia
​Morentz Gallery/ Waalwijk
​Paulin Paulin Paulin/ Mobilier National/ Paris 
​Pierre Marie Giraud/ Brussels
​R & Company/ New York
​Salon 94 Design/ New York
​Sarah Myerscough Gallery/ London
​Thomas FRITSCH - ARTRIUM/ Paris

Design Miami/ Paris 2023 Design at Large/
​Demisch Danant presents Made in Situ by Noé Duchaufour-Lawrance
​Friedman Benda presents Veiled in a Dream by Wendell Castle
​Galerie Desprez-Breheret presents Apollon by Kalou Dubus
​Galerie Desprez-Breheret presents Titan by Kalou Dubus
​Galerie Downtown-Laffanour presents Buste de Venus by Panayiotis Vassilakis, known as Takis
​Galerie kreo presents La Grande by Guillaume Bardet
​Galerie kreo presents Poltrona di Proust by Alessandro Mendini
​Galerie Mitterrand presents Âne Attelé by François-Xavier Lalanne
​Galerie Patrick Seguin presents Maison Démontable 6x6 by Jean Prouvé
​Galleria Rossella Colombari presents UN VASO È PER SEMPRE by Antonio Marras
​Galerie SCENE OUVERTE presents Delta by Vincent Dubourg
​Galerie SCENE OUVERTE presents Modular Ceramic Chair by Rino Claessens
​Hostler Burrows presents Totem by Jakob Jørgensen
​Jousse Entreprise presents Ensemble by Mathieu Matégot
​Ketabi Bourdet presents Paire de Chaises La Villette by Philippe Starck
​Ketabi Bourdet presents Pavilion X by Marc Leschelier
​Pierre Marie Giraud presents Tsubo by Kazunori Hamana
​Salon 94 Design presents Chawan by Takuro Kuwata

Design Miami/ Paris 2023 Partners/
​Audi
​Cova Paris
​Crozier Fine Arts
​Evian and Badoit
​Kartell
​Miami Design District 
​Sèvres - Manufacture et Musée nationaux

Design Miami/ Paris 2023 Suppliers/
​Maison Ruinart

Address/ 
​51, rue de l’Université  
​75007 Paris, France

Public Show Days/
​Wednesday, October 18 / 11:00 AM - 19:00 PM
​Thursday, October 19 / 11:00 AM - 19:00 PM
​Friday, October 20 / 11:00 AM - 19:00 PM
​Saturday, October 21 / 11:00 AM - 19:00 PM
​Sunday, October 22 / 11:00 AM - 16:00 PM

Press inquiries, please contact/

INTERNATIONAL
​CAMRON
​+44 (0)20 7420 1700
​Hannah Perry/ [email protected] 
​Grace Englefield/ [email protected] 

FRANCE
​FAVORI 
​+33 1 42 71 20 46 
​Grégoire Marot, Amy Ilona, Serge Karboulonis, Anastasia Sagaydak, Eugénie Vignon/
​[email protected]