Art and Antiques: Holiday Shopping at the Carré Rive Gauche in Paris

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Art and Antiques: Holiday Shopping at the Carré Rive Gauche in Paris
The holidays are closer than you think, and if you’re searching for that special gift for that special someone, the Carré Rive Gauche on the Paris Left Bank is overflowing with exceptional choices. Located in the Paris 7th arrondissement just across the Seine from the Louvre and just east of the Musée d’Orsay, the Carré covers roughly rue des Saints-Pères on the east to rue du Bac on the west, and Quai Voltaire on the north to rue de Verneuil on the south. The Carré comprises over a hundred shops that specialize in extremely high-quality antique and contemporary art and objects, and it’s gearing up for the holidays. The Carré recently previewed a selection of items from member galleries that will be available for holiday gift buying, a period that formally starts on December 3rd and runs until Christmas. The items included antique and contemporary paintings, drawings, sculptures, ceramics, and decorative arts; furniture and objets d’art; textiles; and archeological items. The one caveat for the pieces exhibited: they had to be priced at not more than around 10,000 euros (about $11,400). I did say “special.” Take, for example, an early 17th century pedestaled basin from the Galerie Alexandre Piatti at 29 rue de Lille. No, your special someone will not be able to wear this bauble on their finger, but if you’re trying to find a gift for that certain someone who longs for that unique decorative piece, this might be it. The piece is carved from a rare marble called lumachelle, so named because it contains petrified shells, which cause the extensive off-white veining. Inspired by the Italian renaissance, it was used as a decorative piece and would work equally well in both modern and traditional settings. Monsieur Piatti’s gallery specializes in Italian art and objects from the Haute Epoque – that is, from the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, and the 17th century – and in objects of curiosity. In addition to owning the gallery, Monsieur Piatti is Chairman of the Carré Rive Gauche.   A new kid on the block, the gallery Aujourd’hui, owned by Natalie de Jeu and Paul Poppelaars, will open on December 3rd at 16 rue de Beaune. The gallery will carry contemporary art and African art. Madame de Jeu and Monsieur Poppelaars brought not only a mask titled “Voilette du future” to the Carré exhibition, but also the internationally recognized French artist who created the piece, Josette Rispal. Madame Rispal has long created glass sculpture, and “Voilette du future,” made of glass and iron, dramatically reflects the artist’s interest in the masks we all wear. The piece is among several of Madame Rispal’s works that the gallery will show, along with the works of artist Daisy Bosman.   If a traditional painting would be perfect for that special someone, the gouache exhibited by F. Baulme Fine Arts, located at 1, Quai Voltaire, might fit the bill. Monsieur Baulme, who is an art collector turned gallery owner, exhibited a small 18th-century piece by French artist Louis Belanger titled “Paysage avec barque et pêcheurs.” Monsieur Baulme’s gallery specializes in paintings from the 16th through 19th centuries, and among his many fine works is the watercolor “L’Ile de la Cité” by French artist Henri Harpignies. This large painting was exhibited at the 1869 Paris Salon, at which it was awarded a medal.   The specialty of Galerie des Modernes, at 2, rue des Saints-Péres, owned by Vincent Amiaux and Philippe Bismuth, is art of the 20th century. They exhibited a small mixed media painting titled “Centaure,” painted around 1987 by the French artist César Baldaccini, who signs his paintings simply “César.” The piece is an homage to his friend Pablo Picasso and is related to a sculpture César created called “Le Centaure,” which is located at the corner of the rue de Sèvres and rue du Cherche-Midi in Saint-Germain des Prés, in the 6th arrondissement.   Myrna Myers, at 11 rue de Beaune, specializes in ceramics and Far East Arts. It exhibited a Japanese tea bowl – a chawan – from the Edo period (1603–1867). The owners of the gallery collected Chinese porcelain for many years before opening the gallery in 1976, and their stock includes Chinese and Japanese ceramics, including objects for tea ceremonies; fabrics and costumes, including robes and kimonos; and antique jade and ivory. Galerie Altéro, at 21, Quai Voltaire, exhibited a pair of late 17th century agate candlesticks with gilded brass collar and decorations. The candlesticks are part of an eclectic stock that includes 17th and 18th century furniture, mirrors, sterling silver, and objets d’art. But owner Madame Nicole Altéro, whose mother and grandmother were also shop…
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Lead photo credit : Getting in the holiday spirit/ courtesy of Carré Rive Gauche

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Diane Stamm occasionally writes from Paris.