Customer Reviews

Antiquaires : The Finest Antique Dealers in Paris

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Jean-Louis Gaillemin is a great connoisseur of antiques and in this book, where he tells the story of the great antique dealers of Paris, he shares with the reader his enthousiasm for objects and furniture who speak the language of the past. It is a sort of a sentimental journey in the fascination of bygone ages, where everybody can feel at ease in magnificent rooms and "galeries". Reading the rich texts of Gaillemin and looking at the lavish photographs of Laziz Hamani, one has the sensation to be in these splendid places. A great book written with style by a master of style.

Jean-Louis Gallemin has created a book, Antiquaries: The Finest Antiques Dealers in Paris, that not only will please the curiosity and the eye of those who love French antiques, it is also one of the most informative texts on the history of dealing in antiques. Far from a dry dissertation defending those who have gathered antiques from neglected estates (or those with even more intrigue!), this book is a detailed history of antiques dealing in Paris with the generous and luxuriously complete directory of Paris antiques dealers today.

The publishing house of Assouline engaged the services of photographer Laziz Hamani to capture the myriad articles of furniture, art and decorative accessories that in the hands of the fine dealers visited by Gaillemin. The photographs are not only documentary but are also a form of still life: Hamani understands the play of light on the works selected and each photograph is suggestive of a fine old painting.

This very elegantly presented volume serves as a guide to the history of an old profession, a guide to antiques, and a lovely introduction to the particular haunts of Paris that quietly boast its past. Grady Harp, June 06

this is an elegant & rich book in both visual and information... a must-have for anyone interested in the beautiful aesthete of Paris!

This is an English translation of an original French text. A rare look at the history of antiques dealing and its European origins. The book is beautiful to look at. The photography is exquisite and the binding excellent. The book comes in two halves, really. The first half is a history of the trade, while the second half is a review of some of the more prestigious antiques dealers of France of recent and current history. All involved are of the high end variety with quality of work-and inferred prices-not for the faint of heart. If you are interested in European antiques you want this.