28th Biennale des Antiquaires

Maison Gerard to Debut at the Biennale des Antiquaires with Carolle Thibaut-Pomerantz

September 10th - 18th 
Preview on September 9th
Grand Palais, Paris

Benoist Drut and Gerard Widdershoven have announced that Maison Gerard will exhibit at the Biennale des Antiquaires for the first time in September 2016, and will share a space with French antique wallpaper specialist, Carolle Thibaut-Pomerantz. Founded in 1974, Maison Gerard specializes in fine French Art Deco furniture and objets d’art, 20th century design, contemporary furniture, lighting and accessories.  With period furniture spanning over half of a century from the early 1900 through the early 1960's, Maison Gerard’s booth at the Biennale des Antiquaires will reflect a carefully curated mix of superb pieces from different periods and countries -- featuring Line Vautrin mirrors, an pair of rare and important cabinets by Maison Leleu, and a prized Robsjohn-Gibbings coffee table. 

Maison Leleu 

The house of Leleu rose to prominence in the 1920s during the Art Déco period, and became known for the ornate classicism of its richly refined furniture and lavish interiors. Jules Leleu was well known for his skillful use of uncommon materials, such as exotic woods, colored shagreen, and tortoiseshell. It was Jules’ reverence for fine craftsmanship that had distinguished the company for nearly half a century, but each of his three children also took on essential roles in defining the business, especially in the later years of their father’s life. The consistent signature “LELEU” for all designs from every department illustrates the collaborative nature of this supremely creative family. 

Line Vautrin Mirrors

Maison Gerard is well known for their spectacular selection of rare examples of Line Vautrin’s work, namely her signature jewelry, boxes, and compacts.  The gallery has also carefully curated a collection of convex mirrors for which she was well known.  Throughout her life and career, Vautrin, the iconic French artist and designer, refused to submit to the requirements and restraints of contemporary fashion. Some of her most famous creations were made by using a resinous material that she called “Talosel.”  She worked with Talosel by melting it down and forming it into ornaments and shapes. Her signature mirrors, framed in bronze and Talosel, were inspired by Medieval and Renaissance art, and are highly sought after by collectors today. Two spectacular examples are shown below.

Carolle Thibaut-Pomerantz

Maison Gerard is pleased to share space at the 2016 Biennale des Antiquaire with Carolle Thibaut-Pomerantz. Thibaut-Pomerantz, trained as an art historian, deals in the decorative arts, with a specialty in fine vintage wallpapers from the 18th century to the 1950’s. She has pioneered the rediscovery of this unique mural art from, known as “Papiers Peints” and is known as “the” specialist in this field. She is based both in Paris and New York.

As a private dealer, she advises collectors, designers and corporations both in Europe and the United States. She also exhibits in major International art fairs, such as TEFAF, Maastricht; Winter Antiques Show, New York and Masterpiece, London. Many of her rare vintage papers have been acquired by major museums, such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Philadelphia Art Museum, Boston Museum of Fine Arts, Chicago Art Institute, Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris, and Kunstgewerbemuseum Staaliche in Berlin. In addition, she is a member of the Compagnie Nationale des Experts and the National Art and Antique Dealers Association of America.

About Maison Gerard

Since its founding in 1974 by Gerardus Widdershoven, Maison Gerard has specialized in fine French Art Deco furniture, lighting and objets d’art.  It has sustained a particular focus on and passion for the work of Maison Leleu, the famed French design house to which the gallery has devoted three exhibitions, in addition to providing the introduction to Françoise Siriex’s definitive text, The House of Leleu: Classic French Style for a Modern World.

Maison Gerard has also helped to form the collection of Walter Chrysler Jr. which is now in the Chrysler Museum in Norfolk, VA, assembled the Design Collection of the Utsonomia Museum in Japan, and built numerous private collections.  Exhibitions by Maison Gerard have presented the work of important Art Deco designers such as Jules Bouy, Jean-Michel Frank, Jules Leleu and E.J. Ruhlmann.  Through shows such as The Birth of A Style: 1910-1925, Paris 1930, Primitive & Modern, and Dix Neuf Cent Quarante (1940), the gallery has sought to illustrate the subtle movements within this period.

Maison Gerard has also gained recognition for introducing and cultivating the talents of contemporary designers and artists including Hervé van der Straeten, Jean Girel, Marc Bankowsky, Matthew Solomon, Carol Egan, Miguel Cisterna, Eric Astoul, Ayala Serfaty, and Achille Salvagni among others.

Maison Gerard has been a key source for top design firms including Brian J. McCarthy, David Kleinberg Design, Michael Smith Inc., Thad Hayes Design, Victoria Hagan Interiors, Benjamin Noriega-Ortiz, Pierce-Allen, The Wiseman Group, Fox-Nahem Design, Haynes Roberts, Inc., Jamie Drake Design, James Marzo Design, Robert Couturier Inc., Peter Marino Architect, and MR Architecture.

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