Sotheby’s New Parisian Headquarters, Greater Than Ever
If there is a hot spot for galleries in Paris these days, it is the Saint-Honoré district. Seizing this artistic boom, Sotheby’s is opening its new headquarters at 83 rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, six blocks from its previous location. Spanning 3,300 m2, the venue is designed to transcend the traditional showroom to provide a complete living space. In addition to the exhibition rooms, the new Sotheby’s address is home to Café 83, where visitors can enjoy chef Gaëtan Thibert’s gourmet menu, but also a wine cellar, Le Salon Sotheby’s and its wide selection of luxury objects, jewellery, watches and handbags, all highly prized by Hermès, as well as a programme of artworks for private sale. The space has been reconditioned by Architecturestudio, whose projects include the Institut du Monde Arabe and the Maison de la Radio et de la Musique.
The opening was also a celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Surrealist Manifesto. Echoing the exhibition at the Centre Pompidou, the first exhibition of the new headquarters features works by the great names of the movement, from Magritte and Dali to the much sought-after Dorothea Tanning. A great way to kick off the autumn season, which will see major collections such as Gianni Giordano’s in November. In the meantime, don’t miss the exhibition devoted to French excellence, presented through a selection of outstanding silverware, watches and leather goods, including the first Birkin, the emblematic Hermès bag. Sotheby’s fifteen departments, specialising in ancient paintings, contemporary art, Asian art and African art, could not be bigger. During this exceptional inauguration, we had the pleasure of meeting Charles F. Stewart, Jean Pigozzi, Laila Gohar, Jean Todt and Jean-Charles de Castelbajac, to name but a few.
Photos: Jean Picon and Julio Piatti
