The Dijon Salon des Antiquaires et de la Brocante (what the French call secondhand) ran this year from May 13 to May 22. If you’re coming off a Grand Cru winery tasting (the world’s most expensive red wines like Romanee Conte, whose vineyards are clustered together in the Côtes de Nuits region outside Dijon) and feeling flush, then chances are you’re ready to plunk down some serious cash for an antique treasure or jewel. It’s no coincidence that more than 100 vetted exhibitors specializing in 18th and 19th century French furniture, jewelry and objets d’art offer exceptional pieces at this 39th edition of the fair in this affluent region of France, two and a half hours south of Paris.
Booths are elegantly decked out with the crème-de-la-crème of Rococo and ornate marquetry furniture and objets d’art, the majority coming from 18th-century France. If your vision of grandeur includes lots of gilded and highly polished furniture, then you would have loved the booth of Gilles Linossier, whose business is based on Paris Quai Voltaire. Gilles has been participating in this fair for the past 12 years. And his chic booth has exquisite examples of 18th-century Louis XVI tables, sideboards and tapestries, plus an immense 19th-century gilded wood (bois d’oré in French) chandelier (lustre in French) coming from an Austrian royal family.
If you prefer smaller goods that are equally dazzling and pricey, then you would have been able to choose from several exceptional estate jewelry dealers at the fair. Laurence Fayolle from Lyon had a collection of stunning jewelry including a 19th-century necklace featuring a 45 carat square-cut aquamarine surrounded by 50 carats of diamonds set in platinum (priced at 100,000 Euros). An exquisite black enamel lorgnette (folding eyeglasses) by Cartier was also among the mix.
For botanical and bug-inspired jewelry, the booth of Le Sot-l’y-Laisse had a gorgeous bright blue enamel wild rose brooch dating from the 19th century in the style of the house of Cartier. An ornate butterfly brooch was encrusted with rose cut diamonds and precious gems.
At Francine Joaillierie’s booth, a jumbo Akoya Baroque pearl choker (Image #4: 0336) jumped out of the showcase. Virginie Monnier from Besancon had extraordinary examples of miniature portraits painted on ivory dating from the 18th century.
For information on the fair, visit www.dijon-congrexpo.com and www.antiquaires-contact.com
Boutique Maille: www.maille.com
Chapeau Rouge Michelin star restaurant: www.chapeau-rouge.fr
La Dame d’Aquitaine 13th c. crypt: www.ladamedaquitaine.fr
Wine and Voyages Laurent Delelee: www.wineandvoyages.com
Pedigreed vineyards in the world of wine confrerie des chevaliers de tastevin bourgogne
Musee des Beaux-Arts overlooking one of France’s most glorious public squares (newly renovated)
www.ville-dijon.fr
