November 2008

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September draws collectors from all over the world to Paris, but not only for the Biennale des Antiquaires. The city also welcomes dealers and collectors of tribal art to the pre-eminent fair in this field, Parcours des Mondes, which this year takes place from 10 to 14 September.

The central role of both the city and the fair in the tribal-art market cannot be overestimated. Buyers and sellers of African, Oceanic, pre-Columbian, Native American and Aboriginal flock here; the auction houses have moved their major tribal art sales to Paris; and many specialist dealers have either relocated to the city or opened second galleries here. Paris is home to the world’s greatest museum devoted to tribal art, the Musée du Quai Branly. This summer the Musée Jacquemart André hosted ‘Afrique Oceanie’, an exhibition celebrating the centenary of the Barbier-Mueller Collection of tribal art in Geneva, begun by Josef Mueller. The Barbier-Mueller’s director is Jean Paul Barbier-Mueller, a major collector himself and also honorary president of the Parcours des Mondes 2008.

Over 60 exhibitors – the largest number yet – show in what dealer Joshua Dimonstein describes as the ‘TEFAF for tribal art’. Unlike the Maastricht fair, however, the dealers are not gathered under one roof but show in their own or – since roughly half the exhibitors come from outside France – occupy their fellow dealers’ galleries, which cluster in the St Germain des Prés neighbourhood. This lends the event a festive atmosphere, claims Dimonstein, and provides, in his words, a ‘good opportunity to develop a relationship’ with collectors and other dealers. Although some sites are inevitably more central than others, ‘serious buyers will make sure they get to everything’, he says.

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