Heritage & Art Deco in the spotlight
To mark the centenary of the 1925 International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts in Paris, the 30th edition of the International Heritage Fair will be celebrating Art Deco. This iconic artistic and architectural movement transformed the aesthetics of the first half of the 20th century, and its influence continues to shape our urban landscapes, mobilise excellence in craftsmanship and raise questions about the contemporary challenges of preserving and passing on our heritage.
The 2025 poster reinvents itself with an Art Deco theme
To mark the occasion, the fair organised by Ateliers d’Art de France is renewing its visual identity, with Art Deco taking pride of place on the poster for this year’s edition, illustrated with pieces created by Atelier Camuset, Féau&Cie and La Maison du Vitrail, loyal exhibitors of the fair.
The artwork created by Atelier Camuset was inspired by the works of lacquer artist, painter and decorator Gaston Suisse, a major artist of the Art Deco movement. It will be exhibited at the fair.
Féau&Cie’s woodwork focuses on a set for Lord Rothermere’s living-dining room, created in 1925 by decorator Jacques-Emile Ruhlmann and sculptor Louis Pierre Rigal, for which the company produced plaster casts from the originals. The entire original woodwork is currently on display at the Louvre Abu Dhabi.
Exhibitors celebrate Art Deco
Among the new features of this edition, the entrance to the fair will be partially redesigned and revitalised to welcome new exhibitors related to this year’s theme: Art Deco, such as the Constant M Furniture cabinetmaking workshop and the historical wallpaper publisher Le Grand Siècle. In this area, visitors will also have the pleasure of seeing Villa Rosemaine, which will unveil a beautiful selection of Art Deco period dresses. Atelier Frédéric Moulin will also present a bergère chair by cabinetmaker and decorator Maurice Dufrène, and MGS 3D will unveil its 3D reconstruction of the Nancy pavilion during the 1925 International Exhibition of Decorative and Industrial Arts. The Paris Art Deco Society Association will look back at the history of this landmark 1925 exhibition and its missions and actions to promote and raise awareness of the Art Deco artistic and architectural movement in Île-de-France and other regions.
Many historical exhibitors have contributed to this aesthetic movement emblematic of modernity, such as Ateliers Duchemin, who restored Auguste Labouret’s stained glass windows for the Hôtel Le Lutetia, Louis Barillet’s stained glass windows for the Lycée Hélène Boucher in Paris, and Louis Barillet’s stained glass windows for the Villa Martel. Atelier MurAnése specialises in the restoration of 20th-century glass heritage ; Atelier de Ricou, who worked on the 1910 decorations by Adrien Karbowsky and Gustave-Louis Jaulmes for the Hôtel Lutetia and the Casino d’Evian ; and Atelier Philippe Allemand, who renovated and refurbished the carriages of the Venise Simplon Orient Express company. Beyond restoration, service companies and new technologies are using their tools to showcase iconic projects, such as the facades of the Palais d’Iéna for Studio Sherlock and the 3D reconstruction of the Orient Express at Nancy station in 1925 for MGS 3D.
Other fine craftspeople are drawing inspiration from this era, such as lampshade manufacturer Maison Tricard, who will be presenting a metal and parchment lamp at the show that echoes the style of Art Deco stained glass windows. The iconic century-old Chinese wool company Hung Yuen Zian will present the results of prestigious collaborations with two French artists, Matali Crasset and Catalina Willis, through a series of wool scarves and a poster specially created for the event. Atelier Marcu, specialising in furniture restoration, will unveil a stand entirely decorated in the Art Deco style, featuring furniture by Ruhlmann and fabrics from the Prelle manufacture.
A rich programme
Every year, professionals and enthusiasts come together to discuss an exclusive programme of conferences, award ceremonies and round tables as part of the Forum du Patrimoine (organised by Atrium Patrimoine et Restauration magazine and Ateliers d’Art de France with the support of the Fondation France Bois Forêt pour notre Patrimoine) and highlights on current issues in the sector. For this 30th edition, Ateliers d’Art de France and its partners are offering exceptional conferences, particularly related to the annual theme of ‘Heritage & Art Deco’. This will be the case for ‘The artistic and heritage legacy of Art Deco in 2025’ presented by Ateliers d’Art de France, and a round table discussion on Art Deco in China, presented by Hung Yuen Zian.