The 2025 edition of PAD London, held from 14 to 19 October in Berkeley Square, welcomes Galerie Patrick Fourtin with an exhibition focusing on the leading figures of the Art Deco movement. The space, designed by French creator Pierre Gonalons, brings together masterpieces by Eugène Printz, Jean Dunand, André Arbus, Eckart Muthesius, Lucien Rollin, Gilbert Poillerat and pieces from the collection of patron Jacques Doucet.
The exhibition commemorates the centenary of the 1925 Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs, considered the origin of Art Deco, and also anticipates the gallery’s 30th anniversary in 2026. With this double celebration, Patrick Fourtin offers a historical and contemporary reading of 20th-century design, highlighting the enduring influence of the movement’s pioneers on modern material culture.
Among the pieces on display are two previously unseen works by Eugène Printz, created in the 1930s for a private collector. Made of palm wood, sycamore and oxidised bronze, they exemplify the synthesis of geometric rigour and material refinement characteristic of the designer. Their sculptural presence and the complexity of their technical execution place them among the most representative creations of his career.
Another point of interest is a cabinet designed jointly by Printz and Jean Dunand, in which the metal surface designed by Dunand introduces a dialogue between furniture, sculpture and decorative arts. The work highlights the collaboration between two key figures of French modernity and their interest in exploring new formal and material frontiers.
The exhibition also includes a personal lamp by Jacques Doucet, made around 1920 in rock crystal, silver and agate, which has remained intact since its use on the desk designed by Pierre Legrain. Its display in London marks the first public appearance of a piece closely linked to one of the leading patrons of Art Deco.
The selection is completed by a pair of cabinets by Eckart Muthesius in polished steel and opaline glass, related to the designs created for the Manik Bagh palace of the Maharaja of Indore, and a pair of ceremonial lamps by André Arbus in patinated bronze, dating from around 1950. This ensemble illustrates the evolution of decorative language towards a modern, international and comprehensive vision of domestic space.
Founded in 1996, Galerie Patrick Fourtin has established itself as a benchmark in the revaluation of 20th-century decorative arts. From its headquarters in Paris’s 1st arrondissement, the gallery collaborates with collectors, curators and museums to identify and recover pieces of historical significance. Its approach combines curatorial rigour with a keen eye for the dialogue between past and present.
The stand was designed by Pierre Gonalons, a leading figure in contemporary French design. His proposal integrates references to decorative tradition and aesthetic modernity in a space that highlights the materiality and formal balance of the works. Renowned for his narrative approach and attention to detail, Gonalons was awarded the ‘Le Talent du Bien-Être’ prize by the Centre du Luxe et de la Création in Paris in 2025.
