Morentz (Waalwijk) is built on a commitment to preserving and promoting 20th century design, including expert restoration with deep aesthetic sensitivity. At this year’s Paris fair, they also present some of the most admired international names in collectible design, from George Nakashima, to Jose Zanine Caldas, and Paavo Tynell. Lebreton (Monaco) takes focus on the legacy of the great European modern and post-war ceramicists, offering unique and sculptural works by renowned creators such as Suzanne Ramié, Jean Derval, Elisabeth Joulia, and Joelle Deroubaix. Highlight pieces include Derval’s Pichet Anthropomorphe Dating back to circa 1950, the hand-crafted, glazed ceramic vase featuring an abstracted human face - calling into mind the contemporary ceramic trend towards anthropomorphism. Galleria Rossella Colombari (Milan) spotlights Italian design from the past century, with a particular focus on 20th century polymath Carlo Mollino. Inspired by his legacy, the gallery booth is titled “Uno Studio di Interni Molliniano” (A Mollinian Interior Studio) - presenting a selection of historical Italian designs, rare and unique pieces designed by the most important Italian Architects between the 1930s and 1990s, including: Gio Ponti, Ettore Sottsass, Melchiorre Bega, Osvaldo Borsani, Gaetano Pesce and Carlo Scarpa, among others. Following Mollino’s legacy, a common feature among the selected pieces is the move away from rationalist aesthetics towards a more personal means of expression. Set against the classical backdrop of L'hôtel de Maisons, the exhibition is designed to emphasize and celebrate essential architectural shapes, freed from movements or trends.

Cultural Exchange. A reflection of the host city’s global outlook, this year’s diverse gallery programming presents an enriching cultural dialogue between international designers, craft and culture. Galerie Eric Philippe (Paris) will present an engaging cultural blend of 20th-century furniture from Europe and North America, placing a spotlight on American Modernism and Historical Swedish Design. Standout works by American architect Paul László include a unique coffee table, crafted from walnut and mother-of-pearl. Offering a curated exploration of modern design evolution and trans-continental exchange, the showcase will highlight the artistic dialogue between influential architects, designers, and artistic movements.

Nilufar Gallery (Milan) will pay homage to the enduring legacy of vintage design, presenting an interplay of contemporary gems and vintage rarities. Viewing vintage objects as testimonies of past lives, Nina Yashar (Founder of Nilufar), honors the most precious pieces within her collection, empowered by their ability to connect with modern users and spaces. Set within the historic setting of the L’hôtel de Maison, the exhibition will pair rare vintage masterpieces, spanning countries and masters, with contemporary works to underscore how the past continually informs and inspires the present. Gallery highlights include a pair of dark-hued armchairs from Gino Levi Montalcini and Giuseppe Pagano, referencing Nilufar’s specialism within the Rationalist Movement. Pierre Marie Giraud (Brussels) will construct a cross-cultural conversation of artists and designers from the United States, Japan, and Europe, uniting artistic expressions from around the globe through the lens of the decorative arts. Meanwhile, Thomsen Gallery (New York) will present a curated exhibition of Japanese bamboo baskets made by leading bamboo artisans of the modern and contemporary periods. The baskets will be complemented by Japanese ceramics and bronze objects, alongside Japanese gold lacquer boxes and folding screens - presenting a highly considered showcase celebrating Japanese artistic traditions and materiality.

Design Miami.Paris Design at Large Highlights. This year’s Paris fair will also offer an extensive Design at Large program, punctuating the programming with moments of ambitious sculpture and conceptual innovation through large-scale, rare and significant works presented across the courtyard, interior and gardens of L’hôtel de Maisons. The 17 presentations set to go on show span contemporary and historic highlights.

Friedman Benda (New York/LA/Paris) and Carpenters Workshop Gallery (London/Paris/New York/Los Angeles) present two works by celebrated American designer Wendell Castle (1932-2018), known for his groundbreaking approach to design and his crucial addition to the field’s sculptural vocabulary. Never Grow Old (2014) and Fallen and Risen (2016) were created late in the designer’s career, when bronze became a central medium, liberating him from the constraints of wood and allowing his work to move outdoors and engage more directly with modernist sculpture. Both are a play on freedom and restraint where contours and lines intersect or adjoin, virtually eliminating prescribed boundaries without losing functionality. Another key highlight comes from Galerie Downtown-LAFFANOUR (Paris), who bring a Jean Prouvé post-war prefabricated house. Originally built in 1946 in Prouvé’s home village, Carnac, the house was designed with easy assembly and dismantle in mind, intended to house his family. Furnished with chairs by Charlotte Perriand, the interiors draw upon the wooden exterior, referencing its prefabricated elements. The only remaining building with Prouve’s signature character intact, the house references a rich historical dimension.