The best of PAD London 2017

PAD London, Originally titled Pavillon des Antiquaires et des Galeries d’Art, was established by art dealer Patrick Perrin in 1996. It was initially in Paris only but has been running annually in London since 2006. This year was no different, gathering together furniture pieces that day boundaries between art and design.

With a total of 68 galleries exhibiting modern, contemporary and historical design pieces, the fair has become one of the biggest events in the UK’s collectible art and design calendar. Its a difficult task, but here it is a review of the best.

Rose Uniacke

Rose Uniacke scooped top honours for the booth, where vintage and modern pieces were presented against a fresh yellow backdrop that Rose describes as ‘uplifting yet soothing’. This is not the first time Rose Uniacke has won the award – back in 2015 the judges awarded Uniacke for the striking use of blue, a departure from traditional stand design.

Sèvres

For PAD London, the French porcelain house is back to producing contemporary furniture, with work from Nendo, Doshi Levien and Noé Duchaufour-Lawrance

Alexandre Biaggi

Dimore Gallery

Dimore Gallery debuted this year too (there were 12 newcomers in total, most in the area of 20th-century collectables) their stand furnished with a set of Carlo Mollino’s Lutriario armchairs, reupholstered in Dimore fashion in a distinctive blue silk, likewise a pair of Prefacto Monsieur and Madame Armchairs reborn in grey and pink velvet.

Galerie Gosserez

Rough bark beautifully juxtaposed with smooth charred oak, natural meets man-made organic shapes colliding. The gallery scooped the Best Contemporary Design award for that very piece. It was a clever, beguiling display of Loellmann’s dark sculptural furniture – ladders, mirrors and desks – which have a fairy tale feel, the glinting bronze elements highlighting the soft, hand-hewn aesthetic.

Carpenters workshop gallery

Carpenters Workshop Gallery exhibited rigorous dark modernist-inspired tables by Wonmin Park. Also works from ATELIER VAN LIESHOUT, NACHO CARBONELL, MATHIEU and FRANZ WEST.

Galerie Le Beau

Galerie Le Beau won the Best 20th Century Design for the Jose Zanine Caldas lounge chair which the self-taught Brazilian designer created in 1949. Midcentury modern Brazilian design has been incredibly collectable for a while now, Bahia-born Caldas worked alongside the likes of Niemeyer and often worked in plywood, this piece is constructed from Cavunia plywood, rope and fabric.