An Original Exhibition Design by Peter Marino at the Domaine de Chantilly
In the wild Fall of 2020, the Domaine de Chantilly opened an original and joyful exhibition in their Château’s Grands Appartements. An exhibition where fine porcelain and eccentric modernity meet. On display through January 3, 2021, is the princely porcelain of Meissen and Chantilly. Markers of the decorative arts of the Age of Enlightenment. And while the fine porcelain and exquisite setting are more than enough reasons to love this exhibit. The fact that one of Lh’s favorite architects and top interior designers in the world, Peter Marino, beautifully executed the scenography, of course, makes us love it even more! So, scroll on and enjoy The Manufactory of Extravagance!
Porcelain in the 18th-Century
The rarity and exoticism of the shapes and decoration and the translucent quality and purity of its white color made porcelain among the most sought after objects during the first half of the 18th century. Thus, the greatest princes of Europe desired porcelain. In particular, two of them. Augustus the Strong, Elector of Saxony and King of Poland, and Louis-Henri de Bourbon, Prince of Condé and Prime Minister of King Louis XV. Both of whom put their fortune at the service of their passion, founding two of the most prestigious porcelain factories in Meissen and Chantilly.
“Chinese pagodas and magots, Japanese vases, animals of all kinds … the taste of the Enlightenment is exotic.”
The aesthetic developed at Meissen and Chantilly resolutely pointed towards the Far East. Thus, it was these manufacturers who played a prominent role in the development of Chinoiserie in decorative arts.
The Exhibition Design
The Château of Chantilly is home to the stunning Grands Apartments of the Prince of Condé. It is in these rococo rooms, with their white and gold wall paneling that the porcelain of Chantilly and Meissen are on display, set on high-quality period furniture, like in the Prince’s time. A setting that invites visitors to discover the objects in their original context.
For the exhibition’s designer, Peter Marino, this project had far more impact than just designing a showcase for fine porcelain. Peter is known for his cultural projects including his design of the permanent installations of the Zwinger Royal Porcelain Collection at Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden. He is also a long-time passionate collector of porcelain and ceramics. As such, the New York-based architect put to work his creative talent in service of this exhibition and designed an extravagant setting inspired by display methods of the period.
Visitors to the show can expect choice pieces from the Louvre, Musée des Arts Décoratifs, and the Zwinger Royal Porcelain Collection, as well as from a series of private collections.
Curation of The Manufactory of Extravagance is by Mathieu Deldicque, the Conservateur du Patrimoine at the Musée Conde. This exhibition is a fantastic collaboration between Mathieu Deldicque and Pete Marino. The end result, a delightfully surprising, and wonderful display!
Words by Inês Vidal
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