The March Salon, which was for a long time a major Parisian event, has found a revival in Geneva where it has been held between April 1st and 9th 2000. Most of the 84 exhibitors have been happy to pursue the tradition of the Salon in Geneva especially as business has been quite good. Camille Burgi of Paris said he felt a new atmosphere there after selling two 18th Century commodes for almost $ 2 million.
Another dealer said the setting of the Palexpo Halle near the Geneva airport was much more attractive than the rather sepulchral Louvre Museum compound where the Paris Biennial is being held.
The festive dinner organised during the opening attracted many members of the Jet Set such as Dimitri Mavromatis, Nadine de Rothschild, the Stern couple, Mr and Mrs Mac Bain, Lili Safra and many famous jewellers.
Several important dealers have come to Geneva to negotiate good pieces such as a Japanese cabinet, which belonged to John Lennon, offered at $ 29,000, a Flute player with a nude woman painted by Picasso in 1970 tagged at $ 3,5 million or the «Cow» executed by Dubuffet in 1954 ($ 600,000).
A major Fernand Léger painting «Paris from the window» of 1917 was reserved at $ 7,5 million, a Modigliani painting of 1915 titled «La Fantesca» went for $ 5 million while the 1900-2000 gallery several collages by Kurt Schwitters offered at between $ 45,000 and 73,500.
Tribal art sold well, notably four pieces from the Philippe Guimiot gallery from Brussels now due to appear at the Tribal Art Fair in New York while Philippe Ratton and Daniel Hourdé from Paris were offering three exceptional Kota figures at prices ranging from $ 45,000 to 441,000.
Some jewellers exhibited several gorgeous pieces notably Fred Leighton from New York while Harry Winston and Alexandre Reza have applied to show their jewels next year in what is already regarded as a great Salon notwithstanding the fact that Geneva means good business.
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