Sylvie Tiago
Created in 2013, Galerie Tiago is located in the heart of Carré Rive Gauche in Paris, between Saint-Germain-des-Près, the Orsay museum and the Louvre museum.
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The gallery specialises in Momoyama, Edo and Meiji works of art. Namban, lacquer, screen, European furniture, and curiosities come together in a unique way.
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Passionate about the ‘Grand Siècle’, Galerie Tiago loves to combine objects from different horizons, periods, styles, and artists in order to invent a unique decorative universe.
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Sylvie Tiago, head of the Tiago gallery agreed to answer our questions. This is the opportunity to learn more about her career and her gallery.
To begin, could you describe your background? Why this specialization in Asian art?
I have worked in several galleries with different specialties, which allowed me to acquire knowledge and expertise. Tiago Gallery opened at 36 rue de l'Université in 2013. Very quickly I knew that I would like to do a job close to art history, objects, research. I frequented auctions, exhibitions, museums and galleries. The long collaboration with Jean-Claude Hureau at the Galerie des Laques was particularly important in my career. I discovered another way of "looking".
Can you describe your gallery?
A cabinet of curiosity ! My passion: Japanese lacquerware. I like to present objects of different periods, materials, genres, together. I try to create particular universes in which everything is possible. The gallery presents screens, lacquer objects from Japan: kobako, suzuribako, inro, netsuke, jizai... Japanese animal bronzes, ikebana baskets, porcelain, furniture and objects from the 18th and 19th centuries as well as some designer pieces like Louis Cane.
I am always concerned with detail and perfectionism, both in my contacts with my clients and in the selection of objects. A very particular attention is given to the quality and the origin of each work presented. Being an antique dealer is a passion nourished by curiosity, discoveries, research but also by transmission. My commitment is centered on the respect of my customers by proposing works of quality. The Internet has given a new direction to our profession, but its profound nature remains the same.
The Tiago Gallery is also a family affair where all the members (even those who work in different professions) are discoverers and collectors.
The focal point in your gallery?
A large suzuribako (writing set), Edo period (1603-1868). The decoration shows a mountainous landscape, crossed by a river, bordered by two houses and trees (pine trees, cherry trees in bloom). It is most probably the Okabe station, opened in 1602. It is the 21st of the 53 stations of Tokaido, the main axis of Japan in Edo period.
Which artist or work would you like to present?
I would love to present a selection of Nanban pieces. "Nanban" in Japanese means "the barbarians of the south", the Portuguese, traders or missionaries who came to the archipelago in the 16th century. It is a fascinating period, the meeting of two cultures, Japanese and European.
Namban style chest with a semi-cylindrical lid made of black (urushi) and gold (maki-e) lacquered wood and inlaid with mother of pearl (raden)
Has a particular work marked you during your career?
There are many objects that have made my heart beat.
A suzuribako, which particularly intrigued the Japanese art historian Mari Terakawa. Her work on the piece was remarkable! The decoration of this suzuribako presents rich landscape motifs (Lake Biwa), Tokaido stations and views of Kyoto and Osaka, described by banners. The research work allowed to date this piece and to document the sites represented with engravings, plans and texts.
This profession leads to perpetual discoveries, each object is a quest. A library of nearly 200 works allows us to carry out our research and document all the works. It is an absolutely fascinating job.
Your latest artistic crush?
All the objects selected for this new 2023 edition of Printemps Asiatique Paris.
And of course the next discoveries...
A favourite museum?
I have many favorite museums, but I have a special relationship with the Musée d'Ennery, Clémence d'Ennery's collection, constituted at the end of the 19th century and housed in the private mansion on Avenue Foch built by her husband at the same time. I am fascinated by the hundreds of netsuke presented in display cases signed Viardot, the Namban chests, the ceramics... It's a visit that deserves to be made !
I also love the Camondo museum.
And the Calouste Gulbenkian foundation in Lisbon. He is THE enlightened and passionate collector par excellence. His collection brings together 5000 years of masterpieces from ancient Egypt to the 20th century.
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Works
Namban chest :
https://www.galerietiago.com/les-objets-dart/coffre-namban-3/
Large suzuribako :
https://www.galerietiago.com/les-objets-dart/grand-suzuribako/
Museums
Ennery museum : https://www.guimet.fr/decouverte-du-musee-dennery/
Camondo museum : https://madparis.fr/Musee-Nissim-de-Camondo-125
Calouste Gulbenkian foundation : https://gulbenkian.pt/museu/en/bienvenue/?gclid=Cj0KCQiA0oagBhDHARIsAI-
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To learn more :
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