For the third edition of the Salon du collectionneur, lovers of art and antiquities met at the Grand Palais. Founded and organised by the French national antique dealers' association (Syndicat national des antiquaires), the show was a big hit with the general public, collectors and dealers in 2003 and again in 2005. Openness, diversity, quality and culture have been the key qualities that have helped the show to build up a loyal following.
In 2007, the Salon du Collectionneur acquired a new dimension. With more floor space, a prestigious setting, the incomparable light and space offered by the glass roof of the Grand Palais, it has joined the elite circle of the world's leading events for amateurs of art and antiquities. It has also made full use of the majestic quality of the setting to develop the cultural and educational components that have been central to the show's originality.
Paintings-drawings-sculptures; jewellery; furniture-artefacts-mementoes-postage stamps; Asian art-archaeology-primitive arts: the Salon du collectionneur is organised thematically by specialities. This policy shifts the focus on to individual items and enables a structured and meaningful approach to the organisation of the exhibition.
More than 120 French and international galleries (from 12 different countries), 47 of whom were first-time exhibitors, were united in 2007. The numerous treasures on show included exhibits like the officer's clock from the Royal Clockmakers' in Turin, to a brown ink drawing by George Grosz, and a portrait signed by Jean-François Millet. This edition focused on the links between object and collector. Craftsmen, central to the collecting process, were represented by the workshops of the Grands Ateliers de France, an academy of craftsmen specialised in the decorative arts and art de vivre.