Sun King Sunday

 

Today is the last chance to see the magnificent Savonnerie carpets in a unique exhibition,

"The Rediscovered Treasure of the Sun King"

*** 

 The Savonnerie carpets, a gargantuan undertaking commissioned by Louis XIV in the late 1660s for the floor of the Grande Galerie (a.k.a. the Grand Gallery) in the Louvre Palace, was an ambitious project that involved creating 92 hand-knotted wool carpets, each approximately 9 meters (about 30 feet) wide. It was designed to cover the entire length of the gallery, 440 meters long, making it one of the largest such undertakings in history. Though the project took about twenty years (roughly 1668-1688) to complete, the carpets were never installed in the Louvre as intended. Louis had shifted his focus and court to Versailles in 1682, abandoning major renovations at the Louvre, so the pieces were put in storage, later dispersed as diplomatic gifts, sold during the French Revolution, or repurposed elsewhere. Only about 41 survived, with 33 remaining fully intact today. 

This special exhibition titled "The Rediscovered Treasure of the Sun King" ("Le Trésor retrouvé du Roi-Soleil"), brings together about 30 of these historic carpets on public display for the first time in over 350 years making it a limited, perhaps once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see them reunited. - BPJ

Grand Palais 
3 avenue du Général Eisenhower 75008 

 Ends Sunday February 8, 2026

Below: from above 

 

Excess baggage

A gigantic Louis Vuitton suitcase covers the main LVMH store on the Champs-Élysées.

 

The end of the line

Tourists from China waiting for luxury brand store Hermès to open last fall.

Below: yesterday

Heart filled

Yves Saint Laurent's flirty heart-shaped bag.

Happy Saint Valentin 2019

[Still time to reserve at Alain Ducasse's Oré restaurant at Château de Versailles for an exclusive Valentine's Day Dinner]  

 

💘

 

Vendôme #2

In France it is not unusual to see holiday decorations until the end of January.

Above: two more trees on Place Vendôme

Vendôme

A Christmas tree lights up Place Vendôme.

January newsletter

Nouveautés

Tree at the Ritz

 

Christmas tree, l'Hôtel Ritz, Place Vendôme.

Holiday shopping

Le Bon Marché's Dior window display.

[Bring your passport if spending 176 euros or more at any one store on same day for airport de-taxe refund of up to 15%, even on items on sale]

Fashion as deco

Before

After

Setting up for a fashion reception at luxury Hötel de Crillon.

Tied in a knot

Escalators inside Le Bon Marché (Rive Gauche) luxury department store.

Christmas present

 

Holiday spirit still going strong at Hermès, Saint Germain.

Hermès

17 rue de Sèvres 75006

 

Winter 2018 soldes January 10 to February 20

Bear windows

This year's Ralph Lauren holiday window display.

Ralph Lauren
173 Boulevard Saint-Germain 75006

More windows

In the windows of LVMH giant sculptures mimic balloon animals.

Louis Vuitton
22 avenue Montaigne 75008

Color me pink

Window shopping:
Nina Ricci's Spring 2018 Collection explodes with color.

Nina Ricci

39 avenue Montaigne 75008

Hermès, Paris

Horse and rider atop the Hermès building, a reminder of the brand's equestrian beginnings.

Hermès (main shop)

24 rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré 75008

Stepping up

Elegant stairway inside the Hôtel Ritz, Place Vendôme.

Café on the Champs

Wedged among chain stores on the Champs-Élysées the Nespresso Boutique surprises with excellent coffee in an upscale setting.

119 Avenue des Champs-Élysées 75008

 

Transcendent

A winding staircase dominates a resplendent bar area.

Above: a cocktail maison topped with shaved chocolate tastes as good as it looks; view from above

Hotel Saint James
 43 Avenue Bugeaud 75116

Dior homme

Luxury brand Dior's boutique for men off Avenue Montaigne.

Dior

24 rue François-Ier 75008

Parting shot

Philippe Starck's interior pays homage to artist Salvador Dali who spent about a month of each year here for thirty years in the old Royal Suite.

Le Meurice
228 rue de Rivoli 75001