Time travel: Gabriel & Guillaume host Parisian pop-up at Christofle

With eclecticism at their core, and a united belief that shopping should be fun, Gabriel & Guillaume have ‘popped up’ in Paris. For the next month, the duo have taken over the upstairs rooms of Christofle’s headquarters to curate three mises-en-scène where 18th century mirrors sit next to 1970s bamboo lighting and rare art nouveau finds

The upstairs apartments of Christofle's 8th arrondissement ambassadorial headquarters have been overhauled by design duo Gabriel & Guillaume
The upstairs apartments of Christofle's 8th arrondissement ambassadorial headquarters have been overhauled by design duo Gabriel & Guillaume
(Image credit: Gabriel & Guillaume)

With eclecticism at their core, and a united belief that shopping should be fun, Gabriel & Guillaume have ‘popped up’ in Paris. For the next month, the duo have taken over the upstairs rooms of Christofle’s headquarters to curate three mises-en-scène where 18th century mirrors sit next to 1970s bamboo lighting and rare art nouveau finds.

Nancy Gabriel hails from Beirut and first met Guillaume Excoffier in 2011 when he was running a design store in the Marais. Although neither are trained designers (she worked in advertising, he has a business background) they did up an apartment together and share a keen eye for things that ‘whatever period they’re from have a modern source’, explains Excoffier. As an example, he points to an Italian daybed – it’s from 1820, but could have been made yesterday.

More than 180 pieces fill the space and move seamlessly from big ticket, signed works such as a pair of brass coffee tables from 1970s Italian legend Gabriella Crespi to ceramics by the late Hungarian artist Livia Gorka and unsigned lamps and accessories.

The pair held their first pop up in Beirut in 2013 and for this show have incorporated contemporary design into the mix. Six works from Jean-Louis Deniot, Stéphane Parmentier, Fabrice Ausset and Marguerite Rivet appear next to vintage greats from Galerie Mitterrand, with whom they have collaborated (think Niki de Saint Phalle, Claude Lalanne, Ettore Sottsass and Robsjohn-Gibbings). 

Next spring, they’re holding another pop up in Beirut, but neither wants a permanent space. ‘We don’t want to be like a gallery, with five pieces by one designer,’ says Excoffier. 'We travel all the time and we’re totally eclectic.’

On display for the next month, vintage day beds appear alongside contemporary lamps and tables to create a truly eclectic feel

On display for the next month, vintage day beds appear alongside contemporary lamps and tables to create a truly eclectic feel

(Image credit: press)

Gg Pairing

The duo have traversed continents and centuries to curate a pop-up with fun and humour at its heart

(Image credit: press)

Among the 180 pieces filling the space are a pair of signed 1970s brass coffee tables

Among the 180 pieces filling the space are a pair of signed 1970s brass coffee tables from Gabriella Crespi and ceramics by the late Hungarian artist Livia Gorka

(Image credit: Gabriella Crespi, Livia Gorka)

INFORMATION

’Gabriel & Guillaume’ is on view until 21 November

ADDRESS

Salons Christofle
9, rue Royale
75008 Paris

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Emma O'Kelly is a freelance journalist and author based in London. Her books include Sauna: The Power of Deep Heat and she is currently working on a UK guide to wild saunas, due to be published in 2025.