the Pavilion of Art
The Jousse Entreprise booth at the Pavilion of Art & Design London
(Image credit: press)

Something old, something new, something raising lots of lovely funds for charity and a giant gorilla. The Pavilion of Art & Design London (aka PAD) ticks all the boxes: its line up for 2011 squeezing an impressive 60 galleries into its Berkeley Square marquee. By most accounts (from exhibitors and visitors alike) this year's show is the best yet.

Among the galleries representing the old - the safer bet from an investor's point of view in these still 'uncertain' times - highlights include one of Jean Prouvé's first masterpieces, the Fauteuil 'cite', as well as a number of pieces designed for a school in Villejuif, on show at Jousse Entreprise. Fantastic examples of beautiful mid-century Scandinavian collectables came in the shape of Finn Juhl and Poul Kjaerholm furniture at Dansk Møbelkunst, as well as a chest by Josef Frank and a Tapio Wirkkala candelabra at Modernity - which, incidentally is also showcasing a series of beautiful porcelain vessels from Sandra Davolio (the last she'll make for a while, apparently, as she's now busy designing entire walls for Tiffany's flagship in New York).

Contemporary design was shining at Priveekollektie, with new pieces from Reinier Bosch, Rolf Sachs and Arik Levy; and at Cristina Grajales - where London was given its first audience with the amazing 'Porcupine Cabinet' by New York artist Sebastian Errazuriz, as well as an elegant new dining table and chairs from Nigel Coates. Wallpaper* favourite Bethan Laura Wood showed her Playtime collection at Nilafur while new works were commissioned especially by several galleries, so the globe-trotting design-art veterans who might have seen it all by the time they'd finished the rounds of Design Miami Art Basel in June were given plenty of fresh inspiration.

Francis Sultana, with Bodil Blain and Sojin Lee, commissioned the likes of Zaha Hadid, Barnaby Barford and Mattia Bonetti to customise child-sized versions of Vitra's Verner Panton chair to raise funds for the NSPCC. And then the giant gorilla - well... It has become something of a Where's Wally style tradition now, to spot the giant gorilla at any contemporary art fair, and let's just say PAD London didn't disappoint. We were happy to note that it seemed quite at home amongst the plane tree trunks that punctuated the pavilion structure too.

a house in Africa

The gallery is showing a cabinet by Charlotte Perriand, originally designed for a house in Africa

(Image credit: Charlotte Perriand)

a room

The Jousse Entreprise booth

(Image credit: press)

Triscota Cabinet

'Triscota Cabinet' by Christophe Come at Cristina Grajales

(Image credit: Christophe)

Porcupine Cabinet

'Porcupine Cabinet' by Sebastian Errazuriz at Cristina Grajales

(Image credit: Sebastian Errazuriz)

the mirror

'LogSkinFold' mirror by Arik Levy at Priveekollektie

(Image credit: Arik Levy)

mirrored drawers

'Worker' suspended mirrored drawers by Reinier Bosch at Priveekollektie

(Image credit: Reinier Bosch)

a frieze

'Schwarm', a frieze of beetles by RaR for the Thomas Eyck collection at Priveekollektie

(Image credit: RaR)

Tunnel View

'Tunnel View Square' by Hans Kotter at Priveekollektie

(Image credit: Hans Kotter)

Coffee tables

Coffee tables by Bethan Laura Wood (originally concieved for our Handmade issue, and produced in conjunction with Abet Laminati) at Nilufar

(Image credit: Bethan Laura)

a studio

Todd Merrill Studio Contemporary's booth featured a giant dandilion

(Image credit: press)

a Studio

'Folly' by Beth Katleman at Todd Merrill Studio Contemporary

(Image credit: Beth Katleman)

nice scenes

Naughty but nice scenes by Barnaby Barford at David Gill

(Image credit: Barnaby Barford)

the giant

Spot the giant gorrilla...

(Image credit: press)

Carpenters Workshop Gallery

'Lathe' console by Sebastian Brajkovic for Carpenters Workshop Gallery, 2011

(Image credit: Sebastian Brajkovic)

Stadler at Carpenters

Robert Stadler at Carpenters Workshop Gallery

(Image credit: press)

trees in plain

Plane trees in plain view throughout the Berkeley Square pavilion

(Image credit: press)

painters and sculptors

Sculpture to wear - a Man Ray-designed necklace, part of a collection of jewellery by Post War painters and sculptors at Didier

(Image credit: press)

Floret Wall Light

'Floret Wall Light' by Mark Brazier Jones for Lamberty

(Image credit: Mark Brazier Jones)

a mirrors

Papier mache 'sorciere' mirrors by Farfelus Farfadits at Lamberty

(Image credit: Farfelus Farfadits)

Porcelain vessels

Porcelain vessels from Sandra Davolio at Modernity

(Image credit: press)

Porcelain vessels

Porcelain vessels from Sandra Davolio at Modernity

(Image credit: press)