Centenary Art Deco: Saint-quentin Reignites The Roaring Twenties
Fancy a big leap back in time? Head to Saint-Quentin where Art Deco is celebrating its hundredth anniversary amidst a whirlwind of elegance, modernity... and beautiful surprises!
Why 2025 will be the Art Deco year in Saint-Quentin
In 1925, the International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts revolutionized creation. A hundred years later, the city of Saint-Quentin sets the clocks back to the Roaring Twenties. Two flagship exhibitions – "Elegance and Modernity. Art Deco at 100!" and "Gaston Suisse. Of Nature and Gold" – will be held from May 17 to September 21, 2025. A four-month window (right up to the Heritage Days) to rediscover a movement that has marked architecture, fashion, design... and the DNA of the city of Saint-Quentin.
Saint-Quentin, a life-sized setting inherited from the reconstruction.
Devastated by 80% during World War I, the city chose boldness for its reconstruction. As a result: more than 300 listed Art Deco facades, from the advertising lanterns on the train station bridge to the stylized stained-glass windows of the basilica. According to the Tourist Office, nearly 40,000 visitors walk through this "open-air museum" each year. Attendance is expected to climb: cultural tourism is increasing by 6% per year in Hauts-de-France (CRT figures 2023).
"Elegance and Modernity": A Department Store Transformed into a Time Machine
The Art Deco Palace – formerly the New Galleries opened in 1927 – houses the exhibition. Visitors move through it as if in the iconic pavilions of 1925: Pavillon de l’Élégance, Diamond Merchants, Collector's... Over 1,500 square meters, more than 300 pieces tell the story of the creative frenzy of an era that dreams of electricity, speed, and clean lines. The original ironworks converse with a scenographic decor – play of mirrors, chevron patterns – that stimulates the eye.
Legendary brands, always in the spotlight
Lanvin, Guerlain, Louis Vuitton, Puiforcat, Lalique... The great houses that populated the Parisian alleys of 1925 are still there – and so are their pieces!
- The famous Vuitton shoe secretary (30 pairs arranged like piano keys).
- Perfume bottles by René Lalique, true jewels of patinated glass.
- Flowing dresses enhanced with gold, a nod to the technical progress of lamé thread.
Proof that Art Deco is not just a style: it's a way of living that has crossed the century without losing its shine.
Spotlight on Gaston Suisse, Poet of Lacquer
Simultaneously, the Antoine-Lécuyer Museum of Fine Arts unveils forty works by master lacquerer Gaston Suisse. Crazy about exotic wildlife, the artist combines aluminum powder, gold leaf, and eggshell (yes, literally) to make lemurs, fennecs, or swallows shimmer. Each panel is a monochrome of reflections that changes with the light – a rare delight for both the enthusiast and the novice.
Lacquer: a craft as delicate as an Asian cloisonné.
Originating from Japan, the lacquer technique requires up to thirty layered coats, which are then sanded, polished, and engraved. At Suisse, it is combined with Art Deco geometries: interlocking triangles, concentric circles, chevron friezes. The result? Utilitarian objects (boxes, nesting tables) that become true works of art. Note Well: traditional lacquer uses the resin of a tree (Toxicodendron vernicifluum) – those with allergies should refrain from attending demonstrations!
An "outside the walls" journey to extend the experience.
After the museums, the city continues to dazzle. The Spring of Art Deco (April 4th – June 1st) offers guided tours, nighttime mapping, and kids' workshops. Also worth visiting are:
- The Conservatory, with its teal mosaics.
- The Casino, featuring golden lozenges and veined marble.
- The City Council Chamber, a collection of marquetry and cubist wall lights.
With every step, one understands why UNESCO estimates that there are over 20,000 Art Deco buildings still standing in the world... and why Saint-Quentin is one of the French laboratories for this style.
Practical Information – Prepare Your Getaway
Dates: May 17 – September 21, 2025
Addresses: Art Deco Palace, 14 rue de la Sellerie / Antoine-Lécuyer Museum, 28 rue Antoine-Lécuyer.
Opening hours: 10 am-6 pm, closed on Mondays.
Combined prices: €10 full, €6 reduced, free for under 18s.
Access: Paris – Saint-Quentin by direct train (1 hour 30 minutes), then a 10-minute walk. Free parking at Porte de Paris.
Tip: The "Unlimited Art Deco" pass includes the exhibitions + an audio tour of the city for €15. Reservation recommended on weekends (capacity limited to 250 people per slot).
A measurable tourism impact.
Since the first Art Deco exhibition in 2015, attendance at municipal museums has soared by +42%. With this centenary, the municipality hopes to exceed the threshold of 100,000 visitors, generating an economic impact of €6 million for local businesses and hotels (Protourisme consultancy projection). This reinforces a heritage enhancement strategy that was commended with the "City of Art and History" label in 2023.
Conclusion: A journey through time... yet strikingly contemporary.
Art Deco represents the union of understated luxury and functional design – precisely what today's visitor is looking for! In Saint-Quentin, modernist timepieces rub shoulders with contemporary laces, while century-old lacquer flirts with upcycling. In short, an ideal getaway for those wanting to understand how the past can inspire the future. So, shall we book? The Roaring Twenties are waiting for you.
