Specializing in decorative arts, Laëtitia Mercier has made it her career by unearthing rare gems and sharing her passion on television. At the same time, she is looking for an exhibition space in Aveyron.
It is always people from elsewhere who want to make their adopted country known. Established since 2003 in Viadène, in Saint-Amans-des-Côts, Laëtitia Mercier praises Aveyron in the show “Affaire concluded” broadcast on France 2 in which she has participated since last year.
“Talk about our activity and make the region shine”
“The show allows us to talk about our activity, to break preconceived ideas about art dealers because we are also a restaurateur and decorator, and to reflect it on the region which is magnificent,” summarizes the one who takes contagious pleasure in talk about his profession.
Aveyron Press Center – Olivier Courtil
“The pleasure of finding a nugget and showcasing it”
A profession of passion that goes back very early to his childhood with collector parents and especially when he came across a Roman balsamaire when leaving Paris for Narbonne. A feminine Indiana Jones, she enjoys exploring the Via Domitia. Search, unearth, pleasure of finding, such is Laëtitia Mercier’s triptych. “When I go shopping, I have the image in my head of what it will look like. It’s the pleasure of finding a nugget and showcasing it,” she says. This is his job.
A work carried out as a couple with her partner Georges, who prefers to work in the shadows, she in the light of the media and her workshop attached to their Peyrot villa in Saint-Amans-des-Côts, one of the oldest buildings from the capital of Viadène. A house restored like the objects unearthed over many years which, today, is a real jewel box behind its bamboo hedge.
Book culture
The couple met 27 years ago at an antiques fair in Nîmes, this cannot be invented. She had abandoned her studies in applied foreign languages in Toulouse while Georges, a computer engineer, had decided to finally make a living from his passion. The couple learns from books to cultivate themselves and puts into practice, empirically, their know-how to know how to recognize what may be of interest and value. “We put our finger in the gear, passion comes with time and with experience, we find harmony”.
A look at an object, Laëtitia cites the author, dates the work. Like another drop from the gods. It is a bottomless pit where the couple delights. She takes the opportunity to go back in time through objects, furniture and works of art. “Each piece unearthed is restored in my workshop. We take great care of both the object and the packaging.” The art of bringing life back to life and sublimating.
Export sales
For this, the television show is good for the profession. This gives people the idea to take a look in their attic – “there is a lot of ignorance, we find valuable objects in the landfill,” she confides –, to discover the multiple facets of their profession and to point out the lack of art artisans. “It’s our hobby horse.”
Repro CPA
Artisans become rare gems. The upholsterer and decorator Yann Riou and the restaurateur Antoine Maury are known as white wolves by Laëtitia who is happy to use their services and highlight them during purchases in “Affair concluded”.
The vast majority of objects, a thousand accessible on their website (www.artdecoceramicglasslight.com) including collections of ceramics, sculptures, lighting, furniture, etc. leaves for abroad.
A pioneer on the web, the couple has achieved great business and made a name for themselves. A reputation. Their business is mainly concluded in America, achieving the clever mix between antiquity and decoration that Americans are fond of to tell the beautiful story that their past does not allow them. British, Emirates and South-West Asian customers complete this tasteful affair. From restoration to authentication, the couple obviously leaves nothing to chance. Caught in the whirlwind of passion, the couple has their secret garden forbidden for sale. Roman pieces for Laëtitia, Germanic pottery from 1930 to 1950 for Georges.
Looking for an exhibition venue
An exercise on TV that requires you to put your buying fever on hold. “TV is there to dream with objects. We play an instrument, the production is the conductor. There is an excellent atmosphere”, concludes Laetitia who travels between Paris and Saint-Amans-des-Côts. She admits to having gotten caught up in the game twice because crushes inevitably go beyond reason, but this lover of Hermès, Courrèges and Cardin, masters her art.
The couple is now looking for a place in their image, chic and refined, to exhibit and do business in Aveyron. Because yes, it is always people from elsewhere who want to make their adopted country known. And a way to close a great deal in Aveyron.
