[review] Maison & Objet Show Jan. 15-19, 2026

By sheer chance, we’re in the Paris region right when the Maison & Objet showis happening. It’s a very renowned show I’ve wanted to visit for a long time. And by pure coincidence, Carole M. gave me some entrance tickets (thanks!). It’s a trade-only show, but there are still a few private individuals who go. The entrance ticket is quite expensive, so private individuals must be very motivated or get tickets gifted like we did.

We park in the car park (3.6€/hour) and take the shuttle that drops us off in front of the entrance to 5A. It’s perfect because that’s the section with fine craft (métiers d’art). On the way to the Fine Craft section, we stop here and there.

Metamorphoses at 5A/0122 sells butterflies and insects of extraordinary beauty! I love it! It’s exactly the kind of product you see in concept stores and that sells very well.

They also have a huge piece of lapis lazuli with an intense color and very few inclusions.

If real butterflies don’t interest you, there’s the metallic version.

DOING GOODS, Hall 5A — Stand P76 – Q75 offers very colorful rugs in a “trophy” style without harming animals. Everything is wool, and 100% handmade.

I can’t remember which stand it was, but I really liked these vetiver nests.

At the stand Bolong, Hall 5A M139, you’ll find things to fill your cabinet of curiosities. I find it beautiful but also funny to spot the fake skull with butterflies among the items on offer. It looks exactly like the illustration of the cabinet of curiosities in “The Picture of Dorian Gray” illustrated by Benjamin Lacombe.

Alpaca, cashmere throws… are everywhere. You’ll find plenty of cashmere throws in different thicknesses at MIRROR IN THE SKY CASHMERE, Hall 5A — Stand P65 and alpaca throws at HIMALAYAN HERMITAGE, Hall 5A — Stand O100 – P99

I really liked the stand of SOL&LUNA, Hall 5A — Stand Q67 with objects entirely covered in leather.

And here are some particularly well-displayed stands:

At ODILE MOULIN SCULPTURES, Hall 5A — Stand F59, we discover with wonder animals and fish made from wire mesh. I can see them in a museum, an aquarium lobby, or even outdoors.

We finally arrive at the Fine Craft section, where many talented artisans are gathered.

Some techniques are not innovative, but the works are innovative and rise to the artistic level, and are no longer purely decoration. For example, at O’FIL DES RÊVERIES DE NANA, Hall 5A — Stand J42, the technique is not new but the execution is mind-blowing.

The sculptures ofATHENA JAHANTIGH, Hall 5A — Stand J59 are beautiful, with very natural movements and a lot of soul.

The paper flowers of VERONIQUE GUILLOU, Hall 5A — Stand i43 are particularly successful; at first, I thought they were ceramic.

I really liked this “moon” table at LE GOFF, Hall 5A — Stand i17

At FLEUR DE PLUMES, Hall 5A — Stand F41, you’ll find jewelry & decorative items made from feathers. Some feathers are dyed by the artist, others are natural. Either way, it’s very colorful and made with a lot of love.

We then move on to halls 6 and 7. There, you’ll find WILDLIFE GARDEN, Hall 6 — Stand M94 which sells beautiful bird feeders & nests, as well as napkin rings shaped like birds.

There’s QUAIL DESIGNS, Hall 6 — Stand N93 which makes adorable pots and vases.

At GRY & SIF, Hall 6 — Stand N94 – O93, you’ll discover a super cute universe with animals & objects made of wool felt. The prices are very competitive for such good quality.

At BANWOOD, Hall 7 — Stand G18 – H17, you’ll see that kids’ scooters & bikes can be super stylish.

I really liked the toys and music boxes from SOLIB, Hall 7 — Stand E16

The “Bedding”, “bath linens”… section seems very interesting but JB didn’t want us to be tempted. I only had time to note the brand VANDYCK which sells 5-star hotel honeycomb bathrobes that I love.

We end with fake plants, Christmas decorations of all kinds. Fake flowers and fake plants are becoming more and more realistic, it’s incredible.

Unfortunately, we have to return to Lille the same day, which prevents us from lingering and discovering the remaining four halls. That said, I really enjoyed this trade show. Sure, you walk a lot, but the succession of discoveries from one stand to another makes you forget the fatigue.

As for the quality of the show, I’d say it meets the expectations of both buyers and exhibitors. Attendance is high from the first day (we went at opening on Thursday), and we saw many buyers placing orders on the spot. The event seems quite profitable for exhibitors. However, the very small stands can be intimidating: you don’t dare linger for fear of being immediately approached, knowing we’re not their target. As soon as you stop at a small stand, they ask if you have a store. Large stands allow more browsing and observing quietly.

Setting up the stands must be a real puzzle. How do you arrange items to keep traffic flowing while allowing sellers to identify potential buyers? It’s quite an art.

I also think the buyer profession must be exhausting. How to choose among 50 almost identical wooden tables? Style-wise, I feel like everything evokes 5-star hotels, gourmet restaurants, trendy cafes… Styles and materials vary but generally respect the codes of luxury. In the current economic climate, following trends is probably a matter of survival. Since the furniture looks so similar, I didn’t take photos.

On the other hand, with artisans, it’s a whole other dimension: their objects reach the status of art pieces. I think only artisans truly confident in their talent (with a few exceptions) exhibit here. They have a real universe and, above all, technical mastery superior to that of artisans selling to private individuals. Moreover, my artisan friends confirm it’s easier to sell to professionals, who have substantial budgets, than to convince Mr. or Mrs. Average who will find everything cheaper than Shein. The pieces I saw in the Fine Craft section would naturally find their place in a museum, a palace lobby, a Michelin-starred restaurant, or even in your home, provided everything else matches. If William Morris were still alive, he would have been thrilled to visit the Fine Craft section: “for William Morris, the distinction between art and craft, between conception and execution, had to be abolished: every man, in his own way, could be a producer of beauty — whether in making a painting, a garment, a piece of furniture; and every man also had the right, in his daily life, to be surrounded by beautiful objects.” (The Map and the Territory, Houellebecq)

Despite the possibility of buying on site (and picking up the item on the last day of the show), nothing seems truly essential to us. I feel that beauty necessarily arises from a certain overabundance. Even in nature, beauty has a cost: the peacock must carry more feathers, expend more energy, and is more visible to predators… (cf. the handicap theory of biologist Amotz Zahavi). In butterfly sanctuaries, the most beautiful specimens are the most active because they are the most chased by tourists 😀 Beauty costs energy, money, but being surrounded by beauty remains so essential. We feel invigorated walking among so many beautiful and “useless” objects. Once again, thanks to Carole for the tickets and this wonderful discovery!

Tips

• You can buy tickets online or on site. If you’re a private individual, put the name of the company you work for, it doesn’t matter
• The ticket is valid for the entire duration of the show
• Purchases are possible at some stands, but pickup of items happens only on the last day of the show
• Come early because the parking lot fills up very quickly. Everyone from around the world comes here, expect to speak English
• There are food outlets on site, but many bring their own bento; and you can even bring your drink in.