Founded in 2008, Galerie Jean-Christophe Charbonnier has established itself as an international reference in the field of Japanese art, with a recognized specialization in traditional arms and armor.
The gallery is distinguished by its rigorous selection of rare and exceptional pieces, a focus that has earned it the trust of prominent collectors as well as major institutions in France and abroad.
Over the past decade, the gallery has played a key role in several landmark acquisitions in the field of Japanese armor. Among the most notable are the 2013 acquisition by the Louvre Abu Dhabi of the world’s most widely published Japanese helmet, and the 2016 acquisition by the Musée national des arts asiatiques – Guimet of a suit of armor from the Matsudaira clan, classified as a work of major national heritage interest. To date, over fifteen institutions have exhibited or acquired works from the gallery.
Originally located on rue de Verneuil in Paris’s 7th arrondissement, the gallery moved in November 2018 to a new exhibition space on the Île Saint-Louis, in the heart of the city. Designed as a place for close engagement with the works, this refined setting hosts several thematic exhibitions each year, inviting the public to explore the diversity and captivating beauty of Japanese art through a carefully curated selection of outstanding objects.
In addition to his work as a gallerist, Jean-Christophe Charbonnier is one of the leading Western experts on Japanese armor. He is the author of numerous key reference books and most recently edited the catalogue for the exhibition "Daimyō: Lords of War in Japan", which he co-curated at the Musée Guimet and the Palais de Tokyo in spring 2018.
The gallery is a member of the Syndicat National des Antiquaires, the CINOA (International Confederation of Art and Antique Dealers), and the NKBKHK (The Society for the Study and Preservation of Japanese Armor).