Al Thani Collection's 'Animalia' Explores Human-Animal Bonds Through 130 Objects at Hôtel de la Marine

The Al Thani Collection, owned by Sheikh Hamad Abdullah Al-Thani, has opened 'Animalia' at the Hôtel de la Marine in Paris, an exhibition examining humanity's relationship with animals through finely crafted objects spanning from Neolithic times to 1900. Curated by Amin Jaffer, the show features nearly 130 works, including an Egyptian bronze cat (600-400 BC), a Fabergé cockatoo in white quartz (1900), a Senafu bird mask, and a gaming piece inscribed with Queen Hatshepsut's name (1460 BC). The collection now comprises over 5,000 pieces, including contemporary works by Issy Wood and Adrian Ghenie. Sheikh Hamad, a Qatari royal under 40, sold the Hôtel Lambert and its contents in 2022 for $76.56 million, and the palace sold for $226 million to Xavier Niel. The Hôtel de la Marine, built in the 1750s on Place de la Concorde, houses the galleries under a rental agreement until 2028. The opening attracted Princess Maria Carolina de Bourbon des Deux Siciles and an upscale Parisian crowd.