Lot n° 195
Estimation :
15000 - 20000
EUR
Result with fees
Result
: 45 080EUR
Model of the Chinese Pavilion of the Hôtel... - Lot 195 - Coutau-Bégarie
Model of the Chinese Pavilion of the Hôtel de Montmorency-Luxembourg
Pierre ROUSSEAU's architectural studio, Paris - circa 1770/1780
A Chinese kiosk also stood in the garden of the Hôtel de Montmorency-Luxembourg, on the edge of Boulevard Montmartre; this hotel, [...This hotel, [...] was built in 1704, between the rue Saint-Marc and the Boulevard, by Lassurance, for Thomas de Rivié, Secretary to the King, whose successors were, first in 1714, the Comptroller of Finances Desmarets, and then in 1728, the Duke of Montmorency-Luxembourg; since the beginning of the 19th century, this hotel has given way to the Passage des Panoramas and to the Théâtre des Variétés. This octagonal pavilion, with its roof raised at the corners in the Chinese style, was probably made of iron and was no doubt used for leering at the beau monde marching along the boulevard.
This pavilion is sufficiently remarkable to be reproduced many times; in the Vues pittoresques de Paris, under No. 59 (medallion on p. 4); in the Voyage pittoresque de la France (engraving by Lallemand, p. 4, and detail of the same on p. 6) and in Le Rouge's notebooks listing the Anglo-Chinese Gardens.
But what to make of this model, you may ask?
Is it a presentation model that Mr. Rousseau, a regular supplier to the Montmorency house, would have prepared to describe his project in three dimensions and thus win the market?
But what about the boxes piled on top of each other, cleverly replacing the rock gardens of a wild environment?
Could it be a guessing game?
Hence the presence of these numerous boxes containing sweets, but also, no doubt, trinkets, jewellery and other small pleasures.
The very base of the pagoda serves as a hiding place for a slightly larger object, which we like to imagine...
Dimensions
Total height 850mm - Base 510 x 405 mm
Condition
Good general state of conservation, presence of all the boxes and the dressed characters. Some of the banners (percale and paper) occulting the bays of the folly are damaged.
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