menu
Menu
account_box
Categories
Contact
email Send us a message

Contact

phone By phone

+33 (0)1 42 25 12 79
Tue.-Sat., from 10am to 6pm
+33 (0)6 60 62 61 90
Everyday from 9am to 7pm.

email by Email

Adress: contact@marcmaison.com

share Let's get social

Languages
And also...
My selection
(0 Objects)

Historic of the Pompadour fireplace

The fireplace known as Pompadour, is inspired from the sinuous lines of the Louis XV style . It is produced from the middle of 19th century to adorn Parisians apartment . A typology of the fireplace is thus created, in order to respond to the high demand for furniture in the new Parisian flats. In reference to the one who transformed Paris under the Second Empire - the Baron Haussmann - those habitations are called ‘haussmanniennes”.
If it have the name of Pompadour, it is in honor of the muse of decorative arts, Jeanne-Antoinette Poisson, more commonly known under the name of Marquise de Pompadour (1721-1764). From 1745 to her death, she was the companion of the king Louis XV - being his mistress, friend and adviser. (See pictures n°2,6,9 and 12).


The Shape of the Pompadour fireplace

This fireplace, called Pompadour, is half-way between the simple fireplace from the standard production and the most refined styled-fireplaces.
It is characterized by two typological criteria :
- It presents an entablature and a shelf slightly curved.
- On the entablature and jambs is sculpted a circle surrounded by oblong moldings.
We could add that, generally, it has canted jambs.

The simplest model is called “grooves and panels” or in a more simple manner “flat”. It is marble panels subtly worked while laying flat, with little mass. (See pictures n°4, 5 and 15).
But the Pompadour fireplace can be closer to the styled-fireplace, of a more lavish production depending on its ornamentation and the choice of its marbles. Unlike the Pompadour fireplace with gooves and panels, the jambs of these models are long scrolled console feet adorned with volutes. The motif that it so typical of the Pompadour is present : molded panels that follow its curves (See pictures n°1,3,8,10,11,13,14 and 16).

The frontier between the Pompadour fireplace and the styled-fireplace can sometimes be very tenuous. It is the shell motif in the middle of the entablature that very often helps to differentiate a Louis XV style fireplace from his non-identical twin, the Pompadour.
The Louis XV style fireplace is often adorned with this central shell, but this motif can also be on the endblocks. In this case, we call this model Three Shells mantel. (See picture n°7).

The great fortune of the Pompadour, created a large variety of interpretations with marbles of various quality and colors. For a couple of examples, see the pictures n°3,5,8,10,11,13,14,15 and 16.

See our selection of Pompadour fireplaces available now at Marc Maison by clicking here.

See our sélection of antiques fireplaces available on our website.


Bibliography

 

J. Dubarry de Lasalle, Utilisation des marbres, Dourdan, H. Vial, 2000.

J. Feray, Architecture intérieur et décoration en France des origines à 1875, Paris, Berger-Levrault, 1997.

C. Gere, l'époque et son style : la décoration intérieur du XIXème siècle, Paris, Flammarion, 1989.

H. Guédy, Nouveau manuel complet du marbrier [...] accompagné d'un atlas, Les Encyclopédies Roret, Paris, 1880

P. Verlet, Styles, meubles, décors, Paris, Larousse, 1972, 2. vol.

P. Thrornton, l'Epoque et son style : la décoration intérieur 1620-1920, Paris, Flammarion, 1993.

G. Rousset-Charny, Les Palais parisiens de la Belle Époque, Paris, Délégation de l'action artistique, Hachette, 1990.

O. Nouvel-Kammerer, Le Meuble français : le style Napoléon III, année 1880, Paris, Massin, 1996.

 

 

 

Picture n°1 : Pompadour Fireplace mantel, Louis XV style. 19th century drawing.
Picture n°2 : François Boucher (1703-1770), marquise de Pompadour portrait, 1756, Munich, Alte Pinakothek.
Picture n°3 : Large antique Pompadour Louis XV style fireplace made out of Black from Belgium marble.
Picture n°4 : Pompadour fireplace mantel with grooves and panels also called "flat".
Picture n°5 : Simple Pompadour grey fireplace mantel – detail of the caracteristic carved with oblong mouldings on either side of a circular motif.
Picture n°6 : François Boucher (1703–1770), The Toilette of Venus, 1751, Met, Nw York. This oil on canvas was commissioned for the dressing room at Bellevue, gift of Louis X to his mistress. Even if this is not a portrait, this is an allusion to the beauty of the Marquise de Pompadour.
Picture n°7 : Three shell mantel. 19th century drawing.
Picture n°8 : Antique Louis XV style fireplace in white veined marble, close to the Pompadour model.
Picture n°9 : François Boucher (1703-1770), Madame de Pompadour at her toilet, about 1750. On his wrist, a bracelet with the profile of King Louis XV.
Picture n°10 : Red marble with white veins 19th century fireplace mantel – copper vent detail.
Picture n°11 : Small antique Pompadour Louis XV style fireplace in Black Marquina marble.
Picture n°12 : François Boucher (1703-1770), Madame de Pompadour, the hand on a harpsichord keyboard, about 1750, Louvre, Paris. Surrounded by Louis XV style works of art, the Marquise appears as an ambassadress of the arts.
Picture n°13 : Antique Louis XV style fireplace, Pompadour model, made out of Blue Turquin marble – detail of the right corner.
Picture n°14 : Pompadour mantel in rare Breche de Médous – detail of the caracteristic carved with oblong mouldings on either side of a circular motif.
Picture n°15 : Marble mantelpiece in "Bois Jourdan" Marble.
Picture n°16 : Pompadour style fireplace in Breche d'Alep marble.