France · 19th century
€ 340
One of a kind: this is the sheet in the photographs. Ships from Langweer, the Netherlands.
Condition report: Very good condition with strong original color and crisp impression. Slight marginal toning consistent with age. Plate mark visible. No significant blemishes.
Antique French Architectural Print Restaurant de Bercy by Chabat c.1900
This antique architectural print, titled Restaurant de Bercy, depicts the detailed design of a restaurant in Paris by the architect L’Heureux. The plate (Pl. XXIX, 2e Série) originates from Pierre Chabat’s influential series La Brique et la Terre Cuite (The Brick and Terracotta), published in the late 19th century to around 1900.
The lithograph presents a richly colored perspective view of the restaurant’s façade and terrace, showing the interplay of brick, stone, and terracotta ornament. Architectural details include wrought-iron balcony railings, decorative terracotta panels, and an elegant awning supported by curved iron brackets. The shaded curtains and richly patterned drapery add a sense of liveliness and luxury to the design, suggesting the vibrant atmosphere of Parisian dining culture at the time.
Pierre Chabat (1827–1892), a French architect and professor, is recognized for documenting the artistic potential of brick and terracotta as versatile and ornamental building materials. His series *La Brique et la Terre Cuite* combined architectural precision with decorative richness, making it both a practical architectural resource and a collection of highly decorative art prints.
This plate, with its strong Parisian subject matter, appeals not only to collectors of architectural prints but also to those interested in the social and cultural history of late 19th-century France. The *Restaurant de Bercy* stood in one of Paris’s well-known quarters, close to the wine warehouses of Bercy, an area synonymous with conviviality and leisure.
Condition report: Very good condition with strong original color and crisp impression. Slight marginal toning consistent with age. Plate mark visible. No significant blemishes.
Framing tips: Best displayed in a dark wood or black frame with a wide ivory mat to highlight the vibrant color contrasts of the awnings, brickwork, and decorative details. A thin red or terracotta liner can further emphasize the warm tones of the architecture.
Technique: Lithograph
Maker: Pierre Chabat, after designs by L’Heureux, French architect, c.1900
