Style Other / Ref.13465

Art & Craft paneled room from the private mansion of the architect Henry GUEDY, 1912-1913

This paneled room comes from a Parisian private mansion located in the 5th arrondissement. It was made by the architect Henry Guédy (1873-circa.1930) for him self in 1912.
The appartments were set up on two floors, the ground floor and the first floor, in a very classic taste as the building facade. Only the room in which was our paneled room echoes the more modern taste of the Art & Craft. This room was on the first floor and was used as a dining room.

Forming a rectangular room, our paneled room covers the four walls and is composed of a mahogany paneled decoration.
One of the wall receives an important fireplace adorned with sandstones made by Gentil & Bourdet and surmounted by a mirror and a painting by Jules Verdier (1862-1926). The paneled room is also adorned with elements from a 17th century chest decorated with plants decoration and a clock.

We find on one of the sale catalogue of the ceramicists company Gentil & Bourdet, a model of a similar fireplace than the one in our paneled room. Indeed, we can see the same scrolls decoration on the two entablatures.
Alphonse Gentil (1872-1933) and François Eugène Bourdet (1874-1952) are the two architectes hiding behind the the name Gentil & Bourdet, « Agence spéciale d’architecture pour l’exécution de tous modèles », founded in 1904. Nevertheless, it's mainly their ceramicists talent that they develop in their production and are highly recognized for their terra cotta element and decorative ceramics for the architecture.
They collaborate for the making of René Binet's large door presented during the 1900 World Fair before becoming associates. They become during the years well known for their architectural decoration, especiallyd during the 1920's and the 1930's. Gentil & Bourdet also distinguish themselve during important events such as the Exposition internationale des Arts Décoratifs et industriels modernes of 1925. The company received seven Grand Prix, and became jury member during the World Fairs.

Regarding the painting adorning the top of the fireplace, it was made by the painter Jules Victor Verdier in 1813 as indicates the signature on the painted stone architecture. Student of Jules Lefebvre (1836-1911) and Léon Glaize (1842-1931), Jules Verdier was an important painter of the late 19th century and early 20th century. Member of the Société des Artistes Français, he exhibits in the Salon from 1885, and wins a honorable mention honorable in 1889, a third class medal in 1899, a second class medal in 1900 before not competing anymore. His pictural style is typical of the late century tendencies, we often find, indeed young nakled women laying on a luxurious natural decor taking very classical compositions.