Magasin d'antiquités
Monument
Magasin d'antiquités, located in Annecy (Département 74), is a medieval landmark built in the Middle Ages. The monument is currently closed to visitors.
Key facts
- Type
- autre
- Period
- Medieval (11th-15th century)
- Location
- Annecy, Département 74, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- Mérimée Reference
- PA00118354
Located in the heart of Annecy, this Belle Époque antiques shop features ornate shop fronts typical of the Savoyard trade at the end of the 19th century, and is listed as a Historic Monument for the remarkable authenticity of its shop front.
History
Nestling in the urban fabric of Annecy, this former antiques shop is one of the rare intact testimonies of Savoy's prestigious trade as it flourished in the last quarter of the 19th century. At a time when Savoie, newly attached to France since 1860, was experiencing a remarkable economic boom, local shopkeepers vied with each other in the elegance of their shop windows, transforming the street into a veritable open-air gallery. What sets this establishment apart from the countless shops of the time is precisely the quality of the conservation of its original fittings. The shop front, with its painted woodwork and small-paned windows, is a strikingly faithful reflection of the bourgeois commercial aesthetic that prevailed during the Third Republic, when antiques and curiosities were the mainstay of a wealthy clientele drawn to the banks of the lake. Sellers of antiques, regional furniture, earthenware and paintings made up the bulk of the stock in these specialised houses, which served as much as salons for bourgeois socialising as they did as places to do business. Annecy, a spa town and holiday resort popular with families from Lyon and Geneva, offered an ideal market for this type of refined trade. Now partially listed as a Historic Monument since 1984, the shop invites visitors to take a trip back in time to the commercial era of the late 19th century. Its facade, largely intact, blends harmoniously with the surrounding architecture of Annecy's old town, with its shady canals and arcaded facades. For lovers of urban heritage and the history of commerce, it's a must-see when strolling through the lakeside town.
Architecture
The Annecy antique shop is a representative example of the commercial architecture of the last quarter of the 19th century in the Savoy region. Its shop front, a key element in its protection as a Historic Monument, bears witness to the care taken by shopkeepers of the period in the composition of their street frontage. The typical features of provincial bourgeois commerce can be seen: a large window with small panes set in painted wooden joinery, side pilasters framing the shop window, a sign band and moulded cornice forming a discreet but neat crowning touch. The materials used reflect local building practices at the end of the 19th century: rendering on masonry, wood panelling painted in dark or burgundy shades in keeping with the commercial fashion of the time, and perhaps a few cast-iron elements for the finer ornamentation. The ensemble blends harmoniously into the buildings of Annécien, whose arcaded buildings and ordered facades give the historic centre its distinctive character, halfway between Alpine town planning and the Italian influence inherited from the Dukes of Savoy. The interior, only part of which is protected by law, was designed to provide the ideal setting for the display of antiques: wooden floors, ceiling mouldings, a counter with integrated display cases and wall-mounted shelving in wood panelling are typical features of this type of establishment. These scenographic features, designed to showcase the items for sale, form an essential part of the furniture and decorative heritage that the 1984 listing was intended to preserve.
Related Figures
Les commerçants antiquaires annéciens de la Belle Époque, animateurs du marché de curiosités savoyardLes villégiateurs lyonnais et genevois, clientèle principale du commerce d'art et d'antiquités à Annecy fin XIXeLes architectes et menuisiers savoyards du dernier quart du XIXe siècle, artisans des devantures bourgeoisesLes inspecteurs des Monuments Historiques ayant instruit le dossier d'inscription en 1984Le préfet de Haute-Savoie signataire de l'arrêté de protection du 28 décembre 1984
Map
Coordinates not available for this monument.
Tags
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Magasin d'antiquités located?
Magasin d'antiquités is located in Annecy, Département 74 department, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, France.
When was Magasin d'antiquités built?
Magasin d'antiquités dates back to a period built in the Middle Ages (11th-15th century).
Is Magasin d'antiquités open to visitors?
Magasin d'antiquités is currently closed to visitors.