La « Maison de verre»» n'est rien de moins qu'un des grands jalons de l'architecture du XXe siècle. Située à Saint-Germain-des-Près, dans le 7e arrondissement de la capitale, au coeur de la cour d'un immeuble du XVIIIe siècle, on ne peut pas la voir de l'extérieur.
Architects around the world seek to go, as in pilgrimage, to this construction of extreme modernity built for four years, until 1932, by a man who did not even have the architect's diploma: Pierre Chareau (1883-1950).
His first customers, in 1919, were Doctor Jean Dalsace and his wife, Annie, who asked her in 1928 to take up the challenge of the transformation of a dark mansion in a avant-garde and bright home.
Its vocation was to welcome the family to the first and second floors, plus the gynecology firm, on the ground floor.The facade of the building uses, for the first time outside the industrial world, glass cobblestones which, at night, also let the electric light in the lamps placed outside.
A metallic structure, translucent walls, wooden and iron furniture made by the ferronier Louis Dalbet: everything has been skillfully calculated, up to a pushed degree, by Pierre Chareau to be functional while obeying an extreme fullness.
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Thus, in the rooms, the cupboards are accessible from the inside and the outside of the room, so that the employees of the house can make storage while the inhabitants are still in their bed.The famous British contemporary architect Norman Foster observes: “Chareau was fascinated by movement in all its forms.In the 'glass house' the windows rotate, the stairs retract and other equipment run, slide and switch.»»
In 1982, the house was classified as a historic monument with the majority of the furniture that had been designed for it.In 2005, she was ceded to an American architecture historian, Robert Rubin.At the time of its sale, the dedicated decorator of Yves Saint Laurent, Jacques Grange, says that he had visited him at the Couturier who was also a famous Collector of Art Deco furniture."After the visit, he had told me not to know how he could have lived there.»»
Saint Laurent obviously appreciated the more dark atmospheres.However, in 1988, an advertising film for the Opium perfume by Yves Saint Laurent was shot inside the house by filmmaker David Lynch.We recognize the majestic steps, the large wall in glass bricks and certain furniture from the place.
Le 7 octobre 2021, Christie's met en vente à Paris un ensemble de 116 lots estimés 3,7 millions d'euros sous le titre « Annie et Jean Dalsace : les collections de la Maison de verre»».These are mainly Pierre Chareau furniture plus a few paintings and drawings, the whole having belonged to the Dalsace family, in some cases even before their entry into the famous house.Because it should be noted that the classified site classified monument is in no way stripped of its furniture for the occasion.In addition, the heirs of the Dalsace family have undertaken to make a dation to the State.
Comme l'explique Cécile Verdier, présidente de Christie's France et spécialiste de design, « seulement trois objets de la vente ont été spécialement conçus pour la Maison de verre»». Les autres ont pu y passer… Mais l'aura de la mythique demeure et la prestigieuse provenance « Dalsace»» devraient jouer à plein sur la valorisation de l'ensemble.
Chareau Rafael Ortiz's specialist merchant, who co -directed the Parisian gallery L'Arc en Seine until it closed in April 2021, observes: "Pierre Chareau's furniture is particularly rare and estimates in the sale do not take into account theorigin.It is a stable and strong market.»»
Cécile Verdier estime que « cette vente constitue un nouveau départ pour la cote de Pierre Chareau»».For Jacques Grange: “This is the last important set in private hand.He was a creator very early on his time.In Art Deco, it is much more modern than other big names like Jacques-Emile Ruhlmann.»»
At auction, the record price obtained for Chareau corresponds to a majestic lamp lamp 1.8 meters in height, at the conical foot in metal, surmounted by alabaster blades, awarded 1.8 million euros in 2018.Nothing comparable is offered in the sale but a quantity of other objects reflect its universe.
« On peut parler chez lui de meubles-sculptures»», souligne Rafael Ortiz qui fait là allusion à plusieurs de ses pièces « à mécanisme»». C'est le cas du « bureau dactylo»», une pièce unique constituée de planches de bouleau gainées de cuir, posées sur des lames de fer forgé avec un tabouret coordonné.The different parts of the table are mobile (estimate: 200.Euros).
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In the series of a priori derisory objects that embody the pinnacle of Chareau aesthetics, the catalog also offers black wrought iron planters that look like articulated abstract sculptures (Estimate: 20.Euros room).It would seem that Pierre Chareau specially designed for the 'glass house' a metal coat on casters whose Center Pompidou has another copy (Estimate: 40.Euros).
In the advertising film directed by David Lynch, the model is seated on an oval sofa covered with tapestry.He was drawn by one of the architect's relatives, Jean Lurçat.Directed by Chareau around 1923, the sofa is offered by Christie's with an estimate of 70.Euros.
In 1940, Pierre Chareau, who was Jewish, had to go into exile in the United States, where he died in 1950.Three years before his disappearance, he realized at East Hampton, not far from New York, for the abstract painter who will soon become famous Robert Motherwell, an ingenious house, based on recovery materials of the American army.She was destroyed.It is also that the glass house became the emblematic realization of the architect and designer.This sale should further feed the myth.According to the artprice database 100 euros invested in a Chareau furniture in 2000 would have reported 176 euros in 2021.
