12 Place Vendôme in Paris
A year after it closed for refurbishment, 12 Place Vendôme, the prestigious address of Chaumet, finally raised its shutters again on February 29. Situated at the heart of legendary French jewellers, the redesigned maison artfully captures the exceptional allure of historic Parisian apartments. It now houses several grand salons that serve specific purposes. Take for example, the boutique at the front of house. As the first space that makes or breaks an impression with visitors, Chaumet certainly takes great pains to make sure guests are warmly welcomed, before they embark on a journey through the history of Chaumet via the Joséphine, Liens and Jardins collections on the ground floor. The space is decorated with ears of wheat embroidered on the upholstered walls, on the walnut panelling, as well as the gilded floor. The grand staircase is an ode to Napoléon and Joséphine’s love story.
Elsewhere, other celebrated rooms are bedecked with grand decorations befitting for royalty, such as the Salon Malmaison, which is inspired by Empress Joséphine, wife of Napoleon. Dressed up in matrimonial white with gold accents, it’s the perfect space for glowing brides-to-be to view bridal jewellery.
Another room that’s steeped in history, Cabinet des Portraits offers a view of the Vendôme Column within its intimate setting where guests can admire the most representative pieces of the Maison since its inception in 1780.
But one of the most important and storied salons must be Salon Chopin. Classified as a historic monument, the glitzy decor is decorated by artisans well-loved by King Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette. The new setup came together under the loving hands of architect François-Joseph Bélanger with paintings of Lagrenée le Jeune adorning the walls, and the Rousseau brothers’ sculpted panelling depicting anchors, shells and tridents. The latter alludes to Baron Baudard de Sainte-James’ role as Treasurer General of the Navy. Chopin composed his last mazurka in 1849 here. He was also a resident at 12 Place Vendôme. To pay homage to the musical genius, a Pleyel piano from 1920 is on display in the Salon.
Click through the gallery to view the stunning Chaumet restoration.
