ANCIENT
BATH HOUSE

Villers-sur-Mer, France

RESTITUTION OF
1900s VARNISHED TERRACOTTAS

The restitution of ancient artworks

Restoring, i.e. recreating missing parts, is a long and delicate task that requires a deep understanding of past styles and techniques.

Each element is made larger, to compensate for the shrinkage of the clay during drying and firing, from 8 % to 10 %. This is followed by a patient search for enamels in order to find the original colors and materials.

Characteristics

Varnished terracottas

Floral panel

Historical panel

Client :

Private property

October 2015

The ancient Bath House of Villers-sur-Mer

At the beginning of the 20th century, the seaside towns of the Flowery Coast often offered a building of this type. Completed in 1913, renovated for its centenary, it is now the only one to bear witness to this past activity.

Transformed into a shop and garage in the 1950s, the building has undergone numerous alterations since that time. Major work was therefore carried out to restore the street facade to its former luster, which one was particularly affected by all its modifications.

Inside, the restoration has preserved one of the 16 cabins decorated with Delft art deco earthenware friezes, as well as the 4 frescoes in the vestibule, ceramics by Charles Catteau.

A new glass roof now covers the central courtyard, replacing the original one, which was destroyed during the Second World War.

Part of the woodwork has been saved on the ground floor, as well as all the structural elements forming a gallery on two levels.