Parfums de Marly Partners with The Louvre Museum to Restore Wing of Decorative Arts Department

In the heart of The Louvre in Paris, the decorative arts department counts nearly 22,000 pieces, 8,000 of which are on display due to their fragility.

Dedicated to the 18th century, the Cressent rooms in the Richelieu Wing are among the museum’s “best-kept secrets – furniture, objects, tapestries, paintings and more — from the royal manufactures as well as Royal collections.

The royal family avidly collected consoles, clocks, desks and armoires by this sculptor and cabinetmaker, whose virtuosity and precision may be seen in masterpieces preserved in these eponymous galleries at The Louvre, and notably in a pair of decorated armoires depicting children and a flat desk adorned with 10 bronze motifs, one of his specialties.

Charles Cressent played a key role in the birth of Rocaille, also known as Rococo, in France. This movement reached its apogee during the reign of Louis XV before spreading throughout Europe, contributing to France’s stature worldwide.

The Richelieu Wing is an illustration of French influence, featuring works that become increasingly curved and organic from one gallery to the next, as gilding blends with light polychromies and embellishments incorporate natural elements like shells, garlands and cascades of flowers, palms and ivy leaves. Today, works by Charles Cressent figure among the most precious and emblematic examples of 18th-century French art.

With the support of Parfums de Marly, this renovation will focus on overall scenography to enhance the visitor experience, featuring an updated decor, optimized lighting, a reorganization of the spaces and “distance settings” to protect the works.

Selected pieces signed by Charles Cressent – including two cupboards, a chest of drawers and a flat desk – will undergo careful study to assess whether their condition warrants restoration.