Thread: Bettenfield

"The Kérylos villa was built at Beaulieu-sur-Mer between 1902 and 1908 to the designs of the architect Emmanuel Pontremoli for the Hellenist Théodore Reinach. The villa was conceived as a house of classical antiquity. The architect was also responsible for all the villa’s interior design and furniture, similarly inspired by Greek and Roman antiquity. Even everyday object like the tableware, made by Emile Lenoble, and the silverware, coming from the Paris manufacturer Leverrier et Cie, was of classical inspiration. Most of the furniture is of wood and was executed by the cabinet-maker Louis-François Bettenfeld, following detailed designs by Pontremoli. The analysis of the architect’s sketches and the study of the actual pieces of furniture has allowed for the different types of wood to be identified and for a better understanding of the architect’s intentions for each of the villa’s rooms. The combination of a relatively limited number of basic decorative motifs produces a broad variety in the decors and an overall harmony throughout the villa, the decorative themes echoing one another from one room to the next. The forms of the different items of furniture are as close as possible to models found on classical vase paintings, and the quality of their execution allows them to be described as cabinet-making masterpieces. It is also worth drawing attention to the technical prowess in the perfect dissimulation of features of modern comfort (electricity, hot water, central heating) in this “antique” environment..."

Looks like Louis-Francois is your man. Be interested to see the pics.

Good on you Murray! Where did you come across that particular info? The designs are indeed like on Greek vases, with some of the pediments turned back on themselves with bird heads carved at the ends.
I will do further searching for Louis-Francois Bettenfeld.

Cheers,

Hi there,
Thanks to Murray who corrected my spelling of Bettenfeld's name, I found a site with some photos of the work in question. Some of it is pretty elaborate, not my cup of tea, but the chairs particularly are beautiful. Typical architect of the era, Pontremoli went to the extent of designing everything, like the piano, cutlery and even the toilet...wasn't someone asking about a slide away unit on the forum!?
Anyway, check out this site for something different: http://www.culture.gouv.fr/culture/r...l/reynier.html

Cheers,

Beautiful Chairs.
I wonder if they were gallery stuff, or for everyday use.??
Regards,
Noel