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An Art Nouveau - Art Deco style house 70 km (44 miles)
from Paris in the Vexin region
Location
In the middle of a small peaceful village, near to a listed church, topped with a unique-looking, brick bell tower, reminiscent of certain belfries, and two chapels.
Between the Ile-de-France and Caux regions, between the Bray region and the French Vexin Regional Nature Park, in a natural region of great diversity, dotted with picturesque hamlets and outstanding sites.
In the Vexin Pouilleux region, very near to a large national forest, with rural scenery made up of unspoilt bocage countryside and a variety of crops.
Just a few miles from a large town in the French department of Oise, and a small Normandy town, half an hour from Beauvais and less than an hour from Paris.
The site is astonishing and the setting pleasant.
Description
The house most probably dates from 1842 as there are hand-painted Auneuil floor tiles, dating from this very year in the entrance hall and the lounge. It was part of a group of properties, the former blacksmith’s house being on the neighbouring property.
In 1920, it was deemed to be the middle-class house of the village, its owner being a leading local citizen. His son is also mentioned in the chronology of the house deeds.
Moreover, the middle-class couple had but one son.
The decoration in the room adjoining the ground floor bedroom indicates that it was without doubt where he studied as it features cherubs, symbolising reading and writing and adorning the fireplace and door trumeaux.
Furthermore, the family employed a maid who lived in a small house situated a few yards away from the main building. Similar in construction, but with a small flat tile roof, it had a certain degree of comfort with a fireplace for warmth and a water inlet for the toilet.
A gardener was also part of the domestic staff.
It was at this time that the owners of the house, lovers of modern art and painting, decided to adorn the house with numerous frescoes.
They therefore called in at least one artistic painter, if not more.
This was a time of change from the Art-Nouveau to the Art-Deco period.
The influences and trends of the time, both contradictory and complementary, are clearly present in all the decorative features inside this residence.
The house is adorned with several trompe l’œils.
As a means of illustrating the various rooms, the painters suggested to the owners the use of lithographs painted by fashionable artistes for different styles of decoration. And so, they decorated the house with no less than eighteen frescoes.
Several wall elements are adorned with exotic drawings.
Almost the entire ground floor of the house is therefore decorated with miscellaneous painted motifs, including some of great quality. Upstairs is more sober.
Outside, in addition to the small service house is an outbuilding, situated in the middle of the garden.
The different elements form close but independent units.
With a walled garden on either side.
Our opinion
A most unusual property. Under the external appearance of a somewhat ordinary peaceful village house, hides an astonishing art gallery, an incredible anthology of outstanding, particularly well-preserved works, typical reflections of the purest style inspired by the Art-Deco and Art-Nouveau periods.
But not forgetting that it is also an old house that is both simple and comfortable. Set in rural surroundings, not only sufficiently far away but also very near to the capital, it forms a pleasant property that could become a permanent residence or a holiday home.
A house to be visited, a gallery to be lived in.
Exclusive sale
295 000 €
Our fees are included in the stated sale price.
Reference 3313BVM
| Land registry surface area | 10a83ca (11,657 sq ft) |
| Main building surface area | 110 m² (1,184 sq ft) |
| Outbuilding surface area | 70 m² (753 sq ft) |
Regional representative
Bruno Van Montagu +33 (0)6 43 61 86 27
NB: The above information is not only the result of our visit to the property; it is also based on information provided by the current owner. It is by no means comprehensive or strictly accurate especially where surface areas and construction dates are concerned. We cannot, therefore, be held liable for any misrepresentation.
