Breguet - The Louvre Museum: a sponsor named Breguet
Revue FH - April 16th 2009 - #7
A dazzling testimony to French savoir-faire, the collections of 18th century objets d'art at the Louvre are without equal anywhere in the world. They constitute one of the most complete selections assembled in a public collection, a unique assortment of royal furnishings, tapestries and jewels, enriched throughout the 20th century by the generosity of numerous donors.
The presentation of these masterpieces has changed little since 1960. The inestimable character of the collections and the exceptional additions made over a period of fifty years mean that today there is a real need for renovation of the spaces that house them (around 2,500 m2) in the Sully wing of the Louvre (Council of State room and salon Beauvais). Renovation of these spaces will combine museographical requirements with the manner in which the works are presented, creating a stunning synergy between the collections themselves and the building's architectural heritage. The aim is to improve their presentation for the benefit of visitors while complying with optimal security conditions. The re-opening is planned for the end of 2012.
These collections of objets d'art are unique in the world on account of their richness and quality. Comprising a cornucopia of items — panelling, royal furnishings and decorative bronzes, carpets and wall coverings, marble and hard stone, masterpieces of the goldsmith's art and porcelain, jewellery and scientific instruments — they offer a broad insight into interior decoration, craftsmanship and trade in artefacts, mainly French, from the end of the reign of Louis XIV to the Revolution.
Among these objects, watchmaking occupies an exceptional place. Pieces collected by the Lyon industrialist Claudius Côte and bequeathed by his widow in 1961 have given the museum a prestigious range of watches by Abraham-Louis Breguet dating from the first third of the 19th century.
As a thank you for his sponsorship, Nicolas G. Hayek has been appointed as an honorary member of the Cercle Cressent, which owes its name to the great French cabinetmaker Charles Cressent and includes not only sponsors, but also enthusiasts and collectors of objets d'art from the 18th century, all of whom are anxious to give these exceptional collections the renown they deserve.