Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The former sculpture-marbrerie workshop Boirlaud, located 11 rue de la Fonderie in Limoges (Haute-Vienne, Nouvelle-Aquitaine), was designed in 1924 by the sculptor Léonce Boirlaud, assisted by the architect Omer-Lucien Treich. This industrial building is distinguished by its adorned facade, typical of the baroque style, incorporating inscriptions related to the activity of marblery: "stones", "sculpture and marblery", and "Granits". The tympanum, sculpted with foliage and a woman's head, overcomes a triangular pediment, while the portal bears the name "Andre Boirlaud", son of the founder.

The workshop, disused in 1986, saw its facade preserved despite the transformation of the space into parking. Classified as a historical monument on 27 May 1991 and labeled "Heritage of the 20th Century", this facade remains the only visible vestige of the artisanal activity that took place there. Léonce Boirlaud, winner of the École Nationale des Arts Décoratifs in Paris in 1903, worked there until the workshop was passed on to his son André, marking nearly six decades of local history linked to sculpture and stone carving.

The building is located in the Carnot-Marceau district, close to the Limoges-Montjovis train station and the Union Theatre, reflecting the cultural and artisanal dynamism of the city at the beginning of the 20th century. His decor, executed by Boirlaud himself, illustrates the know-how of the limougeaud marbriers, while at the same time testifying to the collaborations between artists and architects of the time. Today, this façade, integrated into a modern property complex, recalls Limoges' industrial and artistic heritage.

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