Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Clown Bar, located at 114 rue Amelot in the 11th arrondissement of Paris, is a bistronomic restaurant classified as a historical monument in 1995. Its iconic interior décor includes a ceramic frieze representing a clown parade, made by the Sarreguemines factory, and an Art Nouveau front with golden floral motifs. A contemporary mural, added in 2021 by Matthieu Cossé, completes today the ensemble.

The name of the bar came from its proximity to Cirque d'Hiver, opened in 1852. The clowns, unable to make up between two performances, frequented this bistro and other nearby establishments such as the Artists' Entrance. The current decor, dating back to the 1920s, was designed by architect Jean-Baptiste Samery, active in Paris between 1909 and 1945. It combines ceramic panels and a ceiling fixed under glass, a technique typical of the era.

Originally, ceramics covered all interiors, but part was removed in the 1980s. Only the entrance decoration remains today, accompanied by a tin counter later added by the company Necoux, specialist in bistro counters. Similar ceramics, produced by Sarreguemines, also adorn Le Pigon in the ear, another Parisian restaurant in the 1st arrondissement.

The Clown-Bar illustrates the close link between venues and the daily life of the neighbourhood at the beginning of the 20th century. Its ranking in 1995 preserved a rare testimony of decorative art and popular Parisian culture, mixing Circassian heritage and Art Nouveau architectural heritage.

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