Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The cream factory located at 202 rue Saint-Jacques, in the 5th arrondissement of Paris, was set up between 1910 and 1927. This business is distinguished by an artistic front, designed by decorator L. Mougin, active during this period. The six painted panels, protected under glass, illustrate pastoral scenes highlighting cattle in various poses: grazing, drinking or walking. These representations aim to evoke the dairy origin of the products sold in the cream shop, while bringing an aesthetic and advertising touch to the store.

At the top of the front, headbands bear the sign "A la Ferme de Villiers", a name that probably refers to a farm or brand associated with the cream factory. The artistic and historical quality of this front door led to its inscription as a historical monument by order of 23 May 1984. This classification concerns only the front, stressing its heritage importance in the Parisian commercial landscape of the early twentieth century.

The location of the cream factory, in the heart of the Latin Quarter, reflects the intense commercial activity of this period in Paris. Cream shops, like this one, played a central role in the diet of Parisians, offering fresh dairy products in a context where domestic refrigeration was not yet widespread. The decorated front, typical of the art crafts of the time, also illustrates the importance attached to the aesthetics of shops to attract customers to a student and intellectual district.

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