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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The building located at 10 rue Tiquetonne, in the 2nd arrondissement of Paris, dates from the hinge between the 17th and 18th centuries. It is one of the few Parisian testimonies of a shop dedicated to the cork trade, a craft and commercial activity that was then booming. Its architecture is distinguished by a facade adorned with a carved sign, A cork tree, as well as by wrought iron balconies, elements typical of the style of the era but remarkably preserved here.

The protection of this building as a Historical Monument, by order of 23 May 1984, specifically concerns its sign and facade. These elements illustrate the importance attached to the preservation of the traces of ancient trades and their architectural representation in the Paris d'Ancien Régime. Tiquetonne Street, located in a historic area near the Halles, was a dynamic place where artisans, merchants and residents lived, reflecting the economic vitality of the capital.

Available sources, such as the Mérimée and Monumentum base, highlight the scarcity of this type of building in Paris. Although the archives do not specify the identity of the cork merchant or artisans who worked on sculptures and ironworks, the building remains a tangible example of the commercial practices and craftsmanship of this period. Its location, today in a highly urbanised sector, contrasts with its original use, linked to a pre-industrial economy where signs played a key role in the identification of shops.

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