Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Faber House, better known as Clodion's house, was designed in 1793 by architect Nicolas Grillot for the forge master Leopold Faber. Located at 22 rue Saint-Dizier in Nancy (Meurthe-et-Moselle), it was built on the site of the former sacristy of the Saint-Roch church, as evidenced by a foundation stone in the cellar. The exterior decorations, including two bas-reliefs and three friezes on the ground floor, celebrate the profession of blacksmith and his tools, reflecting the profession of sponsor.

In the 19th century, the sculptures were wrongly attributed to the sculptor Claude Michel, dit Clodion (last representative of the Adam dynasty), fuelling a legend that he had taken refuge in Nancy during the Revolution. This confusion persisted despite the absence of evidence. The street façade, remarkable for its style and iconography, was classified as a historical monument by decree of 25 January 1979. Today, the building belongs to a private company.

The building illustrates the civil architecture of the late eighteenth century, combining classicism and references to local industrial activities. Its ranking protects a heritage linked to the metallurgical history of the region, then growing thanks to families like the Faber. The house remains a testimony of the links between crafts, bourgeoisie and urban planning at the dawn of the Industrial Revolution.

External links