the Belle Époque reinvented by Slavik
He installed the superb central floor lamps, the wall lights above the ceramics, and the glass canopy.
Hideous armchairs put in place of the Thonet chairs by the people who bought the establishment for a time before the current owner
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Édouard Chartier’s restaurant in 1903, decorated in 1906 in the Art Nouveau style.
Ceramics by Louis Trézel.
Taken over by Rougeot in 1924, then by Michel Oliver in 1977, who named it the “Bistro de la Gare”.
It became Bistro Romain until 2003.
It became Bouillon Chartier in 2019.
In 1977, Slavik restored this magnificent turn-of-the-century restaurant for Michel Oliver.
He preserved the wood paneling and beveled mirrors which, framed by Louis Trézel’s ceramics, contribute to the 1900 atmosphere to which Slavik pays tribute by replacing the ceiling with a glass canopy freely inspired by the plant motifs characteristic of the Art Nouveau style.
He preserved the original Thonet chairs.
He installed a series of large light fixtures in the center of the dining room along its entire length.
The bases are female figures in pewter in the manner of Mucha, sourced by Slavik from craftspeople in the Faubourg Saint-Antoine.
The floral glass-paste lampshades were redesigned by Slavik and Jean-Pierre Lorence and made by the Vianne glassworks from 1900-era molds.
The large central light fixtures were made by Kobis and Lorence.
He installed his favorite espresso machine, the “Venus Bar” by Victoria Arduino.
The dining room and its décor, including the glass canopy, are protected as a listed historic monument by decree of July 16, 1984.
Location
59, boulevard du Montparnasse, 75006 Paris
Press review
Claude Lebey in L’Express, February 21, 1977
With their brand-new “Bistro de la Gare”, they have just gone even further in this spirit. They bought the “Restaurant Rougeot”, whose bronzes, beveled mirrors, earthenware, and mosaics—most of them from the 1900 period—form a magnificent ensemble which, like those of “Lipp”, “Vagenende”, “Flo”, “Bofinger”, “Lucas Carton”, “Maxim’s”, deserves to be listed. Slavik restored it beautifully, even adding a glass canopy in the same style that is absolutely admirable. Without being pejorative, I would say there is a “poor man’s Maxim’s” quality to it that delights me. The lighting is delightful.
The Italian "Venus Bar" espresso machine by Victoria Arduina
According to Jean-Pierre Lorence, Slavik put a great deal of energy into convincing his clients to install in their establishment “the Rolls” for which he had a passion: a magnificent, immense Italian espresso machine, of course, called the Venus Bar—an iconic machine of the Victoria Arduino brand, a masterpiece both technically and aesthetically. It must be said that its retro, timeless design leaves no one indifferent, as does the imposing eagle perched on top, to which Slavik sometimes even had a companion added!
Among the clients who gave in, some hid a more modern machine behind their counter!
