Musée d'Orsay Reopens 19th-Century Decorative Arts Galleries for 40th Anniversary
On December 5, 2026, the Musée d'Orsay will celebrate its 40th anniversary with the reopening of Rooms 52 to 54 in the Nicole Dassault gallery, following extensive restoration. This exhibition will showcase French decorative arts from 1850 to 1890, emphasizing the eclectic styles shaped by industrialization. The gallery, housed in the former hôtel du palais d'Orsay, will feature restored Louis XV salon chandeliers. Notable items include the Coupe Hope by Jean-Valentin Morel, acquired in 2024, and François-Désiré Froment-Meurice's Toilette for the Duchess of Parma (1845-1851). Additionally, recent acquisitions consist of a jewellery chest by Fourdinois and the La Danse des Willis ewer and tray, both from the 1878 Exposition universelle.
Key facts
- Rooms 52-54 of the Nicole Dassault gallery reopen on 5 December 2026, marking the Musée d'Orsay's 40th anniversary
- The display spans French decorative arts from 1850 to 1890
- Restoration was conducted with the Centre de recherche et de restauration des musées de France (C2RMF)
- The Coupe Hope, by Jean-Valentin Morel with composition by Constant Sévin, was made in 1855 and shown at the Paris Exposition universelle that year
- The Coupe Hope measures 65.5 cm and was sold in New York on 2 February 2024 before joining the collection
- Froment-Meurice's Toilette for the Duchess of Parma was made between 1845 and 1851 and exhibited in London in 1851
- Christofle's japonisante torchères date to 1878 and follow a model by Émile Guillemin
- The museum acquired the La Danse des Willis ewer and tray and a Fourdinois jewellery chest in 2025
Entities
Artists
- Jean-Valentin Morel
- Constant Sévin
- François-Désiré Froment-Meurice
- Louise-Marie-Thérèse de Bourbon
- Charles III de Parme
- Blanche de Castille
- Jeanne d'Arc
- Clémence Isaure
- Émile Guillemin
- Léonard Morel-Ladeuil
- Auguste A. Lemaire
- Charles Jean Avisseau
- Henri Auguste Fourdinois
- Alexis Falize
- Henri Lambert
- Nicole Dassault
- Valéry Giscard d'Estaing
Institutions
- Musée d'Orsay
- Centre de recherche et de restauration des musées de France
- C2RMF
- Christofle
- Maison Fourdinois
- Société des Amis des musées d'Orsay et de l'Orangerie
- GrandPalaisRmn
- Connaissance des Arts
Locations
- Paris
- France
- New York
- United States
- London
- United Kingdom
- Parma
- Italy