A finely crafted pair of Chat Noir bookends, inspired by the iconic poster of the Montmartre cabaret in Paris.
Features
Cut from high-quality steel, bookends offer excellent rigidity for holding library books as well as certain intermediate-sized works.
Perfect self-locking stability is ensured by the weight of the books on the bookend's inner tongue and thanks to non-slip silicone glides attached to the underside of the base.
The paint finish is matte. The black color allows the bookends to match a wide range of interior decorations.
The powder-coating process used for painting provides a high-quality coating.
The protection of furniture and shelves against scratches is ensured by the quality of the glides.
The steel material used in the manufacture of the bookends offers ideal strength and longevity with no risk of degradation.
Metal decoration that benefits from the precision advantages of an industrial laser-cutting machine suited to the manufacture of finely cut interior decorations for small production runs.
The creative process from initial sketches to final manufacture is fully handled by us.
Lot of two units.
The Black Cat: The First Bohemian Cabaret of Montmartre
Montmartre, famous for its bohemian atmosphere and artistic effervescence, was the birthplace of many cultural movements in the late 19th century. At the heart of this creative explosion stood Le Chat Noir (The Black Cat), an iconic cabaret that embodied the irreverent and imaginative spirit of the neighborhood.
The Birth of a Revolutionary Cabaret
Founded by Rodolphe Salis, a businessman and art enthusiast, Le Chat Noir was conceived as a gathering place for artists, poets, and musicians seeking free expression. At the time, Montmartre was a district on the fringes of bourgeois Paris, attracting independent and nonconformist minds.
The cabaret initially opened in a modest venue, its name inspired by a stray cat adopted by Salis, as well as the feline’s symbolic association with mystery and provocation. With its warm atmosphere, satirical performances, and animated discussions, the venue quickly became the rallying point for Paris’s avant-garde artists.
A Hub of Artistic and Literary Innovation
As its popularity grew, the cabaret moved to a larger space, still in Montmartre. This new venue, theatrically decorated with a mix of medieval and baroque influences, was animated by Rodolphe Salis himself, who welcomed visitors with a mock-noble, ironic tone.
Le Chat Noir became a true artistic laboratory. It was here that shadow theater was pioneered—a groundbreaking technique in which animated silhouettes were projected onto a screen, creating mesmerizing visual performances. Developed by Henri Rivière, this method foreshadowed early cinematic experiments.
The cabaret was also a space where bourgeois society was challenged through satirical songs, provocative poetry, and heated debates. It attracted a diverse audience: writers, painters, musicians, and curious onlookers eager to experience Montmartre’s intellectual vibrancy.
A Lasting Cultural Legacy
After Rodolphe Salis’ death, Le Chat Noir closed its doors, but its influence endured. It inspired the creation of other legendary cabarets such as the Moulin Rouge and Lapin Agile, which continued the Montmartre bohemian spirit.
The iconic Chat Noir poster, designed by Théophile Steinlen, depicting a black cat with piercing eyes against a yellow background, became an international symbol of Parisian avant-garde culture and artistic Montmartre. Today, this image remains one of the most famous representations of 19th-century Paris.
More than just a cabaret, Le Chat Noir left an indelible mark on Montmartre’s history, embodying an era where art, provocation, and freedom of expression converged to create an unprecedented artistic movement. Its legacy continues to inspire the world, from cabaret enthusiasts to lovers of Parisian culture.
Environmental Protection
The bookends are cut from recycled steel sheets and upcycled steel. Steel is a 100% recyclable material.
The painting technique uses pigments that contain no solvents or similar substances. The pigments are applied through an electrostatic deposition process and then fixed by passing through an oven heated to around 280°C.
The cardboard and paper used for packaging are made from fully recyclable natural products.
Metal bookends - Made in the EU.
