Martell Cognac Kiosk
Object/Work Type
Exhibition Kiosks
Title Text
Martell Cognac Kiosk
Alternate Title Text
J. & F. Martell - Cognac
Creation Date
1910-11
Descriptive Note Text
This kiosk was devoted to Martell, a cognac house founded in 1715 by Jean Martell, a merchant who began his trading business at Gatebourse in Cognac. Martell used grapes from the vineyards in the Borderie region for his eaux-de-vie. They Martell family developed a successful export business, and by 1814 Martell was the most purchased brandy in England.
Designed by Ernest Billecocq, the Martell Cognac kiosk was located in the gardens of the French section, next to the Moët et Chandon kiosk. It displayed a vertically-oriented structure built in a Gothic Revival style. A tall, slender spire dominated the building and rose well above the surrounding trees, giving the whole structure a church- or chapel-like silhouette. At ground level, a large rounded archway served as the main entrance, and it was flanked by smaller decorative arched openings on either side. Midway up the building, a section with arched window openings separated the base from the spire. The structure was also adorned with decorative finials and small statuary or urns at the base corners, along with carved detailing around the arches.
The kiosk was described as "most unexpectedly picturesque" by contemporary interpreters (Les Français a Turin en 1911, p. 130). The bell tower was comprised of an elongated cone, described as "most unexpectedly picturesque" by contemporary interpreters (Les Français a Turin en 1911, p. 130).
It was listed as number 14 in the Plan Officiel de la Section Française.
Code in the 1911 Map
110 Sim a (14 French Map)
Related Protagonists
Related Secondary Sources