26 June 2026 — 11 January 2027

Michel Lacoste’s Donation to the Musée du Louvre: Precious Metalwork from Pierre Mangot to Jean-Élisée Puiforcat

Thanks to the generosity of Michel Lacoste, one hundred pieces of precious metalwork entered the Musée du Louvre’s collection in November 2025 as a donation of present assets. These varied works demonstrate the technical mastery and refinement of French goldsmiths’ and silversmiths’ work from the 16th to the 18th century. For six months, an exceptional display in Room 605 of the Department of Decorative Arts presents them alongside the Louvre’s collections of silver and ceramics. The hundred works represent around a quarter of the collection Michel Lacoste has assembled since the 2000s. His passion for silver began when his maternal grandmother gave him the sale catalogue of the Puiforcat collection. That major auction, planned for 1955, never took place: the Greek shipping magnate Stavros Niarchos bought most of the lots and gave them to the Louvre subject to usufruct. Wishing to share his passion with the public, pass these pieces on to future generations and contribute to the national collections, Michel Lacoste chose the Louvre – a natural choice, since the museum holds most of the Puiforcat collection. Of the hundred pieces, one dates from the 16th century, 22 from the 17th, 76 from the 18th and one from the 20th. The gift significantly strengthens the 17th-century holdings with works from Paris and the French provinces, brings several master silversmiths into the museum for the first time – among them Jean-Baptiste Chéret, Pierre-François Bonnestrenne and Joseph-Théodore Vancombert – and complements the existing work of great masters such as Nicolas Delaunay, Claude II Ballin, François-Thomas Germain and Jacques-Nicolas Roëttiers. Curated by Anne Foray-Carlier, Senior Heritage Curator, Department of Decorative Arts, Musée du Louvre.

Musée du Louvre