Construction tools

In 1883 and 1884 the Conservatoire’s construction and architecture collections were developed, when its director, Aimé Laussedat, reorganised this gallery. He took advantage of his contacts with builders and toolmakers to create new exhibits and collect samples of materials. His idea was to show sets of the hand tools used in the various building trades: Ragey donated a collection of tools for carving marble and hard stone, and Gautier Frères offered tools used by wheelwrights, joiners, carpenters and woodcutters. Models and photographs illustrate construction and engineering techniques. The remarkably precise model of a ‘Paris house’, acquired from Émile Desplanques, is one of the finest pieces in this display.