The 1905 Liège World’s Fair was held to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Belgium’s independence. For this young nation ever in pursuit of international recognition, the Fair brought a new opportunity to shine on the world stage. A gigantic Arc de Triomphe comprising 15,000 bottles of Mercier Champagne was built for the occasion.
French food pavilion
Class 60, with its range of wines and wine-based spirits, came first.
The large number of exhibitors in this class and the scale of some of their installations required 900 square meters of exhibition space, divided by wide aisles that allowed for easy circulation between the different stands and access to neighboring classes. The result was a positive Bacchanal of dioramas (by French master decorator Jambon), panel paintings, flags and pennants, interspersed with stands and stacked wine casks, all overlooked by Champagne Mercier’s triumphal arch and the decorative frieze running around the space.
