Twelve Rue Chabanais was once the most famous brothel in Paris. Now the address is host to an exhibition “Sin City” which aims to celebrate the history of the Paris Brothel. The curator, Nicole Canet, describes herself as an “archaeologist of eroticism”. Canet has assembled a diverse collection of items associated with the brothels from phallic door knocks to whips, handcuffs and other tools of the trade.
Opened in 1878, it counted Edward VII as one of its patrons and in fact a “love chair” he donated to the brothel in celebration of happy times is one of the exhibits on display. Later on Hollywood stars such as Cary Grant and Humphrey Bogart were regulars. It may surprise some that it was not just men who frequented the establishment, the actress and singer Marlene Dietrich treated it as an alternative nightspot to the Hotel Ritz. “She would drink enormous quantities of champagne there,” Ms Canet said.
Canet says “These places capture a world of sensuality and worldliness in Paris in the Belle Époque and Roaring Twenties, reflecting an art of living fueled by desire and eccentricity; a forgotten world of champagne bubbles and the comings and goings of girls and their clients under the watchful eye of the choreographer who was the hostess.”
Brothels were made illegal in France in 1946. At the time there were 1,500 of them with 177 in Paris alone. Ms Canet supports making them legal again saying “It would be much better for the women working who don’t want to be outside on the streets, but as it’s illegal to demand money for sex, this seems very unlikely.”
The show runs until 31 January 2010.�
