I'm on a Roll with Deyrolle...

...but I promise to give it a rest after this! However, I didn't want to go without mentioning Martin D'Orgeval, who also photographed Deyrolle following its cataclysmic fire. Whereas Laurent Bochet created a studio setting, D'Orgeval captured the charred victims and remains of Deyrolle in situ.

Both photographers delivered stunning images for us to enjoy and as a way to support and honor the fabled Paris shop. Like Bochet, D'Orgeval collected his photographs into a book, "Touched by Fire."

He exhibited his photos earlier this year at Deyrolle, as well as the Adamson Gallery in Washington, D.C.

Photo courtesy of Deyrolle

Photo courtesy of the Adamson Gallery

From November 9th through 30th, D'Orgeval's images will be on display at Black's Member's Club in London, presented by the The Drawbridge (non-members may make appointments to view the exhibit).

Some of the animals and specimens lost in the Deyrolle fire dated back as far as the early 19th century. While such historical pieces are irreplaceable, D'Orgeval's work helps preserve their memory.

All images by Martin D'Orgeval, unless otherwise noted. If I have misattributed any photo, please let me know!

Out of the Ashes: The Return of Deyrolle

Photo by Martin d'Orgeval

In my last post, I mentioned Deyrolle, the beloved Parisian taxidermy shop. On February 1, 2008 a fire devastated much of the apartment and its collections (more here and here).

Deyrolle after the fire. Photo by Prof. Jas Mundie

Photo by Martin d'Orgeval

Photo by Mark Dantan

Photo by Martin d'Orgeval

Photo by Laurent Bochet

Photographer Laurent Bochet, a friend of Deyrolle owner Louis Albert de Broglie, captured images of the fire's aftermath. Although the space was in ruins, the scenes Bochet memorialized are breathtakingly and hauntingly beautiful. Vestiges of their former glory, the animals and remains of the shop still manage to fascinate.

Photo by Laurent Bochet

Photo by Laurent Bochet

Photo by Laurent Bochet

Photo by Laurent Bochet

Along with the text of Louis Albert de Broglie, Bochet collected his images into a book, "1000 °C," which is available here , here and here. The book was released in Europe on September 1, 2009, the same day Deyrolle reopened its doors. Today marks the US release.

Image via Deyrolle.fr

Photo by Laurent Bochet

The legions who love this Paris institution rallied behind its restoration. Deyrolle has returned to a proud state (though renovations continue in some parts of the building), and donations have helped the shop rebuild its collections.

Deyrolle before the Fire. Photo by Mark Danton, via vanityfair.com

Deyrolle before the fire. Image via deerwomen.com

Deyrolle Today? Image via parisbao.com

Through December 1, 2009 Deyrolle has Bochet's photographs on exhibit in the shop. Great interviews here and here delve further into the photographer's experience with this project. As Bochet himself mentioned, the animals destroyed in the Deyrolle fire died two deaths in a way. Fortunately, they will live on through this amazing exhibit and book.

Laurent Bochet. Image via Parisbao.com