From the 1850’s, Nancy underwent a considerable economic and industrial boom. Both the arrival of the railway and the influx of Alsace inhabitants fleeing the German occupation between 1870 and 1918 led to the development of new districts.

The Quai Choiseul was built in 1863. The construction of the house dates from the same time. After its acquisition by the SCHOTT family, works of extension and reorganization were undertaken. The architecture, the carpentry and the ironwork still respect an earlier traditional style. On the other hand, the interior decoration uses frescoes in a very innovative floral style, expressing subjects and motifs of the Ecole de Nancy.

The glass of the winter-garden is the work of Antoine BERTIN (born in 1834, active from 1887 to 1904) and is dated 1900.

As a stained glass painter he is known for his religious works  - this is his only listed secular work.

He uses both simple glass and acid-engraved glass, set in lead, with decoration of orchids, nasturtiums, clematis, tulips and irises, in tones of purple, blue and yellow.

This ensemble is considered an early work of the stained-glass window art of the Ecole de Nancy.

Its double orientation east/ south, and the use of more or less transparent glasses produces a perfect rapport between the inside of the house and the environment outside.
To the east, the glass allows the light to pass through until the middle of the day, and one’s gaze is drawn towards the garden which becomes a real continuation of the room. To the south, the view is shaded, the light is filtered and the heat is reduced. Also, the presence of large opening windows demonstrates the role intended for this winter-garden as a living space in the home.

The signature "A.Bertin peintre-verrier Nancy 1900", as well as a monogram, is rather unusual in the art of domestic stained-glass.

The conservatory was registered on the “Inventaire Supplémentaire des Monuments  Historiques” in 1994, and has been open to the public since 2002.

Visits by appointment.