Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 8

Louis Larmat
1947 original map "Les eaux-de-vie de France - Le Cognac fins bois" by Larmat

1947

About the Item

The 1947 original map Atlas de la France Vinicole - Les Eaux-de-vie de France - Le Cognac Fins Bois, created by Louis Larmat and printed by Dorel in Paris, is an exquisite piece that meticulously charts one of the key regions in Cognac production, known as Fins Bois. This map belongs to the comprehensive Atlas de la France Vinicole, a distinguished collection that documents the country’s wine and spirit-producing regions with a blend of scientific precision and artistic elegance. Larmat’s work is celebrated not only for its practical use but also for its cultural and historical value, making it a prized artifact for collectors, historians, and Cognac enthusiasts alike. Louis Larmat, a revered French cartographer, devoted much of his career to mapping France’s viticultural regions, creating detailed works that highlight the intricate connections between geography, climate, and the production of France’s finest wines and spirits. His Atlas de la France Vinicole series is particularly admired for its attention to detail and for how it presents France’s wine and spirit-making regions in a visually appealing manner. The Fins Bois map focuses on one of the largest Cognac-producing areas, giving valuable insights into the characteristics of this region. The Fins Bois region is one of the six Cognac crus, or delimited growth areas, and it plays a crucial role in the production of Cognac due to its extensive land and output. Situated around the Grande Champagne and Petite Champagne regions, Fins Bois forms a large ring around these central crus, extending out to the west and the north. The eaux-de-vie from Fins Bois are typically more robust and quicker to age than those from the heartland regions, contributing body and fruit-forward notes to Cognac blends. Larmat’s map showcases this important region, emphasizing its size and its geographical diversity, which ranges from chalky soils to clay and limestone, each imparting distinct characteristics to the eaux-de-vie produced there. Larmat’s map is notable for its clear depiction of the boundaries and key features of the Fins Bois region. Villages, rivers, and notable landmarks are carefully plotted, giving a precise understanding of the area’s layout. The map also outlines the topographical features that influence Cognac production, including the varying soil compositions that differentiate Fins Bois from other Cognac crus. The detailed geographical representation highlights how the terroir of Fins Bois contributes to its role in the broader Cognac-making process, particularly in how its eaux-de-vie are often used to round out blends with their fruity, earthy, and slightly rustic character. In addition to its geographical accuracy, the map features hand-colored elements that bring it to life. These colors help to distinguish the various subregions within Fins Bois, marking boundaries and making it easier to see where this cru connects to neighboring regions like Bons Bois and Borderies. Larmat’s use of color not only enhances the map’s visual appeal but also serves a functional purpose, making the map a valuable tool for those in the industry who need to understand the nuances of Cognac’s geographical diversity. Larmat’s work also includes annotations that describe the characteristics of the eaux-de-vie produced in Fins Bois. These notes explain that Cognac from this region tends to have a fuller, rounder flavor profile, often with notes of fresh fruits, particularly grapes and apples. Fins Bois eaux-de-vie are also known for their faster aging process compared to those from the more central Cognac crus, making them ideal for inclusion in blends that require a robust and approachable character. These details would have been invaluable to producers, merchants, and educators at the time, providing a deeper understanding of the region’s contributions to Cognac production. One of the distinguishing features of Larmat’s Atlas de la France Vinicole maps is their combination of artistry and technical precision. The Fins Bois map, like others in the series, is not just a cartographic tool; it is also a work of art. The typography is elegant, the placement of names and landmarks is meticulously balanced, and the overall design is aesthetically pleasing, making the map a decorative piece as well as a practical one. Collectors value these maps for their beauty as much as for their historical and geographical significance. The map’s borders often include decorative flourishes that reflect the subject matter, such as grapevines, barrels, or motifs related to viticulture. These artistic details tie the map to the broader tradition of French craftsmanship and emphasize the deep cultural connection between geography and the production of fine spirits like Cognac. Larmat’s work celebrates this tradition, showcasing the pride that France takes in its terroir and the artisanal nature of its wine and spirit production. In the context of the post-World War II era, when this map was created, there was a strong focus on re-establishing France’s position as a global leader in agriculture, especially in viticulture and spirit production. Cognac, in particular, had a long-standing international reputation, and the maps in Larmat’s Atlas de la France Vinicole played a role in both promoting and preserving this heritage. The Fins Bois map reflects the resurgence of interest in regional specialties and the renewed emphasis on the quality and distinctiveness of French terroir in the global market. Today, Louis Larmat’s 1947 map of Fins Bois is a sought-after collectible, valued for its historical significance and its aesthetic appeal. Whether displayed as a work of art or studied for its cartographic precision, the map is a testament to the rich history of Cognac production in France. For historians, the map offers insights into how regions like Fins Bois were viewed and understood in the mid-20th century, while for connoisseurs and industry professionals, it serves as a reminder of the enduring importance of terroir in the crafting of fine Cognac. Larmat’s Fins Bois map remains an important document in the legacy of French viniculture and spirit production, reflecting a time when maps were not only functional tools but also artistic expressions of national pride. Its detailed depiction of the Fins Bois region continues to be of value to anyone interested in the history, geography, and culture of Cognac, providing a unique window into the craftsmanship and tradition that define one of France’s most famous exports. Original Poster Alcohol - Map - Charente - France Dorel - Paris
  • Creator:
    Louis Larmat
  • Creation Year:
    1947
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 17.72 in (45 cm)Width: 24.81 in (63 cm)
  • Medium:
  • Period:
  • Condition:
    Good condition, original folds.
  • Gallery Location:
    PARIS, FR
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU1792215285542

More From This Seller

View All
Original Poster of Auriac for the Middle East Airlines in Damascus
By Jacques Auriac
Located in PARIS, FR
Very nice poster of Auriac for the Middle East Airlines in Damascus. Jacques Auriac, born in 1922 in Paris and died in 2003, was a French painter, post...
Category

1950s Prints and Multiples

Materials

Lithograph, Paper

Original Cuban Poster XI Aniversario del FNL de Viet Nam Del Sur Circa 1970
Located in PARIS, FR
Very nice poster of the 70's for the XIth anniversary of the National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam. This Cuban poster was edited by the OCLA...
Category

1970s Prints and Multiples

Materials

Lithograph, Paper

A.M. Cassandre - Galeries Lafayette 1928 - Art Deco Original Poster
By Adolphe Jean-Marie (AM) Cassandre
Located in PARIS, FR
Beautiful poster of Cassandre in 1928 for the Exposition Générale at Galeries Lafayette. Cassandre, pseudonym of Adolphe Jean Marie Mouron, 🇺🇦 & 🇫🇷 (1901-1968) is a French graphic designer, poster artist, theater decorator, lithographer, painter and typographer whose works never cease to amaze us He is mainly known for his advertising posters for railroads, such as the Étoile du Nord, the Dubonnet drink, the Normandie liner, and for the typefaces he created in the 1930s such as Bifur and Peignot, and, drawn out of...
Category

1920s Art Deco Prints and Multiples

Materials

Paper, Linen, Lithograph

The strength of the USSR 1959 Soviet Poster on the conquest of space Cold War
Located in PARIS, FR
Very beautiful Soviet poster on the conquest of space during the Cold War. The space race is one of the manifestations of the Cold War in which the two superpowers engaged from the e...
Category

1950s Prints and Multiples

Materials

Paper, Lithograph, Linen

Original poster from 1958 Kloster Parsenn Switzerland Tourism SwissAir
Located in PARIS, FR
Original vintage poster for the popular Swiss alpine resort of Klosters Parsenn Suisse Schweiz featuring a colourful and fun photo of a girl wearing red ...
Category

1950s Prints and Multiples

Materials

Paper, Linen, Lithograph

1976 Poster in Serigraphy of Niki de Saint Phalle Un rêve plus long que la nuit
By Niki de Saint Phalle
Located in PARIS, FR
Rare poster of Niki de Saint Phalle realized in Serigraphy in 1976 for her film entitled A dream longer than the night. Niki de Saint Phalle was first a model, then a mother before ...
Category

1970s Prints and Multiples

Materials

Lithograph, Paper

You May Also Like

"The Putting Green" - Figurative Landscape
By Douglas Adams
Located in Soquel, CA
"The Putting Green" - Figurative Landscape 20th century lithograph copy (restrike) of an original painting by British artist Douglas Adams (English, 185...
Category

1970s Realist Landscape Prints

Materials

Lithograph, Paper

Mia San Mia (Hand signed by Hans Haacke)
Located in New York, NY
Hans Haacke Mia San Mia (Hand signed by Hans Haacke), 2001 Hardback monograph (hand signed by Hans Haacke) Signed by Hans Haacke in black marker on the title page 10 × 8 × 1 inches Provenance Hand signed by Hans Haacke for the present owner at a special event held at 192 Books in Manhattan (owned by Paula Cooper) This exquisite European hardcover monograph with dust jacket was hand signed by Hans Haacke in black marker on the title page for the present owner at a special event held at 192 Books in Manhattan (owned by Paula Cooper). Highly collectible. Makes an excellent gift. Published by the Generali Foundation, Austria on the occasion of the eponymous exhibition. About the exhibition: Hans Haacke (born in 1936 in Cologne, GER, has lived in New York, USA, since 1965) focused on "a single problem area: how the country deals with its history and national identity. More than I care for, these questions stir up emotions both in Austria and Germany." Haacke had been originally concerned with physical and biological systems. Very early on, his artistic practice also included the analysis of and reflection on socio-political phenomena. Haacke's work deals with social and political themes. He considers the debates arising from his works - fierce at times - to be an integral part of them. "Mia san mia" (We Are Who We Are...
Category

Early 2000s Conceptual Abstract Prints

Materials

Paper, Ink, Mixed Media, Lithograph, Offset

L'Acrobate - Color Lithograph - 2007 - Henri Matisse
By (after) Henri Matisse
Located in Sint-Truiden, BE
Color lithograph after the work by Henri Matisse, plate-signed by Matisse from the edition of 200. This lithograph was printed and published in 2007 in Paris using 100% cotton 300 g...
Category

Early 2000s Fauvist Nude Prints

Materials

Handmade Paper, Lithograph

Spanish Modern Art by Pablo Picasso - Saltimbanques
By Pablo Picasso
Located in Paris, IDF
Saltimbanques, lithography on paper signed & dated on the plate on March 5 1958 and countersigned in red, used as frontispiece for the book “Souvenirs d’un Collectionneur”, E.-A. (Épreuve d’Atelier...
Category

1950s Cubist Portrait Prints

Materials

Lithograph, Paper

"Baby Dragon Dreams" - 1976 Surrealist Lithograph on Paper
Located in Soquel, CA
"Baby Dragon Dreams" - 1976 Surrealist Lithograph on Paper 1976 surrealist lithograph on paper depicting ascending figures by Jim Crabb (American, b. 1947). The figures are made up ...
Category

1970s Surrealist Figurative Prints

Materials

Paper, Ink, Lithograph

"June A" - 1975 Surrealist Lithograph on Paper
Located in Soquel, CA
"June A" - 1975 Surrealist Lithograph on Paper 1975 surrealist figurative lithograph on paper by Jim Crabb (American, b. 1947). Black spotted figures appear to be ascending upward, ...
Category

1970s Surrealist Figurative Prints

Materials

Paper, Ink, Lithograph

Recently Viewed

View All