Le Pot doré

Le Pot doré is a monumental sculpture made from shining material positioned on the rooftop terrace of Centre Pompidou that resembles an enlarged garden pot. The work rests on a tall white marble pedestal and creates a striking visual contrast against the surrounding urban landscape.

The sculpture was created in 1985 originally for the Cartier Foundation in Paris as an artistic project exploring the transformation of ordinary objects. It was later relocated to Berlin and then transported to China before finding a permanent home at Centre Pompidou.

The golden pot embodies the concept of elevating everyday objects into monumental artworks through scale and material treatment. Visitors can witness this transformation directly when they stand on the terrace and see the gleaming form tower above them.

The work is located on the museum's rooftop terrace and is easiest to reach by taking the elevator to the top. The terrace offers panoramic views and is often less crowded than the galleries below.

The base of the sculpture is composed of 84 individual marble plates from Thasos, a material typically reserved for classical architecture. This juxtaposition of classical building elements supporting a modern artwork creates an ironic contrast that visitors often overlook.