The Latin inscription on the Renaissance door of Hôtel de Morvilliers at n° 1 rue Pierre de Blois, originally built in the 13th century, “USU VETERA NOVA”, means “The new becomes old with use”. Now what do you think they are trying to say?
L’inscription en latin sur la porte renaissance de l’hôtel de Morvilliers, demeure médiévale du 13ème siècle, qui se trouve au 1 rue Pierre de Blois, “USU VETERA NOVA”, veut dire “à l’usage le neuf devient vieux”. Que pensez-vous qu’on essaie de dire ?
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6 replies on “A Renaissance Door – Une porte renaissance”
A very impressive door for sure.
I love it!
The windows aren’t too hot!
Tremendously appealing!
Yes, I agree.
It’s a lovely doorway. Isn’t it odd though how the inscription isn’t centred? The inscription may be a simple statement of fact, but I can’t help wondering if it is meant to say ‘you may hate this newfangled door now, but if you use it regularly you will come to accept it’, almost a version of ‘familiarity breeds contempt’. Another interpretation that crossed my mind was ‘get away from my nice new door. I’m not having you use it and spoil it…’ Just kidding in the last two cases. I’ve no idea what the real intent of the message is.
Maybe they intended to add something! I tried to find other usages of the same motto but only found a couple. I thought it might be like Beaubourg – you think it looks awful now becuase it’s new but eventually everyone will love it! Like your newfangled interpretation