Pere Llibre Bas: Biography of the Confectioner, Antiquarian and Promoter of Casa Pere Llibre

Who Was Pere Llibre Bas?

Historical portrait of Pere Llibre Bas (18XX–1907), distinguished confectioner and antique dealer of Barcelona

Pere Llibre Bas (18XX - 1907), a native of Cardedeu (Barcelona), is remembered as one of the most distinguished and popular confectioners in the Catalan capital. After working as a shop assistant at "La Palma", he decided to establish his own luxury confectionery shop in 1872, "Casa Llibre". Strategically located at the corner of Carrer Ferran and La Rambla del Centre, it quickly became a landmark for lovers of fine sweets.

Initially, Casa Llibre focused on selling confectionery, but over time it incorporated the sale of antiques. Thanks to this strategy, Casa Llibre became an iconic venue in Barcelona, where customers could enjoy delicious sweets while admiring the unique antiques offered in the shop.

Later, in November 1883, given the resounding success of the venture, he expanded his business by opening a new and elegant shop dedicated to antiques, objets d'art, and luxury furniture in a five-story building just a few meters from his confectionery on Carrer Ferran.

The Llibre Family Legacy

Pere Llibre's son, Guillermo, ran a branch of his father's confectionery on Plaça de Catalunya, which opened in 1912. Designed by architect Enric Sagnier, it won first prize in the City Council's annual artistic competition. In 1925, it relocated to Gran Via.
In 1900, his nephew Lluís Llibre i Blanch opened a confectionery on Carrer Fontanella with his partner Jaume Serra, called Llibre y Serra. Later, in 1912, they moved their shop to Ronda de Sant Pere.
Another nephew, Lluís Llibre i Perearnau, took over the management of the "Llibre y Serra" establishment starting in 1935.

Source and further info: fernandoalcolea.es

Historical Engravings and Photographs of the Pere Llibre Confectionery on Carrer Ferran

19th-century engraving of the interior of the luxury confectionery shop Casa Llibre on Carrer Ferran, Barcelona — Engraving of the Confectionery

Period engraving of Pere Llibre's confectionery shop at the corner of Carrer Ferran and La Rambla — The shop building today

Present-day view of the building where Pere Llibre's confectionery shop was located in Barcelona — Original invoice from 1889

Original vintage print advertisement of the Casa Llibre confectionery and pastry shop — Bonbonnière sold by Pere Llibre

Original commercial invoice from 1889 issued by Pedro Llibre's establishment in Barcelona — News item from the newspaper El Bien Público, March 7, 1878

Original 19th-century banana candy wrapper by Pedro Llibre — Main facade photograph

Pere Llibre's Antique Shop in Barcelona

Historical photograph of the showroom of Pere Llibre's Antique Shop on Carrer Ferran (1)

Historical photograph of the interior of Pere Llibre's Antique and Fine Art Shop (2)

Historical photograph of Pere Llibre's luxury furniture and antique galleries in Barcelona (3)

Antique collector's candy box (bonbonnière) sold by Pere Llibre's shop — Source: Heritage Inventory Report of Cardedeu Town Council and Wikipedia

Underside of the candy box bearing the original antique dealer's stamp of Pedro Llibre — It features an Egyptian Revival aesthetic characteristic of tombs from that period. Its most prominent element is an angel with outstretched wings holding flowers and wearing a long robe that drapes down the steps, poised to place a floral wreath upon the headstone, beneath which the inscription "P. Llibre" can be read.

The First Fixed Telephone Line in Barcelona (1878)

Newspaper clipping from El Bien Público (March 7, 1878) reporting Pere Llibre's first fixed telephone line in Barcelona — Next section: Master Builder Domènec Balet Nadal

His Summer Residence in Cardedeu

En 1889, el Maestro de Obras Eudald Pagès Comas proyectó la segunda residencia del señor Pere Llibre, ubicada en la Av. Rei en Jaume, 41 de Cardedeu en el Vallés Oriental y fue la primera torre de la Villa, según las palabras de T. Balvey recogidas en la "Hoja de nuestra historia". En 1930 se reformó la torre, momento en que fue estucada con un color rojizo.

Main facade of Pere Llibre's summer residence at Avinguda Rei en Jaume 41, Cardedeu (1889) — Foto fachada principal

Aerial view of Pere Llibre's second residence in Cardedeu, designed by master builder Eudald Pagès Comas — Foto vista aérea

Fuente: Memoria del inventario del Ayuntamiento de Cardedeu y Wikipedia

Neo-Gothic Pantheon of Pere Llibre at Montjuïc Cemetery

El panteón del Sr. Pere Llibre se encuentra en el Cementerio de Montjuic en Barcelona y fue proyectado por el arquitecto Antoni Rovira Rabassa y esculpido por Josep Campeny Santamaria en 1888.

Presenta una estética egipcia típica de las tumbas de la época. El elemento más destacado es una figura de ángel con alas desplegadas, sosteniendo flores y una larga túnica que cae por los escalones, en actitud de colocar una corona floral sobre la lápida, debajo de la qual se puede leer P. Llibre.

*Para hacer un tour virtual del panteón, accede al video de YouTube.

Siguiente apartado: El Maestro de Obras Domènec Balet Nadal