Mary de Rothschild. Part Two. Henri Samuel

"Where clothes are concerned, the only person I trust is Balenciaga.  The same goes for Henri Samuel for decoration."

Mary de Rothschild

I could not find any photos of the interior Henri Samuel did for the Baroness Alain de Rothschild (Mary de Rothschild) - but truthfully I did not look too hard after I found the images of Henri Samuel's own apartment on the rue de Faubourg Saint-Honoré.

His home was, as Carlyne Serf de Dudzeele, would say in her Marlboro lights, enthusiastic voice, a salade.  A mix of styles.  A mix of periods.  A bit like Carlyne Serf de Dudzeele's first cover of Vogue under the editorship of Anna Wintour: a grand Christian Lacroix haute couture embellished jacket paired with jeans.  Well, jeans might be going too far for Mr. Samuel, or perhaps not, but his apartment was wonderfully relaxed not trop, trop like the rooms he did for another Rothschild, Marie-Helene, which although stunning, I would feel the need to come out for air.  

There was an airiness in Mr. Samuel's own home.  There was space, there was light, there was translucence in Guy de Rougement's cloud table, there was the smooth sensuousness of bronze pieces by Philippe Hiquily, a darkened bronze table by Diego Giacometti, African pieces...  it is perfect and timeless...

see for yourself.  

Inspiring rooms: Henri Samuel on the rue de Faubourg Saint-Honoré...

The ground floor of a hotel particulier opens to a large garden.  

On the far wall a bronze console by Cesar under a painting by Balthus.  There are brass and lucite chairs by Philippe Hiquily created for Henri Samuel, a Diego Giacometti table sits by the window covered in books and magazines, a trio of brass and fossilized wood tables also by Hiquily sit by the very comfy looking double sofa.  The de Rougement cloud table in bronze and a claret colored plexiglass, objets, a small bar by the window...

It is remarkable how well the 1970s pieces go with boiserie and gilt furniture...

love and kisses, Juliana

Mary de Rothschild. Part One. Balenciaga

"Where clothes are concerned, the only person I trust is Balenciaga."
Mary de Rothschild

A 1960 black silk Balenciaga coat given by the Baroness Alain de Rothschild (Mary de Rothschild) to the V & A museum.

Mary de Rothschild drawn by Cecil Beaton.

and wearing Balenciaga and painted by Balthus in 1958.

Memories of Florette, head vendeuse for Cristobal Blaenciaga.

Florette's clients included five or six Rothschilds, of whom her absolute favorite was the Baroness Alain de Rothschild, a sweet and beautiful woman who was painted by Balthus in a black Balenciaga coat.

The Baroness Alain was referred to as the Baroness Alain.  Her sister-in-law Cécile de Rothschild, while also a baroness, was Mlle Cécile and just plain Cécile to Florette in the fitting room.  

Florette and Cécile shared a passion for gardening and all her life she kept a set of gardeing tools Cécile had given her.  "I always very open with Cécile, more than with the Baroness Alain.  One day I said to her,  "how can you and your friends spend a fortune on a dress you only wear once.  For me, it's fine because it's how I earn my living, but it seems a little outlandish."  

She said, "Florette, you don't realize with the life we lead - the servants, the houses, the upkeep - the money we spend on clothes is just a drop in the bucket."

"I had never thought of that," said Florette.

Excerpted from The Master of Us All: Balenciaga, His Workrooms, His World by Mary Blume.

Love and kisses, Juliana