Oh, those fabulous balls we used to hold!
Well, we can only dream of being invited to one of the notorious bals masqué held by one of the early 20th century's most extravagant society hosts Count Étienne de Beaumont.
His guest list alone was a glittering tableau of previous "exhibits" here at the Dolores Delargo Towers Museum of Camp - the Marchioness Casati, Jean Cocteau and Jean Marais, The Comte's niece Comtesse Jacqueline de Ribes, Serge Lifar, Christian Dior, Alexis von Rosenberg Baron de Redé, Nancy Cunard - as well as luminaries such as Romanov Princess Natalia Pavlovna (Natalie) Paley, the Viscount and Vicomtesse de Noailles, Marcel Proust, Pablo Picasso, Oliver Messel, Erik Satie, Duc Fulco di Verdura, Tristan Tzara, billionaire Gerald Murphy and his wife Sara and Leonide Massine. Man Ray was his "house photographer"...
The Comte was bitterly satirised in Raymond Radiguet’s Le Bal du Comte d’Orgel, yet he was not merely a spoilt aristocratic party-giver. He was also one of Paris's foremost patrons of the arts - notably the more avant garde ones that were the penchant of some of his guests - and his money ensured that some of the 20th century's most influential works were brought to the public's attention.
Regardless of his influence, it's his balls we love!
Le Comte Étienne Bonnin de la Bonninière de Beaumont (9th March 1883 - 4th February 1956)
not quite the balls I had in mind...
ReplyDelete...but who wouldn't turn down the opportunity to turn up at a party as all three Rhine Maidens? Jx
DeleteChristian Dior raved about the Count's parties and designed some of the costumes.
ReplyDeleteAlas Monsieur Dior's own greatest and most spectacular party was one that he himself was not there to enjoy. From The New York Times: "There were 2,000 people in the church for the funeral at Saint-Honoré d'Eylau. Another 5,000 people waited outside. Jean Cocteau sat next to the Duchess of Windsor. Pierre Cardin fainted. And there were so many flowers that the House of Dior was granted permission by the City of Paris to display them in the Place de l'Etoile. The Arc de Triomphe was afloat in a sea of blossom. The man himself would have been suitably impressed, given that flowers were almost the equal of fashion and food in his pantheon of passions. " Jx
DeleteLe muguet, fleur et parfum prefere de Christian. Ironique que les fleurs blanches soient utilisees lors des funerailles comme symboles d'espoir et de renouveau. Un bien homme qui a cree la beaute. *d'Anjou
DeleteWe have our very own Muguets de Mai ("Lily of the Valley" in English) just sprouting, ready for the season. Hopefully we won't have a funeral... Jx
DeleteOh those fabulous Balls we used to hold
ReplyDeleteAnd didn't we hold them so well? Jx
DeleteOne of my all time favorites. An icon of Fabulon!
ReplyDeleteAh, Fabulon - where the party never ends... Jx
DeleteFaire la fete. Les grands bals de Paris, vous ne reverrez jamais leurs gouts, car les gens avaient un caractere si merveilleux a l'epoque. *d'Anjou
ReplyDeleteThese people certainly had "character" - and pots of money! Jx
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