tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390485471778959088.post2255799861669856431..comments2024-03-28T14:29:32.353-05:00Comments on The Devoted Classicist: Bunny Mellon: Chic ChaisesJohn J. Tacketthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17138329330942154191noreply@blogger.comBlogger35125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390485471778959088.post-13004586958818416252015-08-01T11:44:31.445-05:002015-08-01T11:44:31.445-05:00Thank you, A.D.F., for this information. One summ...Thank you, A.D.F., for this information. One summer when I taught at Parson's Paris, I lived on rue de L'Universite, but on the other side of the rue du Bac. It is a delightful part of Paris and very convenient to many antiques shops, etc.. with a number of handsome hotel particuliers and their gardens still surviving. Your comment is very appreciated.John J. Tacketthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17138329330942154191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390485471778959088.post-17159068123430525982015-07-29T14:53:47.755-05:002015-07-29T14:53:47.755-05:00A copy of Bunny Mellon’s last will can be found on...A copy of Bunny Mellon’s last will can be found online. At the time it was written Mrs Mellon visibly still owned 2 units at 15 rue de l’Université in Paris, 7th arrondissement, directing her executors to sell them after her death. We know it was sold before…<br /> <br />At this address sits the “Hotel d’Aligre”, a listed XVIIth century mansion “entre cour et jardin” (“between yard and garden”, meaning the house is not directly overlooking the street, but is accessed from the street through a courtyard and is followed by a garden). I guess the 2 units were different floors of said Hotel as this type of big Parisian houses is nowadays often separated and sold as different apartments…<br /> <br />I found an old photograph of the house on the online archives of the “Monuments Historiques”. IF (I'm not certain of anything) this is actually what the Mellons owned there, a direct link can be established with Hubert de Givenchy’s current Parisian Hotel : same type of house and same structure even if at first glance the Hotel d’Aligre may lack (the pic is old) the architectural grandeur of Hotel d’Orrouer. And the Mellon’s place was at (a few) stone’s throws from Givenchy’s residences : the former one, Hotel de Cavoye or the current one, Hotel d’Orrouer.<br /> <br />A lot has been said about Mrs Mellon’s influence (and work) on Givenchy’s gardens. Maybe (Mellon and Givenchy met in the late 60’s, I don’t know when the Mellons bought their Parisian residence) the same can be said about Givenchy’s influence on the Mellon’s Parisian house pick… ? XVIIth century Parisian hotels were all quite similar, but still… It shows their friendship was really nurtured, among certainly more personal and affective matters, by a mutual appreciation and emulation of taste…<br /><br />Bravo for a great blog !<br />A devoted frenchienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390485471778959088.post-11052960056255044662014-12-11T12:46:26.114-06:002014-12-11T12:46:26.114-06:00I feel a particular tenderness regarding the recen...I feel a particular tenderness regarding the recent stories about Bunny Mellon's death and the Sotheby's sale of her collections. Growing up in Middleburg, wigh grandparents from Upperville, the Mellons, though not a close member of my parents' social circle, loomed large in our community and did occasionally overlap socially. My best friend lived in Delaplane and going to her family's farm took us by Rokeby's acres of manicured green pastures and centuries old stacked stone fences. As my friend's family hunted with the Piedmont Hunt we also occasionally rode on the Mellon's property. <br /><br />In any event, after reading your first post on the "loop" chairs, I was delighted to see the Serebriakoff watercolors in Robert Becker's biography of Nancy Lancaster, which I loved.<br /><br />Being from Virginia, I am so well acquainted with the aesthetic source of the designs of Lancaster, the Bunnys WIlliams and Mellon and others. My own interiors, though exponentially more modest, reflect my own personal thread of their lineage.<br /><br />kelly isadorahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09013557712234676981noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390485471778959088.post-6394558108380760972014-11-28T09:25:32.856-06:002014-11-28T09:25:32.856-06:00"Interesting" is a polite way of putting..."Interesting" is a polite way of putting it, Columnist.<br />The Mellon catalogue tells us that these chairs were purchased by Ronald and Marietta Tree for Ditchley---at a time when Ronnie was married to Nancy Tree and when Marietta, not yet in the picture, would've been a lass of sixteen. <br />On another page of the Interiors catalogue, we learn that George Oakes was "born 1940"--making him all of 15 when he began work on the Gothick Bedroom at Haseley Court! In fact George Oakes was born in 1927. <br /><br />Minor points, perhaps--yet as a result of being printed in a Sotheby's catalogue they become "fact". Toby Worthingtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04494294732826925579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390485471778959088.post-51535573365184366082014-11-27T22:44:38.805-06:002014-11-27T22:44:38.805-06:00The chairs are very elegant and pleasing. I wonder...The chairs are very elegant and pleasing. I wonder why their seats were covered in different fabric - perhaps used in different rooms, or groupings.<br /><br />It is interesting how Sotheby's "in house scholarly research can be lacking", to parse The Swan's remarks. I too have rectified this for the details of an upcoming sale, which I hope will give the lot the fillip it deserves.columnisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03764365428633038329noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390485471778959088.post-33655366804375738622014-11-26T14:14:10.936-06:002014-11-26T14:14:10.936-06:00I am so sorry! I really haven't found a barga...I am so sorry! I really haven't found a bargain yet! <br /><br />Typos!!! DRAT!!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390485471778959088.post-63091253224067197612014-11-26T14:05:48.851-06:002014-11-26T14:05:48.851-06:00Devoted Readers have no doubt figured out there wa...Devoted Readers have no doubt figured out there was a typo in P.B.'s remark about the cabinet; instead of $2,000 it sold for $20,000 (Lot 1298 including buyer's premium).John J. Tacketthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17138329330942154191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390485471778959088.post-72188321015032556662014-11-25T13:49:43.649-06:002014-11-25T13:49:43.649-06:00A.D.R., earlier this year, there were some summari...A.D.R., earlier this year, there were some summaries of the Mellon residences that mentioned there had been two apartments in Paris that had been sold several years previous when real estate was really being scaled back. Whether it was an apartment in a hotel particulier plus separate staff quarters (a typical arrangement), I have no idea. Listing photos may have existed at one time with the owner being anonymouse - usually the case - but, again, I really have no idea. But readers of this blog are very resourceful, so let's see if they come up with something.<br /><br />For more on Mrs. Onassis's influences, take a look at the previous post from the series on the White House Green Room:<br /><br />http://tdclassicist.blogspot.com/2012/07/jacqueline-kennedys-green-room.html?m=1John J. Tacketthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17138329330942154191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390485471778959088.post-92117211083475215012014-11-25T13:39:04.104-06:002014-11-25T13:39:04.104-06:00Wonderful post. Thank you. It's fascinating ...Wonderful post. Thank you. It's fascinating to compare the very distinctive personal style of Mrs. Onassis's two mentors, Mrs. Wrightsman and Mrs. Mellon. Working with similar resources and a shared Francophilia, very different results. One urban and grand, the other rural and understated (even in the New York townhouse). <br /><br />Does anyone know anything about Mrs. Mellon's Paris house (where it was located and if photos have ever been published)?A Devoted Readernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390485471778959088.post-85709752762637943632014-11-25T04:17:42.178-06:002014-11-25T04:17:42.178-06:00However it happened - it works and I'm taking ...However it happened - it works and I'm taking it up!gésbihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18094108253356167918noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390485471778959088.post-76841301100617726742014-11-25T01:21:35.425-06:002014-11-25T01:21:35.425-06:00Say hello to the Nodder for me!Say hello to the Nodder for me!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390485471778959088.post-84823305813259864522014-11-25T01:16:37.666-06:002014-11-25T01:16:37.666-06:00Oh I so hope you are invited! Had I purchased the...Oh I so hope you are invited! Had I purchased them; you would be first on my list!!!<br /><br />Really....can't they be fixed? I suspect....yes; but somehow. the antique value would be affected......oh! Let's fix them, sit in them and get on with it!!<br /><br />What the hell??? Can you imagine what Bunny would say???<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390485471778959088.post-46199247239584707182014-11-25T01:12:57.760-06:002014-11-25T01:12:57.760-06:00LOVE love love that piece! (1298) estimate 1,000 ...LOVE love love that piece! (1298) estimate 1,000 to 1,500! (sold at 2,000!)<br /><br />At least it is big!!<br /><br />I was dying for...hiding under the bed...bid way over estimates...(HA!!)<br /><br />$1500.00 for lot 1491; est 500 - 800. Sold for 30,000! (I was wrong before.)<br /><br />Not one thing in this sale, in my opinion; is (or ever has been )"out of style"!!!<br /><br />Lovely sale....all my friends are empty handed...I will treasure these catalogues forever...and refer to them often.. <br /><br />Toby speaks the truth! Nothing pretentious! "Discerning" is the operative word. Most of all; she surrounded herself and her husband with comfort..love and beauty! Without any pretensions! I have heard it was a great relief to him.....and he adored the "nests" she created!!<br /><br /> Bunny was a gift to the world!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390485471778959088.post-18115338875188443712014-11-24T20:37:52.697-06:002014-11-24T20:37:52.697-06:00Naysayer in NYTIMES...quote, "there are only ...Naysayer in NYTIMES...quote, "there are only 5 pieces out the 2000 of interest to me"...I believe the Death of Old Wave elegance in America was pronounced with absolute scholars imprimatur. Wonder what pieces that person was coveting, perhaps the miniature VERDURA paintings as I'm sure that person is an esteemed dealer. I recall an auction many years ago, where I was there to bid on a deceased friends 19thC Meissen Nodder of the largest size. Of course, THE dealer from THE reputable street went to the auctioneer claiming it wasn't Meissen at all but in the manner of. Well, long story short, he auctioneer did disclose this ESTEEMED persons opinion, and of course you can imagine the heavy bidding against me with you know who desiring the piece most sincerely. Meissen Nodder looks nice tonight...The Swanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01159724663060240920noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390485471778959088.post-3844505123814309982014-11-24T18:44:08.853-06:002014-11-24T18:44:08.853-06:00R., thanks for commenting. And in case the new ow...R., thanks for commenting. And in case the new owner reads this: I would be happy to stand during dinner and let the empty chairs line the walls, in case you would like to extend an invitation.John J. Tacketthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17138329330942154191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390485471778959088.post-59832361183595642472014-11-24T18:40:24.117-06:002014-11-24T18:40:24.117-06:00M., thanks for commenting.M., thanks for commenting.John J. Tacketthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17138329330942154191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390485471778959088.post-74215794177471323092014-11-24T18:39:18.484-06:002014-11-24T18:39:18.484-06:00T.W., I could not agree more. Not that everyone h...T.W., I could not agree more. Not that everyone has to love the same thing, but the success of the sale squashes the predictions of the doubters who decried that all Bunny Mellon admired was now out of style. There is still some life in country French and English furniture after all.<br /><br />Note to Devoted Readers: Toby is referring to Lot 1298, a great Personality Piece is there ever was one.John J. Tacketthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17138329330942154191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390485471778959088.post-33755595198800941682014-11-24T14:19:36.401-06:002014-11-24T14:19:36.401-06:00Yes and those "in the know" have spoken....Yes and those "in the know" have spoken. Despite the strange articles in the Times and elsewhere those who love fine and unusual things turned out to bid. Mrs. Mellon was a connoisseur and she knew what she liked. It's good news that there are people who are appreciative. Great article about the amazing chairs that unfortunately can't be sat in. There goes my fantasy about being seated in one around someones dining room table!Royhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02701486652725914594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390485471778959088.post-83757207355091894382014-11-24T13:28:37.106-06:002014-11-24T13:28:37.106-06:00This was great fun!
Thank you.
M.This was great fun! <br />Thank you.<br />M.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390485471778959088.post-73171830391806506762014-11-24T13:18:35.379-06:002014-11-24T13:18:35.379-06:00No doubt the so called media frenzy over Mrs Mello...No doubt the so called media frenzy over Mrs Mellon's collection would have surprised her greatly, private person that she was for most of her life. But whether her taste becomes somewhat suspect, merely owing to the minor cult that has grown up around her, well--- that is something I am not buying. A cursory or better still, leisurely look at the online catalogue reveals for the most part a discerning point of view, whether the subject is jewelry, pictures or furniture. There is for example a painted Regency cabinet, with its small drawer compartments lined out with trompe l'oeil "mouldings" all across the face of it, a piece utterly unpretentious which possesses nonetheless a quiet authority. I would not call that piece in any way ordinary or commonplace or predictable, just as I feel that these extraordinary Loop Chairs are in a class by themselves. Toby Worthingtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04494294732826925579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390485471778959088.post-27632479561732919282014-11-24T11:32:49.421-06:002014-11-24T11:32:49.421-06:00A.F., unfortunately, another typo. Hopefully all ...A.F., unfortunately, another typo. Hopefully all is now corrected and I apologize for the confusion. Many thanks.John J. Tacketthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17138329330942154191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390485471778959088.post-10257746332963410622014-11-24T11:31:43.221-06:002014-11-24T11:31:43.221-06:00Splendid article - I was wondering whether the dat...Splendid article - I was wondering whether the date of the Bunny Mellon sale should be 2014 rather than 1994? Or was there an earlier sale twenty years ago?A Fannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390485471778959088.post-22329535569898598142014-11-24T11:22:12.656-06:002014-11-24T11:22:12.656-06:00D.F., don't get me started on White House deco...D.F., don't get me started on White House decoration! (We'll save that for another time). Thanks for commenting.John J. Tacketthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17138329330942154191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390485471778959088.post-15492154912175037562014-11-24T11:20:41.809-06:002014-11-24T11:20:41.809-06:00G., unfortunately, "in-the-now" was a ty...G., unfortunately, "in-the-now" was a typo that was intended as "in-the-know." But do feel free to use the former! Thank you for commenting.John J. Tacketthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17138329330942154191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390485471778959088.post-69032581233019721952014-11-24T11:17:27.640-06:002014-11-24T11:17:27.640-06:00T.D.E.D., I had originally just assumed they were ...T.D.E.D., I had originally just assumed they were Regency period when I first saw them in the Ditchley watercolors. They must have really been at the height of style when they were made in the mid-1760s. Isn't it good to know some things endure?John J. Tacketthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17138329330942154191noreply@blogger.com