This essay is the third of a consecutive series of The Devoted Classicist with the common link being decorating legend Billy Baldwin. His scheme to revitalize the internationally renown Saint Jean Cap Ferrat villa La Fiorentina became an iconic example of interior design with popularity that endures to this day. The 1999 buyer of La Fiorentina purchased it fully furnished, but sold all the contents in a celebrated 2001 auction at Sotheby's New York. The lots consisted mostly of the furnishings selected by Billy Baldwin for Mary and Harding Lawrence, but also some items from the previous owners Roderick "Rory" Cameron and his mother Enid, Lady Kenmare, and even some items included by the new owner.
While the primary sitting room was undoubtedly a glorious space, with a beautiful courtyard on one side and a view down stepped turf steps to the pool and sea beyond, some might be surprised at the number of architectural inconsistencies from what one might expect in a classical room. The space, which is called the Main Drawing Room in the Sotheby's catalog, was not a classic rectangle in plan, and the French doors had arched transoms on one side and flat head transoms on the other.
In this view from the courtyard towards the Main Drawing Room, one can see the line in the stucco where two floors were added in the rebuilding by Roderick Cameron and his mother Enid, Lady Kenmare. It is presumed that the interpretation of the checkerboard parterre was the work of noted garden designer Russell Page.
In the descriptions of furnishings from the 2001 Sotheby's catalog, Sale 7638, that follows, the price shown is the Hammer Price plus the Buyer's Premium.
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| A Louis XV style marble chimneypiece, from the Cameron-Kenmare rebuilding, $14,400. |
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| A Louis XV giltwood mirror, mid 18th century, 7 ft 1 in. by 4 ft 1 in., also from the collection of Cameron-Kenmare and visible in the photo of the room in the previous post of The Devoted Classicist. $12,000. |
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| Two similar Chinese export blue and white baluster urns with handles, 25 inches high, $4,500. |
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| A Chinese export blue and white porcelain charger, 18th century, in the Kangxi style. $6,600. |
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| A blue and cream wool carpet designed by Billy Baldwin, one of a pair, both 12 ft 2 in by 9 ft 8 in. Each sold for $7,200. |
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A Chinese export style black lacquer low table, modern, designed by Charles Sevrigny, 60.5" by 49" by 17.5", $6,600.
Sevrigny was a popular French furniture and interior designer in the 1960s and 70s; he also designed the lighting for this room. |
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| A contemporary pale blue upholstered four seat sofa with six additional decorative silk pillows, $11,400. |
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| A pair of pale blue cotton upholstered armchairs, $4,800. |
A view of the Main Drawing Room, opposite the fireplace. The pairs of French doors with flat-head transoms open to a gravel terrace and broad turf steps down towards the sea.
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| A Louis XVI fauteuil a la reine, third quarter 18th century, signed J.M. Pluvinet, $6,600. |
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A set of four Louis XV/XVI painted fauteuils a la reine, circa 1770, $36,400.
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| A pair of Billy Baldwin designed two-tiered upholstered tabourets, 20.5" x 20.5" x 15.5", $12,000. |
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A pair of metal wire end tables designed by Warren Platner, circa 1970, manufactured by Knoll, missing glass tops, 18" high. $3,000.
A pair of brass three-tiered side tables, 20th century, designed by Billy Baldwin, missing glass shelves, 28.25" high, $6,000. |
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A Louis XV provincial ebonized table a ecrire, mid 18th century.
There were a couple of small black writing tables used as end tables in this room, but it cannot be determined from the photos if this and the following example were actually from that room. |
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| A Louis XV style ebonized table a ecrire, $1,920. |
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| A pair of Chinese export blue and white porcelain ovoid jars, one fitted as a lamp, together with a baluster-shaped urn. |
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A pair of Chinese export blue and white porcelain double gourd vases now mounted as lamps.
A pair of Chines export porcelain blue and white porcelain headrests.
A German blue and white pottery baluster-shaped jar, circa 1700, now mounted as a lamp. |
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| Kenzo Okada, 1902-1982, ISLAND, oil on canvas, 73 by 48.75 inches, circa 1954-55. $21,450. |
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| A pair of white linen three seat upholstered sofas, 6 ft 10 in. by 34.5 in. deep by 28 in. high. $10,200. |
A view towards the Gallery with Martin Battersby murals (outside the Dining Room) and the Entrance Hall beyond.
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| A Louis XV style ormolu-mounted ebonized bureau plat, last quarter 19th century, 6 ft 9 in by 30 in by 32.5 in high, $23,750. |
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| Two similar Wedgwood style black basaltware urns on stands, raised on modern ebonized bases, 38 in. high. $6,600. |
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| A pair of Louis XVI style black lacquer and parcel-gilt bookshelves fitted at the sides with Chinese export lacquer panels, 86.5" long, $12,000. |
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| A pair of Chinese export blue and white baluster-shaped jars and covers, 25" high, $4,800. |
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| Theodoros Stamos, b. 1922, GRAND BLUE SUN-BOX, 68 by 60 in., dated 1969. Note that the painting is installed reversed from this image in the photo of the room. |
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| A pair of Louis XVI style ormolu three-light bras de lumieres, 19th century, 29 in. high by 20 in. wide. |
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The Main Drawing Room of villa La Fiorentina as decorated by Billy Baldwin. |
The views of the room are from BILLY BALDWIN REMEMBERS by Billy Baldwin, 1974; vintage copies of this book may be purchased here. The furnishings are from the Sotheby's New York auction catalog Sale 7638 and vintage copies of the catalog may be purchased here.
