Collection du Baron de Rede Provenant de l'Hotel Lambert

Sotheby's. Paris. 16 & 17 Mars 2005. 2 volumes, paperback, 4to; illustrated wrappers, housed in illustrated card wrap-around box. 295, 303 pages. 908 lots, nearly all illustrated in colour. French. 300 x 230mm. 2.9kg. . Very good; slight shelf wear and light creasing to edges of thin card box, as usual; light staining affecting the inside of the box and the lower edge of one volume, not affecting the internal pages.

An important catalogue of the sale of the magnificent contents of the Hotel Lambert, Paris, owned by Baron de Redé. Alexis, Baron de Redé was a leading society figure of the 20th century. He played host to the international elite, mixing with the likes of Marie-Laure de Noailles, Christian Berard, Nancy Mitford, Richard Burton, Cecil Beaton, Yves Saint Laurent, Duchess of Windsor and Marie-Helene de Rothschild. His apartments in the Hotel Lambert were sumptuously furnished and decorated, and the sale of the contents after his death offers a fine collection of furniture, objects, paintings, jewellery, books, clothes, luggage, memorabilia. Highlights include a magnificent set of Queen Anne chairs, an important Louis XV bureau plat and chandelier, a collection of canes, and watercolours by Alexandre Serebriakoff, including a stunning portfolio of studies by the artist of the costumes and scenery for the Baron's legendary Oriental Ball. A wonderful collection illustrating one man's impeccable taste.