Today we are beginning a three-week series of guest posts from Elizabeth Donaldson, a private sale associate at Sotheby’s. I have always had a fascination with auctions, and I love collecting auction catalogues of iconic figures. They serve as time capsules, providing an intimate glimpse into the private world of history’s most fascinating people. Elizabeth and I met last year, and immediately I knew we were kindred spirits. We share a mutual appreciation for history, interior design, old movies, needlepoint, and of course auctions. Graciously, Elizabeth agreed to provide a series of curated tours through some of our favorite historic Sotheby’s auctions including the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, the Kennedys, and Bunny Mellon. Today, we will start with the Duke and Duchess of Windsor… Welcome Elizabeth!

The Duke and Duchess of Windsor on the steps of their home in Paris Source: A. Scarnati, Paris
The influence of the Duchess of Windsor as an arbiter of taste is as celebrated today in the realms of fashion, decoration, design, and entertaining as it was during her lifetime. As collectors, the Duke and Duchess participated in almost every sphere; from paintings, prints and sculpture to furniture, ceramics, textiles and silver. In the late 1990s, Sotheby’s was granted the opportunity to memorialize their lives through a single owner sale; to offer the world an intimate glance into their public and private persona, and the chance to own a piece of history.
4 Route du Champ d’Entraînement, where the couple lived together from 1952 to 1986, is a 19th century building in the Bois de Boulogne of Paris. The home was expropriated from the Renault family after World War II and briefly occupied by Charles de Gaulle in the late 1940s. In the 1950s, the French government leased the home to the Duke and Duchess, who renovated the rooms alongside Maison Jansen. After the death of the Duke, the Duchess left the estate to the Institut Pasteur, which was then sold to Mohamed Al Feyed, who served as the consignor of the sale to Sotheby’s. The nine day auction of unique items from the couple’s home in Paris realized approximately four times its original estimates, and proceeds were directed toward charities to honor the memory of Mr Al Feyed’s son and Princess Diana.
The Duchess of Windsor’s highly developed and stylized taste was influenced under the expert guidance of her friend Elsie De Wolfe. Each of her possessions casts a spell to imply the Duchess was personally involved in and connected to every aspect of décor, presentation and style. Personalization and originality was central to each of her possessions be they objects subject to the public eye (monogrammed handbags, custom Dior tartan kilts, couture dresses featuring her signature leaf pattern) or personal belongings (engraved notes inside makeup compacts or cigarette boxes, custom linens speaking to her courtship with the Duke). The Duchess once described her life as “Wallis in Wonderland” which beautifully captures the spirit of curiosity, fantasy, and authenticity in each of her personal spaces and belongings. Laura Duchess of Marlborough commented that “her life’s work was shopping” and the Duchess echoed “I adore to shop. All my friends know I would rather shop than eat.” Perhaps it was fitting then that in the lead up to the auctions, Bergdorf Goodman in New York decorated their windows with the Duke and Duchess’ clothing and held a special event on 5th Avenue to commemorate the sale.

A Christian Dior couture “Stewart Old” tartan kilt, French, circa 1963-64 and diamante-studded wing shaped spectacles in “Stewart Old” tartan case Source: Sotheby’s

A fine reversible organdy stole (and detail) appliquéd with butterflies and cyphers of the Duchess of Windsor, Probably Lesages, French, circa 1950s Source: Sotheby’s

A group of 9 handbags and purses, American and French circa 1950s and 1960s Source: Sotheby’s
Although the Duchess was ostracized by the British royal family, her legacy to the worlds of fashion and interiors continues to captivate. Her belief she was “not a beautiful woman” inspired her to “dress better than anyone else,” as well as decorate and entertain better than anyone else. In many ways, the concept of style was a channel through which she could articulate and elevate her image as a sophisticated tastemaker. As Diana Vreeland once voiced, her style was “soignée, not degagée” (polished but not relaxed). Every aspect of the Duchess’ home tells a story, speaks to a unique moment in her life, and descript aspect of her style. In many ways the personal style of the Duchess is best reflected in the décor of her personal living spaces which we will explore today, among other rooms in the couple’s Parisian oasis:

Floor Plan, Bois de Boulogne Source: Sotheby’s
The Duchess of Windsor’s Bedroom, Bois de Boulogne

The Duchess of Windsor’s Bedroom Source: Sotheby’s

The Duchess of Windsor’s Bedroom Source: Sotheby’s

The Duchess of Windsor’s Bedroom Source: Sotheby’s

Louis XVI Style Gilt-metal mounted painted Demi-lune Commode, the top decorated with Feathers forming Tasseled Garlands From the Duchess of Windsor’s Bedroom Source: Sotheby’s

Louis XVI Style Gilt-metal mounted painted Demi-lune Commode, the top decorated with Feathers forming Tasseled Garlands From the Duchess of Windsor’s Bedroom Source: Sotheby’s
The Duchess of Windsor’s Bathroom, Bois de Boulogne

The Duchess of Windsor’s Bathroom Source: Sotheby’s

The Duchess of Windsor’s Bathroom Source: Sotheby’s

The Duchess of Windsor’s Bathroom Source: Sotheby’s
The Duchess of Windsor’s Dressing Room, Bois de Boulogne

The Duchess of Windsor’s Dressing Room Source: Sotheby’s

The Duchess of Windsor’s Dressing Room Source: Sotheby’s

The Duchess of Windsor’s Dressing Room Source: Sotheby’s
Other Rooms, Bois de Boulogne

The Salon Source: Sotheby’s

The Salon Source: Sotheby’s

The Salon The trelliswork of the carpet encloses Prince of Wales feathers worked in a silver metal thread Source: Sotheby’s

The Salon The trelliswork of the carpet encloses Prince of Wales feathers worked in a silver metal thread Source: Sotheby’s

The Dining Room Source: Sotheby’s

The Library Source: Sotheby’s

The Library Source: Sotheby’s

The Private Drawing Room Source: Sotheby’s

The Private Drawing Room Source: Sotheby’s

(1) The Landing (2) The Duke and Duchess on the First Floor Landing Source: (1) Sotheby’s (2) A. Scanneti, Paris

(1) The Landing (2) The Duke and Duchess on the First Floor Landing Source: (1) Sotheby’s (2) A. Scanneti, Paris

The Duke of Windsor’s Bedroom Source: Sotheby’s

The Duke of Windsor’s bathroom Source: Sotheby’s
Thank you, Elizabeth, for this intriguing tour! The story of King Edward Vlll and his abdication from the British throne to marry the twice-divorced American socialite Wallis Simpson is one of the most fascinating and famous love stories of all time. If you are interested in learning more about the Duke and Duchess of Windsor and their notoriously exquisite taste, I recommend The Private World of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor and The Windsor Style. You can also purchase copies of Sotheby’s 1997 catalogues from The Duke & Duchess of Windsor auction via eBay (here). I have the three volume set, and it is a feast for the eyes! And if you love the Duchess’s pug pillow collection as much as I do, similar reproductions can be found through this lovely Etsy store.

Exile in style!
For those who are too young to remember the Windsor auction, your article will be a good historical reference to a controversial woman of style.
i love the cleaver use of space in her bedroom. The niche with shelving then a small closet is so clever. I wonder what she stored in those closets
Wonderful article….I, too have the auction catalog. There was always a great sense of curiosity about their private lives. However, in the end, there is an atmosphere of loneliness and waste in viewing their private spaces. What emptiness compels a couple to surround themselves with their own personal portraits in almost every room???? Bllly Graham once wrote, “I have never seen a hearse pulling a uhaul” That about sums it up !!! Virginia McMillan
One is fascinated and repulsed by them at the same time, right? This is an amazing collection of beautiful ‘things’, but I just hope that at the end of my life, that I am not defined by my possessions, but what I have done for others..
your comment made me giggle thanks
your comment made me giggle thanks
Henri Samuel (Maison Jansen) certainly did a lovely job with that house. The Duchess didn’t always have the best taste, but she knew who to hire to make her look good and her house look good. Mainbocher did her wardrobe, and he knew exactly how to dress her. Emily Evans Eerdmans just did a book on Henri Samuel that’s worth a look, and it includes this house. I remember all the buzz about the sale, and went to have a look for myself. I was surprised that Al Fayed sold off their things. I guess he got tired of living in a museum. There is also a book by my friend, James Archer Abbott on Maison Jansen.
Fun, fun, fun!
This is wonderful!! Just bought the catalogs on ebay. Thanks so much for sharing your fascinating knowledge!!
Love this! I, too, collect Sotheby’s auction catalogs and I believe I have one from this sale! Wonderful write-up. Thank you so much for sharing!
Steph | Magnolia Stripes
http://www.magnoliastripes.com
Bitter reminder of how Wallis tried to keep up homes like royal residences for David. They were big Nazi sympathizers which is why they were booted to the Bahamas during WW2. Very vapid lonely lives they spent most of their time Palm Beach etc to sponge off rich Americans who treated them like royalty instead the exiles they really were.
Exactly what I was thinking, but better 🙂
I have always been intrigued by their lives. As another post said “empty and lonely” depicts them well. Decades ago they visited Roaring Gap …. in the NC mountains. Everyone was SO excited. Being very young (and cynical) I was perplexed. Hollow lives having to endure parties in a small NC enclave was a sad mystery to me.
Adored looking at their interiors! Thank you so much! The details….my goodness! Will be purchasing one of the books. My mother had many books written about them complete with their personal photographs. What strikes me now is that no one stepped into the “pose” that is so common today. It was so refreshing to see their photo in the beginning of your post.
My apologies….I am older now, however, still cynical.
This is going to be a fabulous series!
What a wonderful inside to the fab Paris apartment. What a different time. At the time it was described as the great romance of all but now, I wonder. I truly enjoyed this blog.
Thank you Elizabeth. Just loved your Wallis in Wonderland article.
What a beautifully written story to complement the amazing interiors.
Great post !! The duchess was by all accounts a very charming woman who made living almost an artform. , And yes , you can say it was a somewhat shallow life.
Fabulous! I am also an owner of the bound double book set of catalogues from this sale -think it was 1996 ?
I will sell it for $500 if anyone wants to buy- (perfect like new condition)