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Paris, by Barbara Redmond

Paris, by Barbara Redmond

It is easy to imagine the jewels and dresses, the dinner parties and interiors behind the façades of Paris, Versailles, and Fontainebleau, keenly documented in museums, literature, and the arts. Objects of art that continue to inspire the inventiveness of contemporary designers. These symbols of timeless elegance excite our imagination, making their way to modern fashions, décor, cuisine, and traditions that reflect the patina of everyday living. The image of Paris exhilarates those awaiting their first visit and surfaces in the dreams of those planning their return.

Whether you are soon to arrive in Paris or planning your next visit, here are a few more titles from our bookshelves that you might enjoy. To share your favorite books, email: barbara@awomansparis.com

Book: Spécialitiés de la Maison

by The American Friends of France. New forward by Vanity Fair editor Graydon Carter. (Hardcover – May, 2010.) (First published – 1940.)

Imagine the conversation you will have when you serve your dinner guests what the wealthy and famous American celebrities, artists, socialites, and other noteworthy tastemakers from the 1940s cooked when eating en famille―offering their guests a delightful range of spécialités de la maison. This captivating French cookbook, written in English, is filled with more than 200 recipes that were originally published in 1940 by a now defunct war-relief organization, The American Friends of France, which was established in 1917 by J.P. Morgan’s daughter, Anne.

More than 150 celebrities and society figures contributed to this collection, which includes: Eleanor Roosevelt’s recipe for Mrs. George Washington’s Crab Soup and Katharine Hepburn’s recipe for Chicken Burgundy Style, and among others, Gigot à la Périgord (a French XVIII century recipe) provided by Christian Dior, Smithfield Ham (an old Virginia recipe given by Madame Jusserand to Madame Joffre when she was in the United States), and duPont Pâté (this recipe came into the family with the marriage of Sophie Dalmas to E.I. duPont in 1791). 176 pages with original illustrations by Clement Hurd, Alajalov, and Jean Pagès. Collins Design, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.

Book: The Art of Vintage: An Aesthetic Odyssey Through 20 Vintage Perrier-Jouët Champagnes

By Serena Sutcliffe, Jean-Pierre Devroey, and Federico Simonti, with photography by Makiko Takehara. (Hardcover – November, 2009.)

Luxury is not about what we wear or how we travel but about how we live. It is a celebration of something joyful and long remembered for its splendor. Champagne, the unique sparkling wine from Champagne, France, is at the heart, more often than not, of our most memorable occasions and rites of passage. This exquisite book leads us on a journey through the legendary vintages of Perrier-Jouët champagne, from the oldest vintage champagne of 1825 to the first vintage of the new millennium in 2002. Perrier-Jouët champagne, celebrated for its Cuvée Bell Époque and Cuvée Fleur de Champagne (Flower Bottle), is one of the most famous champagne houses in the world.

Through the acclaimed vintages of Perrier-Jouët champagne, distinguished experts Sutcliffe, Devroey, and Simonti share their creative insights into history, artistic trends of the time, women’s lifestyles of the day, and offer comments on wine and harvests of the season. 400 pages with exclusive photography by the world-famous Japanese photographer Makiko Takehara. Serena Sutcliffe is a master of wine and head of Sotheby’s international wine department, and a prominent writer on wine. Jean-Pierre Devroey, doctor in history, is the dean of Philosophy and Literature in Bruxelles University and is considered one of the main specialists of champagne and history. Federico Simonti is an historian in architecture, modern, and contemporary art. Aurum Press, Jacqui Small LLP publishers.

Book: Jewels in the Louvre (Musée du Louvre)

By Adrien Goetz and Claudette Joannis. (Hardcover – January, 2009.)

Who, among us, hasn’t felt the transformative expression of glamour and the dramatic―through statement-making pieces of jewelry that have the power to propel us out of anonymity and into the limelight? However modest in size or form, these pieces are instantly distinguishable and set us apart from the crowd. They are pieces that convey a strong sense of personal style. This beautifully illustrated book guides us through a critical selection of jewels and works of art held by the Louvre and provides examples of various royal jewels, which were worn by many kings and queens of France. With each turn of the page, we are drawn to the splendor of great historical figures and jewels that were symbols of royalty and power.

Jewels in the Louvre celebrates this inexhaustible theme with the symbolic meaning behind the attire of powerful rulers. It delights us with a portrait of Catherine de Médicis, queen of France (1547-1559), and the Infanta Maria Teresa of Spain, queen consort of France and Navarre (1660-1683), and “Le Régent,” as the diamond came to be known, which was stolen along with other crown jewels of France in 1792 during the revolutionary furor in Paris, but was later recovered.

Goetz and Joannis offer an original look at the collections from one of the world’s finest museums. 80 pages with 40 color illustrations. Adrien Goetz is editor-in-chief of Grande Galerie and Le Journal du Louvre, and a prominent French art historian. In 2007 he was decorated with a prestigious award from the Académie Française (le grand prix François-Victor Noury of the Institut de France). Claudette Joannis is a head curator at the national museum of Malmaison in France, where she is responsible for textiles and jewelry. She has curated several exhibitions on jewels and contributed to an international dictionary of jewelry. Additional books in the same series include, Love in the Louvre, Cats in the Louvre, and Dogs in the Louvre. Flammarion publishers.

Welcome to our new online store!

Give a gift that’s Paris – Apple iPhone, iTouch and iPad cases. Eiffel Tower, Tuileries Gardens, Avenue Montaigne, Crêpes Suzette, Palais Royal, and Woman on a Bicycle: six watercolor paintings of Parisian scenes by Barbara Redmond. Worldwide currencies and shipping. Visit us!

Fine art paintings of Paris

Fine art prints of paintings by Barbara Redmond of famous streets and places and gardens of Paris. Printed on archival 100% cotton paper, each print is signed and dated. Visit us! Or email Barbara at barbara@awomansparis.com. Free shipping in the continental U.S.A.

Text copyright ©2010 Barbara Redmond
Illustrations copyright ©Barbara Redmond
All rights reserved.
barbara@awomansparis.com