Chateau de Groussay

Texts by Clive Aslet, Juan de Beistegui and Alexandre Pradere.

Sotheby's & Poulain-Le Fur. Paris. 2-6 Juin 1999. Paperback, 4to; four volumes, illustrated wrappers, housed in illustrated card slipcase. 104, 248, 227, 219 pages. Profusely illustrated in colour, including images of many of the 2,000 lots. French, with English translation. 280 x 220mm. 3.1kg. . Near fine; slight wear to slipcase.

The auction catalogues for the important sale of the contents of Carlos de Beistegui's Chateau. Beistegui's taste was both impeccable and eclectic, and the magnificent collection documented here is testament to this. The Chateau de Groussay's interiors were some of the most significant of the 20th century, created by Beistegui with the aid of Emilio Terry and famously documented in watercolours by Alexandre Serebriakoff, many reproduced here. The double-height library was the inspiration behind Cecil Beaton's design for Henry Higgin's library in My Fair Lady. Photographs of each intact room precede a listing of the contents of the room. Also included are costumes and designs from Beistgui's famous Venetian ball.