[Paul Dreyfus-Rose]
A marvellous photographic record of a 1920s Parisian party hosted by Paul Dreyfus-Rose and his wife in their magnificent home on the Avenue du Bois de Boulogne. Dreyfus-Rose was a banker, he received military awards during the First World War and was a Chevalier of the Legion d'Honneur. Their address was 27 bis Avenue du Bois de Boulogne, one of the most expensive streets in Paris (the Onassis and Rothschild families have had homes there). The street's name was changed to Avenue Foch in the year after the party. The souvenir album documents the party from dusk til dawn. The first image shows husband and wife in all their finery waiting for the guests to arrive. Next we see the guests assembled in a gallery decorated with tapestries, chandeliers and palms. A servant in Oriental costume attends them and petals are strewn on the floor. Next came the entertainment, with a revue by a company of well-known actors (Henry Defreyn, Marguerite Deval, Pierette Caillol, Yvonne Brother and Madeleine Renaud) wearing elaborate costumes. This was followed by ballet dancers Robert Quinault and Iris Rowe performing their famous interlude 'La Danse de la Poupee d'Arlequin'. Over 100 guests then sat down to dinner, followed by dancing. The final photo shows 'Au Petit Jour..., Le Bar', an end of the party image with clothes crumpled, flirtatious kisses and champagne still flowing. The album encapsulates the financial wealth of French society between the Wars and the grand scale with which they entertained. A year later the Great Depression hit and the effects were soon felt in Parisian quarters.
Designed and illustrated by William S. McCall. Privately published. Paris. Nuit du 13 au 14 Octobre 1928. Landscape photograph album in mottled pink card covers with gilt title to front board, fastened with brown, gold-flecked cord. 'Mr. & Mme. Paul Dreyfus-Rose' calling card mounted to verso of front cover. 10 black-and-white captioned photographs by G. Lock French. 210 x 195mm. 0.25kg. . Very good; some light wear to covers with a few short 1cm closed tears and occasional mark, light waving to pages of album; first photo has some marks to the surface, the remainder are very good.
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