Thoroughly Modern Living
London, 11th of April 2022
I’ve been in a wildly 1930’s mood lately, by which I mean in
even more of a 1930’s mood than I usually am. I couldn’t tell you the reason
behind it, perhaps it’s the books I read, the clothes I wear and make or the
films I watch. But my friends and I do have a thing we've been doing for the last year or two
that we pretend to be perpetually cruising aboard the SS Normandie or the Queen Mary to
some fabulous destination every time we go somewhere (preferably Art Deco) for
supper, this could also be a train journey on the Orient Express, it depends on
the mood we’re in and what our destination might be for that evening.
No doubt the 20’s and 30’s were a thoroughly stylish, elegant
and exciting era, a lot happened aesthetically and as we know now that it was
very of its time. My friends and I recently visited Eltham Palace, I walked in
without much warning or preparation and as a result, I was completely overwhelmed by
the astonishing beauty of the interiors!
Just before the first lockdown I was terribly lucky to have
travelled to a lot of places, The Netherlands, Northern Italy, and Paris. It
was in Paris at the Musee des Arts Decoratifs which hosted an exhibition about
the impeccable style of the Maharajah of Indore. I was yet again, overwhelmed by
the stylish and supremely elegant pieces of furniture, paintings, and
photographs of that epoch. The Maharajah and Maharani of Indore were
relentlessly elegant, well-travelled and very much of their time.
Born in 1908, Yashwant Rao Holkar II was renowned for his outstanding collection of Modernist furniture and spent his youth enjoying the splendour of the Indian aristocracy. During the 1920s, Holkar II moved to England to study at Christ Church, Oxford where his private tutor, Dr. Marcel Hardy, introduced him to the cultural scene of European modern art. Through Hardy, Holkar II met two people who would become his allies in his creative pursuits. The German modern architect Eckart Muthesius and French artistic advisor and writer Henri-Pierre Roché, both of whom were closely linked to the avant-garde Modernist movement. He was the last monarch of the dynasty, as India gained independence during his reign, Holkar II was invested as the Maharaja of Indore following his father’s abdication in 1926, rapidly gaining immense wealth. In 1929, shortly after meeting the eminent French couturier and Deco collector Jacques Doucet in Paris and seeing his studio and astonishing collection, the Maharaja decided to build a grand palace in his native India where he would combine style, comfort, and modernity, embracing the esprit de corps of the Modernist movement. Muthesius, the Maharaja’s friend, and mentor was responsible for drawing the blueprints of the Modernist Palace. This meant transforming the foundations of a pre-existing building to construct a modern private residence for the Maharaja and his wife, the Maharani.
The exhibition was a whirlwind of style. Featuring my favourite Boutet de Monvel portraits of the Maharajah and the Maharani which are probably one of the most elegant and inspiring portraits you’ll ever see in your life. The Maharaja in his sweeping cape leaning against the mantelpiece and the Maharani is her bias cut dress and wearing the Indore pear diamonds which were set in a sautoir by Mauboussin. Perfectly proportioned furniture by Ruhlmann, synthetic leather chairs with incorporated lighting by Muthesius, photographs by Man Ray, a rug by Da Silva Bruhns, a leopard chaise by Le Corbusier and a cocktail set that makes your eyes water, perfect for a suite of martinis before supper.
The exhibition evoked the style and the spirit of this fabulous and enigmatic couple and like any good exhibition, or film, or book should do, it left me inspired, dreaming of cocktails in black tie, evening capes, supremely elegant and streamlined surroundings and congenial company and especially my own group of inspirational friends. I had a feeling I was walking on clouds so full inspiration and ideas of how to beautify one’s own life. I wandered through the streets of Paris that day counting my blessings and filled my mind with scenario after scenario of fabulous settings and conversations and thought of London. High time to embark on a little trip aboard the SS Ile de France or the Normandie methinks. Only if its just for supper or a cocktail with friends and to be submersed in inspiring conversations in the company of loved ones.
With Love,
F.
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