A l’image du château de la Belle au bois dormant, où le temps s’est arrêté… un appartement parisien, inoccupé depuis 1942, a été découvert dans le quartier de Pigalle, juste à coté de l’église de la Trinité.

Derrière la porte, sous une épaisse couche de poussière, un appartement de 140 mètres était à l’abandon depuis 1942, période culminante de la second guerre mondiale ! La propriétaire, Madame de Florian, était en réalité partie dans le sud de la France afin de fuir l’arrivée des allemands dans la capitale, un départ qui sera sans retour pour cette femme. Suite à son récent décès, à l’âge de 91 ans, les huissiers chargés de dresser l’ inventaire de ses biens, ont donc découvert un véritable trésor figé dans le temps depuis 70 ans .

De magnifique plafonds en bois, un vieux poêle à bois, un évier en pierre, des peluches d’avant guerre ou encore d’anciennes lettres d’amour… tout est resté intact pendant plus d’un demi siècle !

Mais l’histoire n’aurait pas un tel intérêt sans le trésor présent dans l’appartement. Un chef d’oeuvre du peintre Giovanni Boldini était accroché dans le salon. La peinture représente Marthe de Florian, ancienne actrice, dans une robe du soir rose pâle. Parmi les admirateurs de cette femme se trouvait Georges Clemenceau.

Le tableau a été vendu à un amateur pour 1,7 million d’euros, soit 2,1 millions d’euros avec les frais, un record mondial pour l’artiste… le prix de la passion.

***

Je souhaitais apporter quelques précisions. La découverte de l’appartement a été faite par Olivier Choppin-Janvry il y a deux ans, après que Mme de Florian — partie habiter dans le sud de la France avant la deuxième guerre, soit décédée en 2010 à 91 ans, sans jamais être retournée dans l’appartement.

Cette dame était la petite fille de l’actrice Madame Marthe de Florian.

Si elle est partie avant, elle devait avoir 20 ans lorsqu’elle a hérité de l’appartement parisien pour lequel elle a payé les charges.

Dans le blog on se perd un peu car on croit que c’est l’actrice qui est partie durant la guerre.

Un léger anachronisme.

Pour la petite histoire, Olivier Choppin-Janvry a été mis en examen en Mai 2011 pour recel de vols en bande organisée et d’association de malfaiteurs, dans l’affaire des « cols rouges ». Aïe…!

Cordialement,

 “l’histoire n’aurait pas un tel intérêt sans le trésor présent dans l’appartement”. Donc, le fait on ne peut plus insolite de retrouver un appartement intact après 70 ans d’oubli n’est pas suffisant ?

Il faut qu’il y ait des sou-sous pour que l’histoire soit vraiment digne d’intérêt ?

Des toiles de maîtres, il y en a dans tous les beaux quartiers, des peintures et des sculptures de grande valeur marchande, on en voit dans toutes les logements cossus. Et ils ne sont pas si rares dans la Capitale.

En revanche, ce vestige d’une autre époque, ce voyage dans le temps, je doute qu’on le rencontre à tous les coins de rue et toutes les années

Sources

http://www.pariszigzag.fr/visite-insolite-paris/lappartement-

de-lespace-temps

http://mredfootballatfault.blogspot.ca/

The interior of the R.M.S. Titanic was lavish. It offered every luxury that could be enjoyed in 1912. After the mechanics of the ship, the interior was the most detailed. Hand carved oak, teak and maple woodwork was everywhere. Only the most lavish furniture was used. The bathrooms were finished in the most modern style of the times complete with showers, bath tubs and double sinks. There was even flushing toilets on board the ship. Huge dinning rooms sat several hundred and after a good meal passengers could retire to one of the several smoking lounges for drinks and cards. There was a complete, up-to-date gymnasium for workouts and even a regulation sized indoor swimming pool. There were clothing shops, a barbershop and a beauty salon. Racketball courses were on deck along with areas for other games. The Titanic was the most luxurious ocean liner ever built at the time. The following are photos taken of the ship's interior right after it was built and shortly before it sailed. Also, there are photos of passengers enjoying the ship not knowing that, for many, this would be the last event of their lives.
NOTE: We have passenger Frank Browne to thank for many of the pictures taken here of rooms in the Titanic that show people using them.

 

 

1st Class Cabins & Staterooms ~

This is how 1st Class lived aboard the great Titanic

 

 

1st Class '1 Person' Cabin

 

 

1st Class Suite Sitting Room

 

 

1st Class Bathroom Sink

 

 

1st Class Bathtub

 

 

Parlour Suite, B Deck

 

 

Louis XVI Parlour Suite

 

 

Gregorian Style 1st Class Bedroom Suite

 

 

1st Class Double Bedroom Suite

 

 

Stateroom B-64, 1st Class

 

 

1st Class Single Bunk Bedroom Suite

 

 

 

 

1st Class Bedroom Suite B-60 With Private Drawing Room

 

 

1st Class Double Empire Cabin

 

 

1st Class Stateroom Private Prominade

 

 

Two only known genuine views of one of the two Titanic's Parlor Suite Promenades

 

 

1st Class Lounges & Other Areas ~

These are the rooms in the ship where 1st Class passengers ate their meals, relaxed and had fun.

 

 

1st Class Writing Room & Lounge

 

 

1st Class Writing Room made up for passenger's luncheon

 

 

 

 

1st Class Dinning Room

 

 

1st Class Dinning Room in Use

Photo shot by passenger Frank Browne

 

 

1st Class Library

 

 

 

 

This is where Bruce Ismay talked to Capt. Smith about the speed of the ship

 

 

Barber Shop

 

 

1st Class Palm Court

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1st Class Reception Room

 

 

 

 

Lounge Looking Into Dinning Room

 

 

1st Class Parition Cafe

 

 

Parition Cafe wall and interior window

 

 

1st Class Smoking Room

 

 

 

 

Smoking Room Fireplace

Made from Italian marble with Mother of Pearl inlay

 

 

1St Class Heated Salt Water Swimming Pool

 

 

 

 

This picture was taken by passenger Frank Browne. It's the only photo of the swimming pool with water in it.

 

 

1st Class Turkish Baths

 

 

 

 

 

 

1st Class Gymnasium

 

 

 

 

 

 

Working out in the Gym

Picture shot by passenger, Frank Browne

 

 

Lawrence Beesley & female friend in the gym

Another of passenger Frank Browne's photos

 

 

1st Class Grand Staircase

 

 

forward 1st Class Lower Grand Staircase

 

 

Hand Carved Mahogany Clock at the Grand Staircase

 

 

Staircase Landing

 

 

1st Class Forward Grand Staircase Level 3

 

 

1st Class Upper Grand Staircase with Skylight Dome

 

 

1st Class Main Kitchen

 

 

Kitchen stove in use

 

 

1st Class Pantry & Galley

 

 

Galley In Use

 

 

2nd Class Staterooms & Lounges ~

This is where the 2nd Class passengers would have slept, ate meals and relaxed.

 

 

2nd Class Stateroom

 

 

Marble Sinks in 2nd Class Washroom

 

 

2nd Class 2 Person State Room

This was Frank Browne's cabin. This picture was taken by the White Star Line

 

 

2nd Class Stateroom

Photo taken by passenger Frank Brown who stayed in this room

 

 

Another photo taken by Frank Browne of the dresser in his stateroom

 

 

2nd Class Smoking Room

 

 

 

 

 

 

2nd Class Lounge

 

 

This photo of the 2nd class lounge was taken by passenger Frank Browne

 

 

2nd Class Aft Staircase

 

 

 

 

3rd Class Areas ~

3rd Class, or Steerage passengers enjoyed a bit of luxury as well. Not as nice as 1st or 2nd Class, but, in most cases, much nicer than they were used too.

 

 

3rd Class Lounge

 

 

3rd Class Smoking Room

 

 

3rd Class Wash Basin in Single Cabin

 

 

3rd Class Wash Basin in Double Cabin

 

 

3rd Class Staircase

 

 

 

 

3rd Class Dinning Room, F Deck

 

 

 

 

Other Private & Crew areas of the Ship ~

Areas that were "Off Limits" to most passengers. Also Crew areas and the inner workings of the Titanic.

 

 

Titanic's Bridge & Wheel House

This photo was snapped by passenger Frank Browne

 

 

One of Several Elevators

 

 

Crew Passageway Leading To Deck

 

 

Electrical Box Hidden Behind Wood Panel

 

 

Purcer's Desk

 

 

Radio Wireless Room

 

 

Photo taken by passenger, Frank Browne

 

 

Mail Room

 

 

 

 

Boiler Room

 

 

Main Generator in Engine Room

1st Class Bathtub

 

 

Parlour Suite, B Deck

 

 

Louis XVI Parlour Suite

 

 

Gregorian Style 1st Class Bedroom Suite

 

 

1st Class Double Bedroom Suite

 

 

Stateroom B-64, 1st Class

 

 

1st Class Single Bunk Bedroom Suite

 

 

 

 

1st Class Bedroom Suite B-60 With Private Drawing Room

 

 

1st Class Double Empire Cabin

 

 

1st Class Stateroom Private Prominade

 

 

Two only known genuine views of one of the two Titanic's Parlor Suite Promenades

 

 

1st Class Lounges & Other Areas ~

These are the rooms in the ship where 1st Class passengers ate their meals, relaxed and had fun.

 

 

1st Class Writing Room & Lounge

 

 

1st Class Writing Room made up for passenger's luncheon

 

 

 

 

1st Class Dinning Room

 

 

1st Class Dinning Room in Use

Photo shot by passenger Frank Browne

 

 

1st Class Library

 

 

 

 

This is where Bruce Ismay talked to Capt. Smith about the speed of the ship

 

 

Barber Shop

 

 

1st Class Palm Court

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1st Class Reception Room

 

 

 

 

Lounge Looking Into Dinning Room

 

 

1st Class Parition Cafe

 

 

Parition Cafe wall and interior window

 

 

1st Class Smoking Room

 

 

 

 

Smoking Room Fireplace

Made from Italian marble with Mother of Pearl inlay

 

 

1St Class Heated Salt Water Swimming Pool

 

 

 

 

This picture was taken by passenger Frank Browne. It's the only photo of the swimming pool with water in it.

 

 

1st Class Turkish Baths

 

 

 

 

 

 

1st Class Gymnasium

 

 

 

 

 

 

Working out in the Gym

Picture shot by passenger, Frank Browne

 

 

Lawrence Beesley & female friend in the gym

Another of passenger Frank Browne's photos

 

 

1st Class Grand Staircase

 

 

forward 1st Class Lower Grand Staircase

 

 

Hand Carved Mahogany Clock at the Grand Staircase

 

 

Staircase Landing

 

 

1st Class Forward Grand Staircase Level 3

 

 

1st Class Upper Grand Staircase with Skylight Dome

 

 

1st Class Main Kitchen

 

 

Kitchen stove in use

 

 

1st Class Pantry & Galley

 

 

Galley In Use

 

 

2nd Class Staterooms & Lounges ~

This is where the 2nd Class passengers would have slept, ate meals and relaxed.

 

 

2nd Class Stateroom

 

 

Marble Sinks in 2nd Class Washroom

 

 

2nd Class 2 Person State Room

This was Frank Browne's cabin. This picture was taken by the White Star Line

 

 

2nd Class Stateroom

Photo taken by passenger Frank Brown who stayed in this room

 

 

Another photo taken by Frank Browne of the dresser in his stateroom

 

 

2nd Class Smoking Room

 

 

 

 

 

 

2nd Class Lounge

 

 

This photo of the 2nd class lounge was taken by passenger Frank Browne

 

 

2nd Class Aft Staircase

 

 

 

 

3rd Class Areas ~

3rd Class, or Steerage passengers enjoyed a bit of luxury as well. Not as nice as 1st or 2nd Class, but, in most cases, much nicer than they were used too.

 

 

3rd Class Lounge

 

 

3rd Class Smoking Room

 

 

3rd Class Wash Basin in Single Cabin

 

 

3rd Class Wash Basin in Double Cabin

 

 

3rd Class Staircase

 

 

 

 

3rd Class Dinning Room, F Deck

 

 

 

 

Other Private & Crew areas of the Ship ~

Areas that were "Off Limits" to most passengers. Also Crew areas and the inner workings of the Titanic.

 

 

Titanic's Bridge & Wheel House

This photo was snapped by passenger Frank Browne

 

 

One of Several Elevators

 

 

Crew Passageway Leading To Deck

 

 

Electrical Box Hidden Behind Wood Panel

 

 

Purcer's Desk

 

 

Radio Wireless Room

 

 

Photo taken by passenger, Frank Browne

 

 

Mail Room

 

 

 

 

Boiler Room

 

 

Main Generator in Engine Room

 

 

What do you think was the biggest problem that resulted in the accident?