Faberge Easter eggs, Russian Tea Room, Rouge at Grand Palais

I'm not ready to drop the eggs yet. And Easter is still 11 days away.

This is the "Imperial Hen" (1885) made by PETER CARL FABERGE for Czar Alexander to give to the Czarina as a surprise Easter gift. Inside the hen was a replica crown and small ruby egg, both lost.

Paris is full of enormous chocolate hens at the moment. No rubies within but full of miniature chocolate fish and foil eggs. France may be the only country I know that has goodies inside their Easter chocolate molds. Tell me if I'm wrong. 

Shake any French chocolate egg of any size (this giant is from FOUCHER on 13 rue du Bac) and it will rattle.

The jeweled "Imperial Coronation Easter egg" is rather small comparatively made in 1897. The crossed pattern referenced the robe worn by the czarina at her coronation.These delicate FABERGE eggs could take up to a year to create.

Its covered with diamond and rubies. Inside an exact replica of the coach the czarina rode in. It was sold to publisher Malcolm Forbes in 1979 for around 2 million dollars. The Forbes collection of 9 Faberge eggs, rare toys, and motorcycles etc. was displayed in a town house on 5th Avenue and West 13th street. I lived a few blocks away and often stopped in for a look at the rotating exhibitions.

Later I did menu art for the Russian Tea Room. They had their own collection of Faberge-styled eggs like this tree in the ballroom. So I seem to be joined at the hip to Faberge. Especially after eating all the  Lindt chocolate bunnies. And one of their small Lindor eggs (I just gobbled down the last egg) has a Faberge-style pattern on the blue foil. FYI its dark chocolate ganache inside.

Forbes amassed a huge collection of Faberge pieces, not just 12 imperial eggs. His goal; to own more Faberge than the Soviet government. After his death his family put the collection up for auction at Christies in 2004. Russian billionaire oligarch, Victor Vekselberg swooped in and bought everything pre-auction for the presumed sum of $100,000,000. They are now on view in the St. Petersburg Armour museum, quite far from 13th street in Greenwich Village.

On right now an exposition ROUGE,GRAND PALAIS a collection of Soviet artworks made during the revolution. Desperate for money to support the new regime, the Bolsheviks sold off priceless artworks belonging to the imperial art collections. Armand Hammer was used as a middleman and brought over artifacts to sell in New York department stores. 

What a long convoluted story! All from eating chocolate Easter bunnies.Thank you for reading and sharing Paris breakfasts. Subscription letters 💌 maps and watercolors are in my Etsy shop. 

From 🇫🇷Paris 💋with love ❤️Xxx🐻

Lindt Gold Bunny, Faberge, April Paris letter

Last week I was painting KIOSQUES like mad and this week its the LINDT GOLD CHOCOLATE EASTER BUNNY!

I got an email anouncing THE RUSSIAN TEA ROOM Easter dinner using the menu art I did for them a while back. Inspiration! Chocolate bunny time and FABERGE Easter egg time.

A trip to the LINDT OPERA store was required.

Boy do they have bunnies! Every size imaginable going up to a kilo(2 pounds) and more. I bought 3 sizes totaling 5 bunnies.

These innocent bunnies are dangerous. Addictive. I ate my subject matter.

I had to go back to the Lindt store for more model material. They now have a tea salon and divine ice cream. I got raspberry in a fancy double-dipped chocolate cone (3,50€). I'll def return when its warmer.

Hours of gazing on the sublime Lindt Gold bunny, you become smitten. Its form is lovely. Just the tiniest indication for the cottontail. Utter simplicity. The story goes, back in 1952, one of their chocolatiers created the bunny for his son, who could not catch a real bunny in their garden. Has the form changed at all since then? I think not. I was reminded of something...

Ta Da. Does not dear Gold Bunny have a Brancusi feel to him/her? The simple clean lines. The poetry.

Lindt Gold Bunny watercolors have been multiplying this week...as bunnies are inclined to do. By the way the APRIL PARIS LETTER went out on Wednesday. Oregonians and Washingtonians, and not to forget Australians will get their Easter letter Before the 21...fingers crossed 🤞🏼🙏🏻🤞🏼

Thank you for reading and sharing Paris breakfasts. Subscription letters 💌maps and watercolors are in my Etsy shop. From 🇫🇷Paris 💋with love ❤️Xxx🐻

Galeries Lafayette Champs-Élysées, kiosques à journaux

Last Thursday a brand new concept store opened at 60, Champs-Élysées in the old flagship store, GALERIES LAFAYETTE. What to wear? BIG SHOES! Are big feet in? Hooray. The gal in the short red jacket is one of their 150 Personal Stylists. They all greet you with a super friendly,
"Bonjour, Bienvenue!"

Naturally an essential Eiffel Tower inside.

With a 3-week homage on to Karl Lagerfeld and Chanel.

The baconies and grand stairway are somewhat reminiscent to their boulevard Haussmann store.

But everything else is très au currant, digitally-inspired with lots of honeycomb-style displays.

COMME DES GARÇONS created a special medium-priced casual collection of Ts and high-tops.

Even the furniture is modular. No two chairs are the same. Art books are color-matched to clothes.

A handsome new digital logo for the Champs-Élyées store. There are 4 floors of merch.

With LE FOOD COURT in the basement. Galeries Lafayette is smart enough to include PATISSERIE STOHRER as well as CHOCOLAT ALAIN DUCASSE, LA MERE DE FAMILLE. Plus bobun and veggie options and a CITRON restaurant on the first floor.

Coming outside into realité I couldn't help notice the news Kiosque à journaux. I've been looking for them all week and even bought an ELLE magazine. Paris' traditional news kiosques will be modernized into glass store fronts this June, leaving only 39 original dark green cupola-topped versions. Catch them while you can. I'm painting as many as I can till June. Thank you for reading and sharing Paris breakfasts. Subscription letters 💌maps and watercolors are in my Etsy shop. 

From Paris with love Xxx

Salon du Dessin, Palais Brongniart

A big, big THANK YOU to PBers who contributed to the crowdfunder appeal for stricken kiosque operators. It is now over 13,000€! ❤️Yesterday I dropped in the annual SALON DU DESSIN at Palais Brongniart 10,rue de Louvois 750002

The show is on through Monday April 1st and costs 15€ including a nice bag for gallery catalogues.

Inside this huge space is divided into small intimate booths. 39 fine art galleries from around the world.

The walls are covered with many masterpiece drawings. There's a narrow ledge to lean on and study to your heart's content the treasures. And many comfy chairs for relaxing.

Small drawings are such a different experience than looking at large paintings. You're looking inside the artist's head. Reading their thought process in many examples.

This Ingre portraits is polished and refined. But the study of the dancer by Degas is a gorgeous doodle by comparison. You're seeing with the artist's eyes the anatomy of the arm. The gesture.

Big museum paintings like DELACROIX'S LIBERTÉ must make a grand statement. They must grab your attention across the room with complex compositions and story-telling of historic events.

Where a delicate study like this Watteau is a whole other experience, poetic, whimsical and private.

The Spring bouquets at SALON DU DESSIN are just as exquisite as the master drawings. By the way, as elegant as the drawings and booths are, everyone is dressed casually, ready to go back outside and enjoy Spring. Don't worry what to wear but definitely go if you are in town! Thank you for reading and sharing Parisbreakfasts. Subscription letters 💌maps and watercolors are in my Etsy shop. 

With love💋 from Paris🐻 Xxx