The 19th-century l'oeil du boeuf window leaning against the wall at our apartment is from the Trianon Palace Hotel at Versailles. It has witnessed much history, including the signing of the Treaty of Versailles on June 28, 1919. Guests during the Trianon Palace Hotel's illustrious history have included Marlène Dietrich, J.D. Rockefeller, Paul Getty, Charles de Gaulle, Jacques Brel, Prince Aga Khan, Queen Elizabeth II and King Hussein of Jordan.
Recently, the Trianon Palace Hotel was renovated, with most of its original furnishings sold at auction on June 2-3, 2007. The windows were replaced, due to their inefficiency in keeping drafts of cool air from entering the rooms. One of the artisans working on the renovation knew my friend Gabrielle and offered two of these historic windows for sale.
Now the window is awaiting the day when it can become part of our home, either as an actual window or with the glass replaced by mirrors. I will take it to a local restorer, who will touch up the paint and make sympathetic "adjustments" to return it as closely as possible to its original glory.
What an amazing piece to own.
Posted by: robolady | 08 January 2008 at 18:50
What a fabulous "find" for you! I'd be excited, too!
Posted by: The Bold Soul | 07 January 2008 at 16:10
What a lovely bit of architecture - you certainly have a knack for finding the best things in town!
Posted by: tinker | 07 January 2008 at 04:03
For a compelling new look at the Treaty of Versailles, do have a look at my wonderful new book, "A Shattered Peace: Versailles 1919 and the Price We Pay Today," [ www.ashatteredpeace.com ], just published by Wiley!
Best,
David A. Anbdelman
Posted by: David A. Andelman | 07 January 2008 at 02:25
Amazing! I love the history...!
I love your views, you take such interesting photographs. We find the same things of interest, you and I!
xo
Gillian
Posted by: Gillian @ Indigo Blue | 06 January 2008 at 21:49
Wow, now that's quiet and auction ;) Take good care of it. Lucky you!
Posted by: My Melange | 06 January 2008 at 19:37
Hello Tara,
I found your blog via Barbara's from Switzerland.
I can see many great pictures here:)
Also 'between the lines' Ryszard Kapuscinski book - that makes me smile. I like him a lot.
Orhan Pamuk books are very interesting as well - have you red 'My name is red' - if you are interested with travelling (Kapuscinski) and antiques/art you will like it - I am sure. It takes place in Istanbul few ages ago, among miniatur artists - criminal story close to sultan's palace in old Istanbul.
greetings from Poland and Happy New Year 2008.
Ewa
Posted by: Ewa | 06 January 2008 at 17:14
this is truly a historical treasure tara, paying attention to the unique auction!! great find!
i would suggest a mirror, you will be able to take it along with you at any time!
Posted by: marita | 06 January 2008 at 12:57
What a wonderful piece of history to have in your life! Lovely, lovely, lovely. xx, JP/deb
Posted by: JanePoe (aka Deborah) | 06 January 2008 at 05:01
Wonderful that you can save and cherish a part of Parisian history Tara. Thank you for being the type of person you are and sharing!
xox
Constance
Posted by: rochambeau | 05 January 2008 at 19:50
Light came through that window and shined on historical documents...very cool Tara. I like it as is!!!
Posted by: Gemma | 05 January 2008 at 14:41
OH MY ! I can't imagine how incredible it must be to have this window. A window to history! I would probably sit and ponder it for hours. If anyone deserved to get it...YOU did! You will be a fine Keeper of The Window.I watched 2 French movies..J'taime,Paris and La Vie en Rose. Excellent!
Posted by: Pam Aries | 05 January 2008 at 13:46
My first reaction? How cool is THAT? I look forward to seeing the results of the sympathetic restoration.
Posted by: awareness | 05 January 2008 at 11:20
this *treasure* is yours?
well,
all i can say is this:
you must have done something
REALLY NICE
in another lifetime!
:-)
keep up the good work, Miss Lucky-Girl.
Posted by: somepinkflowers | 05 January 2008 at 05:23
Very, very cool Tara. love it's history. :)
Posted by: robyn | 05 January 2008 at 01:53
how cool tara to own a piece of history!
Posted by: elsa | 05 January 2008 at 01:47
I hope you're feeling much better!
The history behind the window is impressive and, I imagine, for a journalist it means more!
xoxo
Posted by: Colette | 04 January 2008 at 23:36
Tara,
I was on your blog when i think you wrote - I took a brief walk down our winding stairs in search of a cookie break,with milk of course, and I was still on your background page- et viola-you posted before I could inquire about your Bronchitis- around here it has been one that has waxed and waned,with intense fatigue too! Hope your are feeling better! For Christmas I offered my friends hot water bottles in flashy colors and a rubber ducky - both of which I felt were ever so appropriate to the chilly, not well insulated french homes which drafty windows!! speaking of which love the window!! joy and stay toasty, betheanne
Posted by: betheanne | 04 January 2008 at 23:05
Awesome window, Tara. "l'oeil du boeuf"...does that mean "bullseye"?
It's great that you got to rescue that special piece of history. My mother bought windows from her historic landmark church when they were being replaced, and they now hang proudly in her stairway. I'll be interested to see how it ends up when it's finished.
Posted by: boliyou | 04 January 2008 at 22:47
A gorgeous find! And how lucky this piece is to have fallen into treasuring hands.
Quick question: Do you have a favorite area of Paris to shop? I'll be there for just a day and would love to bypass the brand names in favor of lovely little shops, artisan crafts, flea markets and general Parisianess.
Posted by: humblepie | 04 January 2008 at 20:24
very cool
I am hoping in the coming weeks to be able to spend more time just reading your blog. I love that you are passionate about politics and stuff. I can be a bit of a politic junkie at times. This may be the year however that i steer away from all that and focus only on Art :) hooray i am free at last!
But i really want Obama to be our guy. Hope he makes Presidet.
Cool history on that window.
regards,
michele
the crafty cameleon
Posted by: michele | 04 January 2008 at 17:46
What an amazing acquisition -- and if looking at the world through rose-coloured glasses gives one an optimistic perspective, what do you see when you look through l'oeil de boeuf?
Posted by: materfamilias | 04 January 2008 at 16:54
Wow what a coincidence we had one just like this in our backyard in the city house. It had a mirror behind it and made the yard look as though it went on forever.
Hope you are starting to feel better.
xo
Posted by: Di Overton | 04 January 2008 at 16:30
Love the term "sympathetic adjustments!" Very cool -- how wonderful to have such a beautiful piece as part of your home!
Posted by: Jeanie | 04 January 2008 at 16:22
How lucky you are to have such a piece of history in your home! I'm excited for you! And it's lovely!
Becky
Posted by: Becky | 04 January 2008 at 15:23
gosh... Tara, i just love the way you write. Delightful! I wish my English became same colorful one day. Probably not...
And what a treasure huntress! Good job!
Posted by: Lenka | 04 January 2008 at 15:20
I love the idea of "sympathetic adjustments." What a perfect phrase for what to me looks like a perfect window. Way cool, Tara.
Posted by: ally | 04 January 2008 at 15:01
When I saw over at TICA that you had a window from Trianon I had to come right over and see it!!! Eye of Beef? How funny! But what a lucky girl you are!
Posted by: phyllis | 04 January 2008 at 14:59
Tara, this is stunning...I love pieces that are so rich with history...if walls could speak or windows could talk...the things you would learn!! I look forward to seeing what this becomes once it has been so lovingly and gently restored!
Posted by: Cherie | 04 January 2008 at 14:40