La Maison Duvelleroy

Was your AC on high today?

Me, I was fanning away like crazy! Please note* Katie Perry has the red AC fan...

Yesterday I got an invitation to the 7th arrondissement atelier of evantailists, Eloïse Gilles and Raphaëlle de Panafieu of Duvelleroy.

Remember I wrote about their fans last Wednesday. Here Eloise is looking like a Degas dancer. I'm sure they had fans. It must get hot backstage...

Fan making pretty much stopped production after World War II. The last house producing, La Maison Duvelleroy barely survived. But these two enterprising young women saved the day and partnered with owner, Michel Maignan to revive and resurrect the brand and infuse new ideas and inspiration. And it's taken off spendidly.

Plus now many workers are happily making the various parts of these beautiful complex fans, No one person can make a whole fan alone. Too many skills are involved.

A Mondrian-style Eiffel Tower design for the contemporary line that you might find in Colette, Bon Marche or other Paris shops.

A fan inspired by Truman Capote's famous 60s Black and White ball.

A sumptuous wedding fan from the couture collection.

Another to-die-for couture fan I can see at the Opera Garnier easily...

Their famous peacock fan that doesn't really cool you down but that's irrelevant isn't it?

And just as beautiful when closed up.

A witty caged bird versus liberated bird fan...

They have museum-worthy photo albums of the old collections to refer to  and rift on.

How did these young women meet you ask? Raphaelle conveniently marrieda friend of Eloise's brother. Together they hatched a plan to revive a wonderful dying art.

There's a whole fan language you need to know...
Who needs to learn French when you have a fan in your hand?

Carrying in right hand in front of face = Follow me.

Carrying in left hand in front of face = Desirious of acquaintance

Placing it on left ear = I wish to get rid of you.

Twirling in the left hand = We are watched.

Caarrying in the right hand = you are too willing.

Drawing through the hand = I hate you.

Fanning slowly = I am married

Fanning quickly = I am engaged

and so on...

I floated out of their atelier feeling like an Edith Wharton Countess... Directly across the street was newly opened Pierre Marcolini.

Any Countess worth her diamonds needs a chocolate heart or two doesn't she? Do check out the Duvelleroy website. You can order online and they ship world-wide. Surely you need a fan to let your man know a thing or two don't you?

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Pub Mania/Maison Duvelleroy

In this very hot weather can you think of anything better to do (besides sleeping in a darkened cool movie theatre) than go to a couple of fan/eventail exhibits?

The exhibit in the musee des arts decoratifs is titled 'Pub Mania' so if you love trivia, you'll have a ball. There's loads more than just advertising fans but I was captivated being a longtime fan of fans. They're so femme aren't they?

Fans were the one thing I did not leave behind in NYC you better believe it.

Paris' reputation for unbearable heat goes before it...

I just read on MyLittleParis today how wonderful it is that TWO Metro stations have air currents flowing! Voila:La station de métro spéciale courants d'air 10 mois qu'on se les caille dans ces stations à rhume. On peut enfin les remercier d'exister : réfugiez-vous dans les stations Colonel Fabien, et à la sortie 5 de la station Hôtel de Ville.
Definitely something to write home about no?

The innovation and fab designs of these fans is quite delightful in my opinion.

It can't have been too comfortable to wear all that clothing back in the day...

Thank goodness for fans!

Just a few doors down at 111, rue de Rivoli 75001 in the museum's library is another fan exhibit honoring La Maison Duvelleroy.

Dating back to 1827 and founded originally by Jean-Pierre Duvelleroy, the house has recently been revived by two young enterprising eventaillistes, Raphaelle de Panafieu and Eloise Gilles.

They are doing some very snappy, fun fans I can tell you.

I spotted their fans in Bergdorfs a while back and swooned but they are in the museum's gift shop as well as 67, rue du Bac 75007.

I wish I'd known. I was on rue du Bac today and tried to buy this paper parasol at la Nom de la Rose but they said it was just for decoration :(

Another person with a fan besides myself on rue du Bac...

I planned to double-dip at the pool today but they close at 5pm the meanies so I'll just have to fan myself and take a cold shower...

Who knew that Evian conveniently makes water misters to spray yourself and others? This is news to me.

In the London Underground they made an announcement (at least at Covent Garden)
"Please carry a water bottle with you at all times. And if you do feel faint on the train, do get off at the next stop"
(and don't collapse and inconvenience others I guess). Fortunately the Paris Metro provides nice vending machines at every station (which London does not). Note the bottle of Badoit in the upper right corner did not make it down to the tray. Sometimes bad things can happen to good people when it's hot...

The Paris Metro also provides you with chilled chips (or 'ships' as they call them here) for a mere 1 euro. Quelle deal no?

I checked out the fans at Castorama yesterday, a huge home depot kind of place. They had exactly 5 fans on display and no one was giving them the time of day except me. Go figure.

I do think the boucherie across the street should give this poor cow a break and remove those knee socks don't you?
Stay cool PBers!

reade more... Résuméabuiyad