Duke & Duchess of Windsor Owned "W" Placemat, Ex-Sotheby's

A linen placemat, light brown ground with a dark brown border and stylized "W" design, from the personal collection of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, Edward and Wallis, ca. 1960s. The central design can be viewed as the two halves of a "W," splayed flat, intersecting at the center. A fabric label reading "W/HT/480" is sewn discretely in the upper left hand corner of the placemat verso, where a round Sotheby's auction tag reading "Sotheby's / The Duke & Duchess of Windsor / Lot 1001 / 40 / September 11-19, 1997" can also be found. Isolated minor color bleeding (scattered pink dots) can be found along the edges verso. Would benefit from ironing, else near fine. 15.625" x 13.325." Provenance: From the personal property of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, sold at Sotheby's in New York, New York, September 11-19, 1997 as part of Lot 1001. Photocopies of the Sotheby's original catalog description are included. Ex-Estate of Jane Lublin.

The Duke of Windsor, formerly Edward VIII (1894-1972), ruled for 11 months before abdicating in December 1936 in order to marry divorced American socialite Wallis Simpson (1896-1986). The expatriates spent the rest of their lives living abroad, principally in France.

During and after Edward's governorship of the Bahamas and until the early 1950s, the couple lived at rental properties at 24, Boulevard Suchet and 85, Rue de la Faisanderie in Paris, France. They settled at 4, Route de Champ d'Entraînement--or Villa Windsor as it is known today--in the Bois de Boulogne on the western outskirts of Paris in 1952. The Duke and Duchess lived at this address until their deaths in 1972 and 1986 respectively. Also during this time, ca. 1952-1972, the Windsors frequently retreated to their weekend home, Le Moulin de la Tuilerie, a restored eighteenth-century mill located in Gif-sur-Yvette, about 30 km southwest of Paris.

The royal couple entertained extensively at these residences, and their dinner parties became legendary. They hosted such celebrity guests as Maria Callas, Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, Marlene Dietrich, Aristotle Onassis, Cecil Beaton, Diana Mitford Mosley, and the Aga Khan. While the Windsors' dining room in their 14-room mansion at the Champ d'Entraînement could accommodate up to thirty guests, the Duchess preferred smaller dinner parties of between 8-16. The invitees would be seated at round tables, each headed by either the Duke or Duchess.

The Windsors valued and prioritized aestheticism in their physical persons, dress, and surroundings. The Duchess once stated, "The possession of beautiful things is thrilling to me." Contemporaries commented on the Duchess's obsessive pursuit of perfection in all things. Royal residences were decorated in bold designs and rich colors using sumptuous materials under the supervision of professional designers and decorators. The royal couple kept au courant by religiously studying and implementing the latest trends.

Provenance

Photocopies of the following are included in the lot:

1. The original catalog description of Lot 1001 from the Sotheby's catalog, found on p. 318.
2. The list of prices realized, showing that Lot 1001, comprised of 40 pieces of which this was one, sold for a hammer price of $3,750 in September 1997.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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