Imagine stepping into a place that's been locked up for decades and finding it adorned with period furniture and artifacts - all completely untouched. This is precisely what happened recently in Paris when an auctioneer walked into an apartment that had been abandoned for an unbelievable 70+ years. What he found was a treasure from the past, complete with well-preserved paintings and precious ornaments that tell a long, curious story of history and romance.
The sumptuous apartment belonged to a certain Madame Marthe de Florian, a French socialite, and actress who was born in 1864. She passed away in this very apartment in 1939. Her daughter, Solange Beaugiron (1919-2010), inherited the property but fled to the south of France in fear of Nazi persecution when World War II broke out, never to return. She left this gem behind, and it remained undiscovered until her death just a few years ago.
The grand discovery inspired many individuals, including the authoress Michelle Gable, who wrote a book about it. The book is entitled "A Paris Apartment", and it recounts the true story based on Boldini's intriguing portrait of Marthe de Florian.
The findings have also raised numerous questions, such as the baffling reason why the last owner decided never to return to this charming apartment, filled with a copious amount of precious furnishings and works of art. The answer will remain a mystery, but although it may be the most curious, it's surely not the last one yet to be resolved.
H/T: themetapicture.com
Cover image courtesy of depositphotos
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