Once settled into the vast Right Bank mansion that he modeled on Marie Antoinette’s Petit Trianon in Versailles, Count Moïse de Camondo, former banker to the Ottoman Empire, indulged his passion for the 18th century.
Today, it almost feels as if the Count has just stepped out: the table in the dining room is sumptuously set for a dinner, while photographs of his fallen son, Nissim, nestle amid other precious keepsakes. Six Aubusson tapestries line the walls of his study, and the grand reception rooms brim with exquisite items – country scenes painted by Jean-Baptiste Huet in 1776, Louis XV and Louis XVI furniture, portraits by François-Hubert Drouais, and Sevrès and Meissen porcelain.
However, the aptly named Grand Salon is the most spendid of all, with its Aubusson upholstered chairs, sculptures by Houdon and Clodion, a Savonnerie carpet from 1678, and exquisite commodes by master cabinetmaker Adam Weisweiler. Interestingly, the trappings of modern life – kitchen, offices, and bathrooms – lie hidden behind fine wooden panelling.
The Count died in 1935 and, while his house survived World War II intact, tragically all his remaining family members perished in Auschwitz.
Practical Information
Address 63 Rue de Monceau, Champs-Elysées;
Getting There Métro: Monceau, Villiers; bus: 30, 84, 94.
Opening Times 10am–5pm Wed–Sun.