Madame de Florian's Abandoned Apartment...

Inside Madame de Florian's Apartment...

A Paris apartment, untouched for 70 years, the treasures waiting like Sleeping Beauty to be discovered.  The owner, Miss de Florian, left Paris at the outbreak of WWII, never to return.  Seven decades later she passed away at the age of 91, her rent dutifully paid each month.  Her heirs left with the unenviable job of opening that door, revealing the time capsule.

The painting was by Giovanni Boldini, a member of the Belle Époque.  The woman in the picture is Ms. de Florian’s grandmother, Marthe de Florian, an actress and French socialite of the Belle Époque. 

In 1939, a Parisian apartment was locked up and abandoned. 
Seventy years later, an auctioneer stumbled into a mysterious glimpse of the past and a multi-million dollar work of art.

This intricately designed, ornate vanity table still contained brushes, makeup and perfume bottles, appearing as if it were still waiting for the return of its elegant owner.

The furnishings displayed treasures from the early 1900s. The dining area was still fully supplied with dishes, glassware, and other dining essentials. Works of art had been removed from the walls as if they were being prepared for transport with the owner running short of time.