0 Louis Vuitton/100 Legendary Trunks

We have 5 inches of fresh snow and no matter how hard I click my heels, I won't be getting out of here today. But I thought we could use a bit of time-travel back to the days of traveling in style and back to auction house l'Hotel Drouot.
One of their exhibition rooms was filled with travel memorabilia from the 20's...
Including your own tea set for afternoons in the Sahara...
Unless you insist on a slug of whiskey from your silver travel flask...
Pith helmet? Travel blanket? Camp bed? Souvenirs anyone?
Or course no decent traveler went without his or her sketchbook to make quick doodles in the land of many contrasts...ahem
If you missed Hotel Drouots travel exhibition you can catch another at musee Carnavalet
23, rue de Sevigne 75003
Metro:St Paul
Louis Vuitton/ 100 Legendary Trunks exhibit is on until February 27th. '100 Legendary Trunks' is filled with over 800 photos which highlight some of LV's most exceptional travel gear - a perfect traveler's souvenir.

Naturally I felt duty-bound to steal a few shots for you...

My rolling travel bag is mere a thimble next to these monstres...

But then I don't require dozens of shoes on an Atlantic crossing...

Nor would my toiletries amount to a hill of beans...

Ah for the days when you could travel with liquids, especially Chanel-made liquids etc...

I leave my tea set safely at home too.

Dommage...

What an elegant camp bed! Louis Vuitton made luggage for only la creme de la creme - les tres riche et toute les stars: Douglas Fairbanks, Jeanne Lanvin, Ernest Hemingway, Leopold Stokowski And they still do: for Madonna, Catherine Deneuve, Karl Lagerfeld and this special butterfly trunk for Brit artist Damien Hirst.

BEAR is waiting for his custom model to arrive...

It may take a few years but be patient BEAR!

BONJOUR TRAVELING IN STYLE!

0 l'Hôtel Drouot

No, today's post is NOT going to be another recipe for pumpkin or butternut squash soup, though I admit to downing two bowls of the stuff whilst posting and even more whilst nursing this $#@! cold. I'm turning orange from all the butternut, sweet potatoes and carrots I've eaten the last few weeks.
In fact I'm taking you along to Hotel Drouot for a grand tour of just one of their exhibition rooms...
Full of everything chef related and restaurant related.
On the AirFrance flight over I happened to notice a tiny column on an exhibit of Henri Marquet sketches taking place at Drouot in Le Figaro and I thought why not?
Little did I know I would walk into floor upon floor of amazing exhibits of all manner of objects. Including a Mickey Mouse/Disney collection, antique furniture and jewels of course, Art Deco travel memorabilia, plus this glorious huge collection of cooking/chef stuff...
Hotel Drouot is Paris' main auction house since 1852 consisting of 16 exhibit hall. The exhibits change all the time and are completely free to enter.

If your hearts desire is to own a tiny chef cat waving a spoon you've come to the right place.

Though you will have to return for the auction and take your chances of winning this prize chat...

Artworks galore all chef related...

Are you mad for jellied eels in aspic?

You're in the right place...

A mini fore/stove outfitted with mini copper molds?

Absolutement parfait!

The joy is you can touch and examine all items to your hearts content. And photograph too.

It's expected - no one will say one word to you.

Never mind that from the outside of Hotel Drouot does not look so inviting or convivial. Once inside all is forgotten. It really is one of the best exhibit halls in Paris. Details of forthcoming auctions are published in the weekly Gazette de l'Hôtel Drouot, sold at newsstands and by subscription.

9, rue Drouot 75009

Metro:Drouot-Richelieu

Bien sur, BEAR was moaning couldn't we please stay on for the Teddy Bear expo? Pas possible cheri..dommage.

BONJOUR HOTEL DROUOT!