Abandoned World War II-Era Apartment Was Discovered Almost A Century Later With Secrets Inside
The chaos of WWII resulted in thousands fleeing their homes in Paris. Germans invaded the city in 1940, forcing innocent civilians to head south and out of the military occupation zone. Only able to bring what they could carry, many left their furniture and other belongings behind in the destructive hands of the war.
One of these unfortunate individuals was none other than Madame de Florian, the granddaughter of a famous socialite. Upon her passing, Madame's family came to discover that her Paris apartment was still intact and riddled with vintage items that revealed unknown truths about the family's past.
Time To Say Goodbye
WWII tensions heightened after Germany invaded Poland in September of 1939. France anticipated that crisis might strike, leaving many intent on leaving their home country. The need to leave became evident on May 10, 1940, when the attack finally arrived.
France had already declared war on Germany shortly after they invaded Poland, a French ally. After becoming defeated, refugees fled the country to avoid the German takeover. Madame de Florian was only in her early twenties when this occurred.
Where She Went
This map shows the area that the French had to flee to in order to remain out of harm's way. The French government left the territory on June 10, 1940. Germans officially occupied the area from June 14, 1940 until August 25, 1944.
For those four years, strict rules were set in place for those still living in the area. This included a 9 p.m. curfew and a rationing of food and clothing, which led to higher prices, and scarce supplies.
Only What They Could Carry
Madame de Florian and her family joined thousands of other refugees in their desperate journey out of Paris. They were all forced to leave their home and belongings behind. This picture shows actual Paris refugees at the time.
Madame ultimately made it to the free zone, which had less military presence and more resources. She made a home there, abandoning her former apartment. For all she knew, the war would destroy everything she had left behind.
A Special Apartment
As it turns out, the young woman hadn't stumbled upon the old apartment by coincidence. In fact, she had inherited the apartment from her grandmother, Marthe de Florian. Marthe was well-known in Paris in the early part of the 20th century. That time was the height of the Belle Epoque era, the period prior to WWI that was characterized by peace and prosperity.
When Madame had to flee the apartment, it also meant that she had to leave her grandmother's items and the secrets they contained behind.
70 Years Later
Decades after leaving her Paris apartment, Madame de Florian died at the age of 91. Her family discovered that after all of these years, she still paid rent on the apartment, despite having left it.
Seeing that it had originally been the home of Marthe de Florian, the prized possessions inside would need to be appraised by a professional. An auctioneer named Olivier Choppin-Janvry was then tasked with going through the abandoned apartment. What he found inside shocked the entire family.
Celebrity Status
Madame's grandmother, Marthe, was a particularly famous socialite due to her association with 'les demimondaines.' This group was known for its lavish parties, wild lifestyle, and celebrity status.
Researchers found that Marthe de Florian was born Mathilde Beaugiron and worked as a seamstress. After having two children, the woman climbed the economic and social latter by becoming an actress. She died in August of 1939, leaving her apartment to Madame just before the German invasion.
'Til Death Do We Part
Since her grandmother had such a prestigious lifestyle, it isn't surprising that Madame held onto the apartment and its belongings until her death. What was curious is why she wouldn't have visited throughout her life.
Madame didn't even bring her family to the apartment, leaving them all unaware of what was inside. This picture shows the actual key and lock to the apartment. The truly vintage home was untouched right up to the moment that the auctioneer and his team entered.
Peeking Into A Time Capsule
This photograph of the dining room reveals the disheveled condition that the apartment was left in. The furniture is indicative of the early 20th century, and the design of the ceiling is far more detailed than most apartments today.
The detail of the ceiling is mimicked in the furniture, which has intricacies that are not usually seen in today's more simplistic styles. You'll also notice wallpaper throughout the home, which has lost popularity in more recent years.
Full Of Mystery
The decadent detailing carries over into this room, which is hard to identify. The fireplace suggests that it could have been the living room. However, the room lacks a sofa and is instead full of miscellaneous chairs.
There is also a vanity in the corner of the room, something that is usually found in a bedroom. Regardless of what the room was used for, it is full of antique items such as the detailed vases on the fireplace mantel.
Incredible Detailing
In the corner of this photo, you can see a little more clearly the extravagance put into the crown molding of the home. If we shift our attention to the large mirror, you can see that the detailing at its top is far from simple, and appears to be tarnishing.
It is also clear that the reflection in the mirror is foggy due to the thick layer of grime over the glass surface. Books and papers are stacked in a small bookshelf and appear as though someone rummaged through them in a rush.
The Walls Are Coming Down
Given that the home is roughly a century old, it's amazing that it's still standing. Most buildings that were built that long ago undergo extensive remodeling throughout the years. But here, even the golden curtains are still secure. And after a good clean, the fireplace would look new again.
Even homes that maintain their vintage appearance require extensive upkeep for the sake of functionality. You can see where the wallpaper has peeled off and appears to be damaged.
Cluttered With Memories
Furniture is bundled together as though someone had attempted to package the items. It seems as though Madame was in the middle of organizing her and her grandmother's belongings when she was forced to flee Paris.
Alternatively, she could have simply been frantic as she decided which things she would have to part with. Chairs are grouped together nonsensically and are topped with paintings and books. It's difficult to imagine what the home looked like in its prime condition.
Blast From The Past
The vanity is one of the more telling items in the home due to the small and personal items still resting on top of it. Several hairbrushes are neatly arranged along its surface.
Glass bottled are caked with dust at the base of the mirror. Four candles are arranged at either end and are burned nearly down to their holders. Some sort of box, perhaps for jewelry, is placed on one side; something valuable could be inside.
A Room Fit For A Queen
If you thought that the other rooms evoked an air of extravagance, then you definitely will recognize the grandeur of this bedroom. The fou-poster bed is topped with a thick-fabric canopy that adds splendor to the interior design.
If that weren't enough, the canopy matches the curtains over the large windows. The design on the wall above the dresser is practically a work of art. Two chairs at one window and two chairs at the foot of the bed offer more seating space than you typically see in a bedroom.
Is That An Ostrich?
That is in fact an ostrich, but don't fret. It isn't alive. The item appears to be a replica of the flightless bird. We can only speculate why Madame, or possibly her grandmother Marthe, obtained such an unusual item.
One prospect is that the item was valued for its symbolism. Some believe that there is meaning behind the large bird, as an emblem of wealth, abundance, and fertility. Such a meaningful symbol would certainly fit in this apartment.
Original Disney Characters
Sitting at the feet of the ostrich are vintage Mickey Mouse and Porky Pig dolls. The character of Mickey Mouse was created in 1928. That's only a decade prior to Marthe's death and around the early years of Madame's adolescence.
Porky Pig was created in 1935, only a handful of years before Madame took over the apartment. It's likely that she was the one to bring these items into the home since they came into existence long after Marthe's childhood.
Meet Marthe de Florian
One of the most exquisite items found in the home was a painting of Marthe de Florian. The painting shows Marthe in a voluminous pink dress. As she was born in 1864, the picture likely depicts her around the turn of the 20th century.
The image evokes her carefree disposition. Many images of women at this time show them having a more modest demeanor, but Marthe wears a slight smirk and has her shoulders pulled back. The question is, who was the artist behind this lovely portrait?
Telling Love Letters
The auctioneer, Olivier, and his team rummaged through the drawers and papers, looking for a clue into the mysterious painting. They discovered a stack of letters tied with a ribbon, resting in a desk drawer.
These letters revealed a string of distinguished boyfriends, which was characteristic of her socialite group. In fact, neither of Marthe's two children had a father identified on their birth certificates. One of her presumed lovers was none other than the Italian artist Giovanni Boldini.
Hidden Love
Giovanni Boldini, seen here in a self-portrait, was not immediately confirmed as the artist. The painting was void of a signature and there wasn't a record of the piece. However, the item was mentioned in a memoir written by Giovanni's wife.
According to the book, the painting was created in 1898, which would mean that Marthe was only 34 years old when it was made. The letters confirmed that it was an authentic Boldini painting, and it was sold at an auction for an astounding €2.1 million.
