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Rossini
56
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[ICART (Louis)]. A collection of letters and documents bound…
See original version (French)
56
-
[ICART (Louis)]. A collection of letters and documents bound…
See original version (French)
Estimate €800 - €1,200
Voluntary lot
Description
[ICART (Louis)]. A collection of letters and documents bound in a small square quarto volume, addressed to Mr and Mrs Alméras, comprising:
- ICART (Louis). A signed autograph letter dated 25 February 1948. The artist, who is unwell, mentions the transport of a barrel of wine. ‘I shall write to you in a more cheerful vein, I hope, by next week… When my fever and aches and pains have at last been drowned in wine, which remains, whatever the doctors may say, the best of all medicines! ”
- ICART (Louis). Elegant ladies observing Paris. Etching signed by the artist and accompanied by an autograph inscription to Mrs Alméras.
- ICART (Louis). Autograph letter signed, dated 25 July 1945. An interesting letter employing Rabelaisian vocabulary. ‘Most illustrious perfumer,...’
- ICART (Louis). Autograph letter signed, dated 7 November 1946, accompanied by an original drawing by the artist depicting a reclining nude. ‘Your corrections smell lovely, my dear Amy, and you are truly a distiller of quintessences’ (of Cyprus! Of roses! Of irises!, …). My wife is delighted, over the moon, and makes such good use of your perfumes that even her farts smell lovely!!! I often think of you – and would love, from time to time, for you to give me a sign of life ‘in Rabelaisius’ …”
- ICART (Louis). Signed autograph letter dated 9 January 1947, featuring an original drawing depicting a humorous frieze of characters. Letter concerning ‘Trompette Coutor’ (?) ‘[…] The style is very lively, very comical, and it’s very much in the same vein as Rabelais drew upon! My wife and I laughed, laughed until we were literally wetting the ceiling!!! [...]”
- ICART (Louis). Signed autograph letter dated 16 May 1947. ‘[…] It was with -oh! -ah! -hum! -hi! of pleasant surprise that my wife unwrapped the lovely bottles… The soap… How kind of you! We’ll have to make up for all this, on our return, with endless drinking binges! [...]”
- Photograph showing an X-ray session at the First-Class Spa in Vichy, with a handwritten note by Louis Icart: ‘If Rabelais could see this…!’
- ICART (Louis). Signed autograph letter dated 28 July 1948. ‘[…] my wife, every morning, applies “Luzy” lotion – and as for me, I couldn’t say my pagan prayer – without having a sip of your little white wine… so sweet, so smooth, so delightful [...]’
- ICART (Louis). Signed autograph letter dated 14 January 1948. ‘[…] So our first task will be to deck out our ‘Tower of Calvary’, to light up the surroundings, to fire up the ovens and grills, to stock up on ‘little girls’ and magnums, so that we may at last welcome you, just as we’ve been dreaming… In complete privacy too: the four of us! Then, between sips, and after invoking Pantagruel, we’ll set the solemn date for Rue Vico [...]”
- ICART (Louis). Autograph letter signed, dated 21 April 1948, featuring an original drawing of a nude woman filling bottles from a cask. “Dear friend, that’s it! The wine has been drawn! Now: we must drink it! [...]”
- ICART (Louis). Signed autograph letter dated 12 December 1948. “[…] I’m having my kitchen refurbished (‘American-style’ – naturally!) and I very much hope to invite you and Mrs Alméras to the opening – as soon as it’s ready to use! […] I would have liked to have achieved something in New York for your factory… but I was there for too short a time to reach the people who might have been interested… Although, as I wrote to you, most American businessmen, alarmed by France’s communist policies, no longer wish to invest capital in our country’s businesses [...]”
- ICART (Louis). Signed autograph letter dated 27 December 1949. ‘[…] To give concrete expression to these wishes, I would be grateful if you would accept this new edition of *Les amours de Psyché* – which has just been published at Christmas – which I hope you will enjoy. And, in the hope that we may meet soon and ‘empty the jug’ in the spirit of Rabelais [...]”
- ICART (Louis). Signed autograph letter concerning the Coutor manuscript.
- ICART (Fanny). Autograph poem addressed to the Alméras.
- ICART (Fanny). Signed autograph letter.
- Death notice for Louis Icart.
- ICART (Fanny and Louis). Signed postcard addressed to the Alméras.
- ICART (Louis). Signed autograph letter addressed to Mr and Mrs Alméras: ‘[…] nothing must distract you from the Sacred Rite of the Grape Harvest [...]’.
- ICART (Fanny). A signed autograph letter written to the Alméras following the death of Louis Icart.
- ICART (Fanny and Louis). A signed autograph letter addressed to Mr Alméras ‘Thank you once again for your visit, for the sumptuous parcel (–worthy of rivalling the boxes of incense and myrtle brought by the Three Wise Men…) containing the book – and, finally, for the photographs of your villa and your workshops [...]’
Orange half-maroquin binding with corners, plain, unmarked spine, signed by A. Debrioude.
Henri Alméras was one of the leading figures in the world of perfumery during the first half of the 20th century. Having joined Paul Poiret’s ‘Parfums de Rosine’ in 1914, he became the chief perfumer at Jean Patou in 1925 and went on to create, amongst others, the fragrances ‘Amour Amour’ and ‘Joy’.
Enclosed:
- PATOU (Jean). A signed typewritten letter addressed to Mr Alméras, dated 8 February 1936, referring to the establishment of a collection.
(some letters are unbound)
See original version (French)
Auto-translation. Refer to original language for legal validity.
About the sale
THE RETURN OF THE CLASSICAL ARTS
Auction location
Auction time
09/22/2026 at 11:00 AM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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