Add Hounds, Homes, Hollywood & History…
and you’d have my favorite subjects.
So when I spotted this MGM photograph of Ruth Selwyn, hanging out with her Selyham Terrier in her Beverly Hills backyard, I did a double take…
Wow, I thought to myself…that’s some oversized peacock umbrella!
And that fabulous skirt & blouse…why don’t they make clothes like that anymore?
Of course, the adorable Dog almost stole the show…
But L O O K at those Art Deco chairs:
They were designed by Elsie de Wolfe!
The Top Dog of the Interior Design profession and Dog lover extraordinaire. (You can read more about her here.)
A pair of barrel chairs made an appearance in the 2008 Bonham’s auction of the Estate of Jose Iturbi and Marion Seabury.
The Bonham’s Auction Catalog description:
A pair of Art Deco painted wood tub chairs customized for the Beverly Hills residence for the Countess Dorothy di Frasso by Elsie de Wolfe, circa 1936. Each with curved back and circular tapering seat on cylindrical feet, one painted blue, the other white. Height 30.5 inches (77cm); width 21 inches (53cm); depth 21 inches (53cm).
While Bonham’s gave the chairs an auction estimate of $800 to $1200, the Elsie de Wolfe designed chairs sold for $2400. (June 2008, Sale #16529, Lot #209)
Tub Chair. Image: House & Garden
The May 2007 issue of House and Garden magazine ran a feature on Countess Dorothy di Frasso’s home that was decorated by the legendary Elsie de Wolfe in 1936 and purchased by Jose Iturbi in 1947.
Jose left the home just as Elsie de Wolfe decorated it. (You can read more about the home here on one of my favorite blogs, The Peak of Chic.)
David Duncan Antiques has a “restored” pair of the chairs and has them up for sale on 1st Dibs.
The tub chairs have been “restored” with a silver gilt finish. (refinished or restored?)
The price is available upon request, here.
Note the differing dates of the tub chairs:
- The “restored” chairs are given a date of circa 1940
- The Bonham’s chairs, circa 1936
- The Ruth Selwyn MGM photograph is from 1932!
In 1932, the glamorous Hollywood actress would have been promoting her new movie for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer:
Speak Easily, starring Buster Keaton.
Ruth Selwyn’s connection to Elsie de Wolfe was through her husband, Edgar Selwyn.
It seems the motion picture director’s brother Archibald started his business with a loan from Elsie de Wolfe’s partner:
Dogs, Dames & Designers…My, isn’t it a small world?
Actress Ruth Selwyn. Image: All Star Pics
Later, I’ve got to let the Dog out,
Taffy, our charming 
