Fine Living: Invite a socialite’s aesthetics into your home

By PJ Bremier
IJ correspondent

THE LATE EDITH Bouvier Beale, or “Little Edie” as the world would come to know her, was a popular New York socialite and daring style icon of the 1920s and ’30s, not to mention one of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis’ most famous cousins.

Eva Marie Beale, though, knew her as the family showstopper. The Mill Valley resident first met “Little Edie,” the subject of two hit films and an inspiration to fashion designers and a legion of fans, at her wedding rehearsal dinner to Little Edie’s nephew, Bouvier Beale, in 1980.

“She was beyond all my expectations,” Beale recalls. “She was the life of the party. She spoke to all of the guests and was really extroverted. She loved stealing the show and was very good at it.”

Since then, Beale has published several books on her charming in-law: “Edith Bouvier Beale of Grey Gardens, A Life in Pictures” (2008) and “I Only Mark the Hours That Shine: Little Edie’s Diary — 1929″ (2010). A new book of “Little Edie’s” poetry is due to be published this year.

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Eva Marie Beale of Mill Valley founded the Grey Gardens Collection, an online store selling wares such as these ironstone pieces that capture the aesthetics of her relative, the late socialite Edith ' Little Edie' Bouvier Beale. E Beale Grey Gardens Collections

 

Eva Marie Beale of Mill Valley founded the Grey Gardens Collection, an online store selling wares such as this fabric that capture the aesthetics of her relative, the late socialite Edith ' Little Edie' Bouvier Beale. E Beale Grey Gardens Collections

 

Eva Marie Beale of Mill Valley founded the Grey Gardens Collection, an online store selling wares such as this brooch that capture the aesthetics of her relative, the late socialite Edith ' Little Edie' Bouvier Beale. E Beale Grey Gardens Collections

The late socialite Edith ' Little Edie' Bouvier Beale. the late socialite Edith ' Little Edie' Bouvier Beale. Provided by Eva Marie Beale

 

 

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Grey Gardens dinner parties back in the late 1920’s must have been fabulous. When things were at their best at Grey Gardens you can be sure they had the highest quality china, silver and table linens. One of my passions is collecting beautiful dishes to mix and match, inspired by tales of parties at Grey Gardens.

On September 14, 1929 Edie wrote  about “Mother’s party” in her diary I Only Mark the Hours that Shine (recently published and available at Greygardenscollections.com and one  can imagine the fine table settings, and how things looked at Grey Gardens set up for the dinner with 18 guests!

Grey Gardens Style Table Setting

Look closely at the linens – beautiful off-white antique linens with Edie’s initials: EB!

The plates are a display of beautiful flowers – tulips, roses, and dahlia’s – with a pink and gold trim. They are of the finest – on the back it is marked “P.T. Bavaria Tirschenreuth, Decorated in Own Studios” – these are rare and beautiful and in perfect condition. They are hand painted and really have a great look.

Table Setting on Fine White Linen Tablecloth

You can mix and match and really make your table sensational. For example, these dishes are really high quality porcelain and mixed with the country style ironstone works! It really has a nice look. Start collecting  ironstone as you find a piece you like and mix it with some of your favorite china.  Eventually you will end up with a great collection!

Mix and match with fine porcelain and white ironstone

Now I have added a French pattern “Luneville” to the table and mixing with the ironstone is very appealing.  The old wicker basket painted in “Grey Gardens Green” brings color to the table and it works!

Table Setting featuring plates with French "Luneville" pattern.

I am always hunting for new plates for Greygardenscollections.com, so visit the website often to see if any work with your collection!

- Eva

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Summertime, sailboats, and sunsets! I suppose that is what started me on the sailboat painting collection. Spending summers in East Hampton and Amagansett, my eye wanders toward art that will remind me of those summer memories and how good it can be. Long Island is really a very special place in the summer – and now living in California – I can tell you that there is nothing like the summers on the east coast. On this post I am displaying some of the Grey Gardens Collection – and each one has a different style.

The first painting is beautifully done and also framed in a heavy silver wooden frame. The colors are unusual and subdued and the style of the painting is slightly impressionistic. The painting is oil on board and is signed by the artist, which appears to be Florence Viccetti.

Sailboat Painting on board by Florence Viccetti

The painting below has a completely different look, but I was drawn to it because of the colors and style of the painting. This is a vintage painting – as you can see the style of boats in the picture and also the look of the painting. This artist, William Ward Jr. has  signed the work.  He died in 1935 so my hunch was right about this one being vintage.  William Ward Jr. painted landscapes and seascapes and he is listed for his works. The frame is simple- but charming. Again – slightly impressionistic style – and the colors are great.

Oil Painting of Sailboats by William Ward Jr.

The painting below appears to be a very old painting perhaps done in Morocco or the islands somewhere.  Hard to say – but the colors are really alive – and beautiful.  The sails have deep red and blue from the sunset. This artist signed the painting “ Loraine.” There is no date but it is a vintage piece.

Sailboat painting signed "Loraine"

The next painting is European – and has a completely different style than the ones above. This is a Renaissance style painting – and it is well done.  Original frame with some wear – but this one has the gallery look!  I am sure at Grey Gardens – in the 1920’s one could imagine art work like these in one of the rooms! Decorating with artwork is amazing – you can really create a great look.

Renaissance Style Oil Painting

Paintings are available for sale at GreyGardensCollections.com.

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