THE BEGINNING
(of a whole lot of research for a whole lot of lectures!!!)
It all began as my proposal for a package lecture deal. I hoped to research three original decorators and present three one hour lectures titled: “Don’t Forget Elsie, Syrie, Frances and Ruby!” for an ASID National Design Conference in Baltimore, MD.
My subjects were the first decorators to turn their talents into dollars and cents in the early twentieth century and I wanted to know their stories and help preserve their accomplishments. I only told two people about what to me was a daring proposal and was not the least bit surprised when a close friend——an esteemed San Diego designer said, “Don’t get your hopes too high——Washington D.C. is pretty much of an ‘in group”.
I honestly had not one hope, but then, the phone rang, ——Poof!
“Good news, Sheila, We’d like you to…”
I almost said, “REALLY, are you sure?”
The only words I had written so far, was a title and
they wanted three one-hour lectures, one after the other???
TOTALLY GOBSMACKED!!!
Magazine archives, used book stores and libraries became my nearest and dearest friends along with an opportunity to interview Katherine Boyd in her Hillsborough, California home near San Francisco. She is the only child of Frances Adler Elkins who created a stunning career and a salient cottage design industry in Monterrey, California. My hope was to catch a glimpse of Frances Elkins who shared her life with her only child. We visited her daughter, Katie Boyd in Hillsborough:
It was early twilight in her library where she entertained my husband and me. It was filled with treasures and mementos from renown European sources where a miniature fire illuminated our seating area. Endive with slivers of Roquefort circled a silver tray as we sipped Kir in our antique Venetian cocktail tumblers.
As a counterpart to her mother’s talent, Katie’s home generates her own international mood. In this universally appealing home there are separate seating areas, a “Frank” leather table and a “Giacometti” lamp in the sizable living room. The dining room is dominated by large “McComas” murals and “Salviati” art glass designed by Katie. There is a lovely chandelier that creates a pool of feathery light over the coral porcelain centered on the dining table.
McComas Art in Katie’s Home*
Jean Michel Steel & Leather Table **
*Behind my chair the soulful-looking Giacometti sculptured lamp with a mica shade offered diffused light as my sophisticated hostess, Katie, with her contagious sense of humor shared anecdotes of Jean Michel Frank, Coco Chanel and more.
Alberto Giacometti Sculptured Lamps ***
Example of Salviati Wine Glass Set****
Although wanting to ask a million questions,——I was not invited to move in for a month or two therefore my goal centered on a bit of her personal history with her mother,—-Frances,—-a decorator whose work has long enticed designers and writers to research the eclectic and brilliantly conceived interiors she created. It was a journey worth taking!
When I asked Katie about life in their home, the “Casa Amesti” in Monterrey, she said, “I grew up there with Mom, but we traveled all the time. I had a pretty solitary life because there were really no children to play with, but it was interesting. Mom took me everywhere. I always had a governess and that was my schooling. I never went to college because I got married.
That was a very glamorous era with its own aura. When we were in Biarritz in southern France, the King of Spain and his court was there. My Grandmother Adler traveled over to help. Grandmother was a beautiful old-fashioned lady— from Milwaukee. It was a startling contrast when Ma had her wear dresses designed by Chanel.”
“Did that make your Grandmother Adler less old-fashioned and more sophisticated?”
Her emphatic answer, “Never!”
Katie became adept in living a life of dramatic change which included traveling with a governess, a cook and family. A fascinating account included her story——”Mom adored Venice and every year rented a palazzo on the Grand Canal. Coco Chanel was often our guest. I was a little one then and I loved looking out the window with its magnificent view.”
One day, I said to my mother, ‘What are all those white things floating out the window? Is it snow?”
Mother said, “It’s nothing dear, Mademoiselle Chanel is very upset with Monsieur Dali.”
I said, “But what ARE all THOSE white things floating around?”
And my Mother said, “Oh, he keeps sending her all these drawings and paintings because he says he is in love with her,—but,—she doesn’t think they’re very good so she’s tearing them up and throwing them away!”
Katie said, “How I laugh when I think of all those Salvadore Dali’s at the bottom of the canal.”
“Mademoiselle Chanel occasionally did keep some that she considered well done. Of course he was not the only one in love with Coco”,—-three-fourths of the men in Europe were because she was such an interesting woman and always ahead of her time.”(Picasso once said, “She has more sense than any woman in Europe.”)
“When Mademoiselle Chanel visited us in Monterrey. I remember some of the clothes she designed for Mom. I’ve never seen any like them. They were absolutely beautiful.”
“Did you ever wear Chanel?”
“No, but some of the designers were very nice. They’d make pieces for me which I could purchase. Before Monsieur Mainbaucher died, he said, ‘I want you to have some of my clothes for your mother’s sake.’
Katie smiled when she remembered her comment, “But I can’t begin to afford you.” He answered, “Don’t worry, it will be all right,”
“Was your father Felton Elkins a part of your life?”
“No, I think I was four when they divorced. The little I know is it was not a long marriage. Those were the years when you could be a glamorous playboy. My father was a polo player and I think he was one of those men who always had too many ladies.”
“I believe mom realized she couldn’t have a life with him.”
In Monterrey, there is adobe and then there’s more adobe. The simple mud bricks are built out of the soil that surround foundations which then rise into picturesque homes and the Casa Amesti has been described as a superb example of Monterrey Colonial architecture. When Frances and Felton bought the Casa in 1918 Monterrey had become a forgotten world and it was a lingering wreck built in 1834.
The chronology from the National Trust for Historic Preservation show photos from 1915 of the Casa in deplorable conditions. A private men’s group, the exclusive and expensive Old Capitol Club leased the Casa in 1955 for their sole use during the week where daily luncheons are offered for members and in return they maintain the property.
When I asked Katie, “What do you think of your mother’s home being occupied by a men’s club?”
Her look of genuine disbelief precluded her answer, “I am trying to help the National Trust organize details. Mom would have a heart attack if she saw what was happening in her boudoir—actually playing cards and backgammon in her bedroom!!”
Part Two: Soon!
Sy’s Salient Points: Both Katie’s and the Casa Amesti are aesthetically beautiful with treasures worthy of museums and galleries.
*Francis McComasÚ “…once rated “among the twenty best painters of the world,” Monterrey Museum of Art
** Jean Michel Frank Table on sale at 1stdibs for $42,816.91 (at time of this writing.)
*** Giacometti Lamp Bases on sale at 1stdibs.com for $37,000 (at time of this writing.)
****Salviati Wine Glass Set on sale at eBay for $85,000 (at time of this writing.)
Happy Moving into Your University Freshman Dorm, Blaire Darling