“Time Capsule” Apartment in Paris Found Untouched for 70 Years

Some people might take a vacation and leave their residence unmanned for a few weeks or even months, but one apartment in Paris was left isolated for about 70 years. The beautifully preserved space, which belonged to the granddaughter of the late Parisian socialite and actress Marthe de Florian, was paid for, month after month over the course of numerous decades, yet never returned to in all that time, leaving it not only unoccupied, but also completely untouched.

It was during World War II that the owner initially fled her opulent abode in effort to escape the Nazi raid. Never to return to her home, which is now deemed a Parisian “Time Capsule” apartment, the luxurious woman's heirs decided to make an inventory of her apartment when they discovered its preserved interior and the many treasures inside.

One such gem included a painting by renowned 19th century Italian painter Giovanni Boldini. The painting features a woman who is thought to be Marthe de Florian at 24 years of age. The time capsule home also disclosed her love affair with the artist through a stack of love letters they exchanged. The apartment, which proved to be as rich with possessions as it is with secrets, is currently closed off to the public, though some speculate that may change.


via [So Good So Bad, Telegraph]

Pinar

Pinar Noorata (she/her) is the Editorial Director at My Modern Met. She is a writer, editor, and content creator based in Brooklyn, New York. She earned her BA in Film and Media Studies from CUNY Hunter College. She has worked at major TV, film, and publishing companies as well as other independent media businesses. She also runs her own art & culture newsletter called The High Low. She first joined the My Modern Met team in 2011 as a Contributing Writer, pitching and publishing articles about a wide range of topics. Her expertise in visual media lends itself to in-depth analysis of varied art forms, including but not limited to painting, illustration, sculpture, installation, design, and photography. Pinar has a particular affinity for spotlighting up-and-coming artists, affording them a platform and offering a voice to lesser-heard individuals looking to break through, especially BIPOC creatives. She has helped multiple artists make a name for themselves and reach a wider audience over 10+ years as a writer and editor (both through long-form articles and short-form videos). When she isn’t writing, editing, or creating videos herself, Pinar enjoys watching films and TV, reading, crafting, drawing, frequenting museums and galleries, and volunteering at her local animal shelter.
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