By Nancy Armitage
Mrs. Arabella Huntington was most fascinated with the Empress of France, Empress Eugenie. I too, went down the rabbit hole the last couple of weeks researching Empress Eugenie. Eugenie had a amazing life in many different countries (Spain, France, & England), & in different palaces in France. In the 1800’s, she was a world traveler, quite an “influencer in the French fashion” & the world. Empress Eugenie hired the House of Worth in Paris to make all her royal dresses. Empress Eugenie was spotlighted often in world newspapers & fine magazines. One of her dear friends was Queen Victoria of England. The Empress Eugenie’s jewelry collection might have been the most extravagant in the world. Mrs. Arabella Huntington was quite a amazing jewelry collector herself. Mrs. Huntington actually was able to buy some jewelry once owned by Empress Eugenie. Mrs. Huntington & Empress Eugenie both adored Queen Marie Antoinette of France. In fact, Eugenie also lived in many of the French chateaus that Marie Antoinette lived in. What a life both of these ladies lived! Also, Arabella Huntington was able to live in one of Empress Eugenie’s mansions also…details below.
So we know, that in 1909, Empress Eugenie & Mrs. Arabella Huntington met for a luncheon/tea in Paris. It was hosted by Mrs. Arabella Huntington mansion “Hotel Hirsch”; the location was at her 1st Paris mansion located at 2 & 4 rue, de l’Elysee & rue de la Gabriel; it was called the “Hotel Hirsch”. The Hotel Hirsch property in the 1800’s was called “Hotel de l’Imperatrice” & it was once owned by Empress Eugenie of France. Document: Curator Bennett spoke about the luncheon tea in her lecture about Arabella D. Huntington at the Huntington Library San Marino, CA.
Mrs. Arabella Huntington had spent many months (1907-1910) renovating this large Hirsch hotel & wanted the Empress to see what she had done. What probably got Arabella most undone and all a-flutter was choosing the Empress’ luncheon menu & the tablescape…. Arabella could have chosen a numerous theme for this entertainment: Spanish theme, a French soiree, or a English afternoon tea, or a Violet Tea for dessert (the Empress & Arabella share the loved of violets). So many choices & the Empress Eugenie was a multi-faceted interesting woman. Was anyone else invited to this luncheon/tea?? Where did these 2 ladies meet? Did they have anything in common?
What did these two rich & powerful women have in common? So many things, they could have talked about. They both loved to entertain throughout their lives, whether it was 100’s guests or small intimate gatherings. “At Homes” tea & ” French Soirees” with interesting people they had met on the way. They could have talked about their French chateaus or palaces, Violets & Roses, favorite French plate ware (Sevres and Havilland), tablescapes, jewelry, & gemstones. They could have had a single conversation just about pearls, each of them loved them all: Baroque pearls, Cultured pearls, black pearls, fresh water pearls, & Tahitian Pearls. They could have chatted about their great world travels in Paris, South of France, England, Spain, & Egypt. Empress Eugenie could have told stories of her elaborate Royal Formal Dress Balls, her formal handmade dresses & the House of Worth, Lace, Fashion, & their favorite Queen Marie Antoinette, of course.
These two ladies did have a lot in common, they also had one son each. They both emulating their homes & wardrobes, from their hero, French Queen Marie Antoinette. They could have chatted about royal jewels or elegant dresses to certain royal events, their life-size portraits, or their royal Parisian styled salons in their palaces or mansions. “Salon” & Drawing Rooms in their French mansions & French chateaus decorated with Marie Antoinette chandeliers, Louis XV French furniture, & “MA” beautiful carpets. Mrs. Arabella Huntington had a habit of collecting many royal items (that were once owned by royals): their houses, mansions & palaces, jewelry, rugs, & artwork too, etc.
French Chateaus & Palaces: Oh my! Emperor Napoleon & Empress Eugenie really took advantage of all the palaces they owned. They lived in Versailles Palace in Paris & Chateau St. Cloud in Paris. When they went to go on summer vacation with their son, they traveled down to “Eugenie Villa” in Biarritz, South of France. Biarritz is 22 miles from Spain, Empress Eugenie’s homeland.
Empress Eugenie was quite a hostess at Tuileries Palace (Monday Salons) & also at their Palace of Fontainebleau. Mrs. Arabella Huntington from 1913-1923 was able to live in Chateau Beauregard La Celle-St. Cloud by Versailles & Paris.
Entertainments at Palaces : Many royal entertainments were hosted at l’Elysee Palace in Paris, During Eugenie’s & young Napoleon III courtship. As a young bride, Empress Eugenie, entertained in a grand way & with great ease. Eugenie was quite a grand hostesses at Mondays salons at Tuileries Palace before 1871. Napoleon III & Empress Eugenie entertained often at the Palais des Tuileries, with lavish balls & great royal receptions. Thousands of people attended this special events. Palais des Tuileries was once a French royal residence, along the Seine River next to the Louvre Museum, until a terrible fire.
Also, Palace of Fontainebleau ( on June 27, 1861 a grand reception hosted by Napoleon III & Empress Eugenie, to the Siamese ambassadors; the painting on the event is located in Versailles Palace). One of her portrait painter named Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux captured some of these great events. Empress Eugenie was famous for her “Monday Salons”. People were very dressed up for these fancy soirees & there was grand feasting & dancing.
Mrs. Collis Huntington (Arabella or Belle) was famous for her “At-Homes” (SF) & “Sundays at the Ranch” the H.E. Huntington’s San Marino Ranch in Southern California. These were “At-home” tea gatherings in the 1890’s, in her mansion on Nob Hill in San Francisco. There were usually 50 or more people invited to these entertainments. She also invited very interesting important people from all walks of life.
Mrs. Arabella Huntington was a Southern Belle; a kind & thoughtful hostess. Arabella as Mrs. Collis P. Huntington did her largest entertaining in her mansion on California Street in San Francisco, CA. Collis & Arabella Huntington would host 110 guests for elaborate 16-course meal in their ballroom/art gallery. In January 1914, H. E. & Arabella Huntington hosted the opening of his Hotel Huntington in Pasadena CA. There was a Huntington Grand ball at the Huntington Hotel & 1000 guests were invited. Then there was a grand dinner with 2 seatings & 600 guests at each seating at the Hotel Huntington.
In Spring of 1915, Arabella helped host a garden tour & garden party tea in Pasadena, CA for 400 guests. It was located at her daughter-in-law’s mansion close to the Hotel Huntington in Pasadena, CA Mrs. Henry Edwards Huntington (Arabella) could have had grand entertainments at their Chateau Beauregard near Versailles Palace, but there is no record of them. Arabella Huntington personal papers were destroyed after she died in 1924.
French Plateware: Both women, Arabella & Eugenie especially liked French plateware: Sevres, Haviland, & Limoges. Empress Eugenie was pleased with Haviland, especially creating a plateware just for her, called “Imperatrice Eugenie”. The pattern had humble 6 petit violet plants surrounding the plate with a gold & white rim. The colors of the plate are unusual with blue & violet, leaf green, sage green, & lime green with white background.
Napoleon III & Empress Eugenie had special royal Sevres French plates with their images on them (below) . Eugenie’s portrait on the plate is her as a younger bride. She is wearing white lace & violet lavender ribbon on her dress & violets in her hair. She is holding flowers or herbs. They were dark blue rims with golden bees. Inside rim had numerous swags & filigree of gold. Mrs. Huntington was known for her collection of laces, the finest money could buy. She often wore lace dresses and lace incorporated in other dresses. She thought lace was such an amazing art form.
Royal Jewels: Both Mrs. Arabella Huntington & Empress Eugenie loved wearing & buying jewelry. They loved beautiful statement pieces; very large gemstones & jewels (favorites were pearls (black pearls & baroque pearls), diamonds, emeralds, rubies, & sapphires), Both of these women also commissioned jewelers to make them jewelry, using gemstones they already owned. Both women had massive collection of jewels. They had huge collections of jeweled tiaras, brooches, pendants, necklaces, earrings, bracelets, & rings. Arabella Huntington had a affection for buying royal jewels (jewelry once owned by royalty – like Empress Eugenie).
Empress Eugenie’s Royal Jewels at Auction:
Sadly, Empress Eugenie had to sell some of her stunning royal jewels. She needed money to live in England in Exile in 1870’s. Empress Eugenie live with exiled Emperor Napoleon III & their son, they lived at Camden Place, Chislehurst, Kent, England; now Chislehurst Gold Club.
There were 2 significant auctions of Empress Eugenie’s Jewels:
The 1st jewelry auction was 2 years after their exile was in 1872, this one was by Christies auction house in England.
the 2nd jewelry auction was in 1887 – Public auction at the Salles des Etats of the Louvre Museum, in Paris, France. Many fine jewelers & wealthy elite attended this event like Tiffany & Co. & Van Cleef Jewelers. Mrs. Caroline Astor of the Astor Family of New York City; became the proud owner of Empress Eugenie “Bow Brooch”. This is a stunning piece of jewerly, made of sparkling diamonds made the beautiful diamond bow & two tassels made of diamonds hanging off the bow. It is a amazing piece of art & jewelry.
Paris Mansions/Palaces: some of the finest palaces (mansions) in France were owned/leased by these two women. Both of them owned (the Paris Mansion address at 2 & 4, rue de la Elysses was owned by both of them). Once called “Hotel de l’Imperatrice” (Empress Eugenie) & Mrs. Arabella Huntington bought it when it was called “Hotel de Hirsch” in Paris. Mrs. Huntington spent $100,000.00’s renovated this hotel & her grand suite on the top floor.
Mr. & Mrs. Henry “Edward” Huntington (Arabella) married in the summer of 1913. Mr. H. E. Huntington wanted to buy the Chateau Beauregard as a wedding gift for his new bride. It was located at La Celle St. Cloud near Paris & Versailles. But Baron De Forest who owned Chateau Beauregard said “no”. But the Huntingtons were able to lease Chateau Beauregard for 10 years from 1913-1923.
Emulating Marie Antoinette & decorating their Parisian palaces & mansions: Mrs. Arabella Huntington decorated 2 mansions in Paris, in the French style of Marie Antoinette from 1907 to 1913. Then Mrs. Arabella Huntington renovated & decorated Chateau Beauregard in La Celle-St. Cloud by Versailles Palace in the French style. She also owned renovated mansions in New York City, San Francisco, & San Marino in the same Marie Antoinette style. With the help of Joseph Duveen, helping her buy French antiques, chandeliers, wall paper, French tapestries, & fabrics. Many of the salons or drawing rooms (of Empress Eugenie & Arabella) in these French palaces were red, or green, or blue.
Mrs. Arabella Huntington’s Large Drawing-Room (at her California San Marino Ranch mansion) is inspired by the Salon in the Petit Trianon, Versailles in Paris France. The Petit Trianon was built for Marie Antoinette because she was so overwhelmed by Versailles Palace. The sketch of this Huntington’s Drawing-Room is photographed in the book: The Art of Wealth.
Dresses, Clothes, Costumes, decorative arts, & Queen Marie Antoinette: In Mlle de Montijo de Teba ( Eugenie) to Empress Eugenie of France
In her courtship & wedding to Emperor Napoleon III, the trumpets played while young Eugenie entered the Tuileries Palace in Paris. It was noon, on January 29, Young Eugenie was in a carriage with her mother, the Countess Montijo traveling from Elysee Palace to Tuileries Palace. She wore a special wedding dress made for her by the city of Liege. It was made of white velvet, with a over dress of the finest lace woven in pattern of her favorite flower, Violets. With a lace veil on her head & diamond coronet with a wreath of fragrant orange blossoms. 200,000 people came to Paris to watch!! The next day they were married at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. Information from Heritage-history.com
For the love of Marie Antoinette
Arabella – Mrs. Collis P. Huntington adored violets. She grew many varieties of violets like Parma violets, English Violets and Russian Violets. Arabella had a Violet hothouse & also in her French garden & massive conservatory at Throgg’s Neck estate in Westchester Co, NY.
Many things that were owned by Mrs. Arabella Huntington, were once owned by French Queen Marie Antoinette: Things like etching, Marie Antoinette rugs, French chairs, & chandeliers. Both these ladies adored Queen Marie Antoinette. Empress Eugenie’s in her yellow dress portrait was a Marie Antoinette inspiration. Young Arabella Huntington in a sepia tone photo/painting portrait looks like Empress Eugenie in her youth. She is also wearing a crushed velvet with a stunning pearl cross in that portrait.
Empress Eugenie was very interested in the Decorative Arts & interested in large projects of Pavillons Baltard, Rue des Halles & Cremerie de Paris. Also, the construction of the Crystal Palace for the Great Exhibition in London – England in 1851. Mrs. Arabella Huntington adored fabrics, wall covering of damask, French fabric, & she adored laces. In the portraits of Empress Eugenie, she brings incorporating lace to Victorian dresses to a new level.
House of Worth – Paris at 7 Rue de la Paix, Paris
While at a entertainment, Empress Eugenie noticed how pretty one of the Princess de Metternich dresses was. She quietly asked her where she got it her pretty dress. The young princess said Worth of Paris, he was just starting out at the time and trying to get customers. Eugenie made an appointment with Mr. Chas. Frederick Worth (a English man) the very next day, Worth came to the Eugenie’s Tuileries Palace . She brought to Salon her many dresses, maybe he could change her existing dresses. House of Worth became her official Royal dressmaker. House of Worth made Empress Eugenie about 100 dresses a year. Used for all the Fancy dress Balls she would attend through the year. Women at that time period never wore the same dress twice. Putting House of Worth in Paris on the map, as the very best dress maker.
Mr. Worth never ever forgot Empress Eugenie’s kindness to him. He sent her a bouquet of Violets, to her home in England (when she & her family were in exile). A sweet gesture: Every year, faithful to her memory, he would send…… “a large bouquet of Parma violets tied with a mauve ribbon signed in gold embroidery with his name.” Information Napoleon.org
As a wealthy women Mrs. Arabella Huntington used House of Worth to make her seasonal wardrobes for decades. As Mrs. Collis P. Huntington (Arabella) & after 1913 Mrs. H. E. Huntington (Arabella). Mr. Chas. Frederick Worth was Mrs. Huntington’s main dressmaker in the Gilded Age. She also brought to Mr. Worth other dresses she owned, to see if he could make them better. He designed beautiful fancy gowns for Arabella, too.
As teenagers they both went to Convent schools: Eugenie & Belle.
I would say both Eugenie & Belle or Bella (Arabella) were lively & maybe sassy young women in their youth. Both of these women went to convent schools.
Eugenie de Motijo attended Sacred Heart Convent in Paris with her sister, Francisca. Back in Madrid, she loved riding horseback & going to festivals. She embroidered a beautiful cloak for a toreador, which is quite a romantic gesture. She would get dressed up in her Andalusian costume and put violets in her hair. She loved being a center of attraction & was admired by dukes & princes as a young girl. Sometimes, she went to far & society gossiped about her behavior. Then she was seriously thinking about becoming a nun, in a simpler life & not the chaotic life of her parents. A nun stopped her & told her, don’t be a nun, she was destined for the throne. Eugenie listened to this wise nun at the convent.
Arabella, or Belle, I think she loved being the center of attention, in the early years, wearing cameos and gaudy jewelry, beautiful French hats with flowers & lace with French frills on the bodice of her dresses. Miss Belle Yarrington (Arabella) & her friend, Miss Caroline Campbell attended Convent school in New Orleans, Louisiana as told by the Huntington’s butler, Alfonzo Gomez.
Hotels & Travel: These two women, Mrs. Huntington & Empress Eugenie were very well-traveled women. They traveled all over Europe, on trains, ships, & cars. Mrs. Huntington traveled all over Europe: London England, Paris & the South of France, Spain, & Baden-Baden Germany. Empress Eugenie traveled from Spain to France in Paris & down to the south of France to “Villa Eugenie”, also Baden Baden to the spas. They often stayed at the same hotels like Brown’s Hotel in London & Paris Ritz & Hotel Continental in Paris France.
Tea: a Victorian ritual, but which tea did Eugenie & Arabella like the best?? English Earl Grey or Ridgeway Tea from England, a Parisian Tea with herbal infusions or English proper tea with scones & jam and Devonshire Cream & Lemon Curd. Or a Spanish Tea: “At-Homes” with infusions of peppermint, chamomile of lime or maybe spicy hot cocoa.
They both would have gone to Tea at the Paris Ritz, also elegant tea in the French palaces & Gilded Age mansions of both of these women. A intimate cup of tea & a chat. Afternoon Tea Ritz Carlton in London England after 1913 Mrs. H.E. Huntington traveled to England with her husband “Edwards”. Empress Eugenie lived in England.
Where did these two women met?
There are numerous places that they (Empress Eugenie & Mrs. Arabella Huntington) could have met. There was: Continental Hotel in France (1880’s-1890’s to early 1900’s), or Ritz Paris in France? It’s a mystery. They both attended Charity Teas in hotels & Swarmi Lectures on ships.
Empress Eugenie with her family had to go into exile to England in 1870’s. In England, these women could have met Brown’s Hotel (Collis & Arabella stayed there) or the Claridge Hotel in England (1890’s-1900’s) were Joseph Duveen had a suite. Mrs. Huntington was one of Duveens best clients. They also could have been introduced by Princess Clara de Hatzfeldt (who was Arabella’s step-daughter) who also lived 33 Grosvenor Street in London, England & a mansion in Windsor.
Empress Eugenie’s Story: Her name was Empress Eugenie or Maria Eugenia Ignacia Agustina de Palafox y Kirkpatrick, also Eugenie de Montijo (1826-1920). She became the wife of Napoleon III of France in 1853 crowning her Empress Eugenie of France. She was born in Granada, Spain in 1826 & she was the daughter of a noble man and a mother who was a Countess. She moved to Paris in 1834. She died in 1920 at 94 years old, in Madrid, Spain, her homeland.
Napoleon III & Empress Eugenie:
When she became the wife of Emperor Napoleon III. Empress Eugenie was well dressed & very stylist & beautiful, you could called a fashionista today. She was a trend setter in Parisian fashion; in her numerous portraits with her elaborate gowns & stunning jewels. Napoleon III & Eugenie, were married in the Palais de Tuileries on January 29-30, 1853. The next day at Norte Dame Cathedral. In March 16, 1856, Eugenie gave birth to her son & only child, Louis Napoleon, Prince Imperial
Napoleon III & Empress Eugenie owned the grand Chateau St. Cloud in Paris. A beautiful red watercolor of her red damask wallpaper in salon or a drawing room. They appreciated many paintings with numerous paintings on the walls of this salon.
They also owned Villa Eugenie in Biarritz, France, built in 1855. This building became the Hotel du Palais in Biarritz. Empress Eugenie also owned “Hotel Imperatrice”, Paris, a gift from her husband Napoleon III.
1907 Mrs. Arabella D. Huntington buys Kann Collection in Paris
1907 Mrs. Arabella Huntington buys the Kann Collection in Paris (a portion of the Collection) thru Joseph Duveen. In June of that same year, Mrs. Huntington also buys the Hotel Hirsch in Paris, probably to house all the treasures she just bought in the Kann Collection.
Hotel Hirsch & Hotel Imperatrice, Paris France (same place) 2, & 4 rue de la Elysee, Paris France
Hotel Hirsch at address 2, rue de la Elysee & it included: 4, rue de l’Elysee next door . It wasn’t always called the “Hotel Hirsch” in Paris, France. In the 1800’s, this Parisian Hotel was once called “Hotel Imperatrice” & owned by Empress Eugenie of France. A present from her husband, Napoleon III.
In Lehmann’s biography its states: “In the 1890’s, the Hotel Hirsh located off the Champs-Elysess in Paris was associated with Baron Maurice de Hirsch & his family…..This hotel was originally built for Empress Eugenie, the wife of Napoleon III. Baron de Hirsch later acquired the property & nearly tripled its size. It is described as a block-long palace with a large ballroom & a grand [white] marble staircase.”
In 1907, when Mrs. Collis P. Huntington (Arabella) bought the Hotel Hirsch in Paris. She signed her name “Mrs. Arabella D. Huntington” at the time. She lived on the top floor of the Hotel Hirsch & renovated the rest of the Hotel de Hirsch.
2025, this building (once Hotel Hirsch & Hotel Imperatice) is now used for Secretariat of African & Malagasy Affairs of the French Presidency. “The building at 2 rue de l’Elyssee or “Hotel de Hirsch”, which houses the diplomatic unit & the building at 4 rue de l Elyssee or “Hotel de L’Imperatrice”, because it was owned by Empress Eugenie. Now it houses certain technical departments, such as events & production. Document: Elysee.fr website . It is located close- by to the “The Elysee Palace”, which is the official residence of the President of France on 55 Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honore, not far from rue de l’Elysee.
1909 Mrs. Arabella Huntington invited the Empress Eugenie to luncheon/tea in Paris:
After 2 years of owning, renovating, & decorating the “Hotel Hirsch”, it was time to show it off. Mrs. Arabella Huntington would have enjoyed the fruits of her labor renovating. She loved pretty things, she filled this space with beautiful King Louis XVI & Queen Marie Antoinette furniture, fresh coats of paint, & new Parisian wallpaper & curtains & sparkling Marie Antoinette chandeliers she would have been very happy.
In a “Arabella Huntington” lecture at the Huntington Library, San Marino, Curator Bennett, told the audience an interesting fact. That in 1909 in Paris, Madame Arabella Huntington invited the Empress Eugenie to Luncheon/ Tea. The location of the tea, was at Mrs. Huntington 1st Parisian mansion, located at 2, rue de l’Elyssee, & 4, rue de l’Elyssee (and rue, de la Gabriel) – it was called the “Hotel Hirsch” at that time. In the 1800’s it was “Hotel Imperatrice” (once owned by Empress Eugenie).
Theme of the Parisian Luncheon & maybe 2-4 guests:
What did Mrs. Huntington serve at her elegant Parisian tea?? Was anyone else invited?? A companion that would travel with Empress Eugenie? Arabella’s son, Archer Huntington, he was obsessed with the Spanish culture since he was 19 yrs. old. Archer even founded the Spanish Museum called the Hispanic Society of America in NYC, NY. So there is a great possibility that there might have been 4 or more guests to this momentous luncheon event.
Empress Eugenie Tea (Royal Tea was it Spanish, French, or English or a combination):
Through Huntington Paris invoices & their Paris menus seen; I am putting together a lovely Parisian tea menu that Arabella Huntington might have served for her royal & special visitor. Remember she wasn’t new to Luncheon/Tea in Paris. In early 1900’s she stayed at the Paris Ritz, actually Empress Eugenie stayed at the Paris Ritz, too. Mrs. Arabella Huntington could have had the Paris Ritz or Maxim’s cater this intimate luncheon/ tea for all we know…..She probably used French porcelain plates: Sevres, Limoges or Havilland – they were also Empress Eugenie’s favorite plates.
It depends on the month & the season that these two women met….. what Arabella picked for the menu. It could have been a variety of foods. This Luncheon tea could have had several themes: Spanish tapas, French Brunch with quiche or crepes, or a English proper tea, or a Violet Tea (a favorite flower for both of these ladies).
Empress Eugenie for Luncheon/ Tea in Paris,
Tea Blend:
Empress Eugenie Tea: black tea with a blend of bergamot (citrusy) tea & lychee fruit and/or the peel of bergamot orange.
Versailles Tea Blend: with Early Grey tea & Lavender blossoms (by Nancy Armitage below)
“Creme de la Vanille” a combination of orange pekoe & black tea with jasmine & lavender blossoms, infused with vanilla extract. (Nancy Armitage)*
Madame Huntington’s Luncheon Menu Ideas:
Canapes or Passed Appetizers like Roquefort Puff or Caviar with French Champagne or Cold Drink: Hibiscus lemony tea or Lemonade
Canape Lorenzo: is a Spanish spicy crabmeat nibble, (with a nod to Spain), where Empress Eugenie was born & raised.
Roquefort Canape: a appetizer with Roquefort cheese in a petit tart.
1st Course: Seafood Cocktail with cocktail sauce or Irish Rose-Marie sauce or Crabcake with lemon sauce & herbs
2nd Course Soup (Spanish or French) Cold Spanish Gazpacho Soup or French Onion Soup
Entree course: French Spinach & Cheese quiche wedge with a small French Mesclun Salad with arugula/rocket on the side with French Vinaigrette
Cheese Course: Charcuterie Board with a mixture of cultures represented: Spanish Manachego cheese, wedge of French Brie or Camembert cheese, Water crackers, Grapes & Fresh fruit, Spanish Olives & Queen Olives
Dessert:
Empress Pudding with Paris Sauce* (1800’s recipe)
French Macaroons, Chocolate Napoleons, Petit fours with “E” on the top chocolate or royal icing (iced with a E. on top), Paris Opera Cake, Charlotte Russe, Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Frosting, Parisian Tartelettes (1800’s recipe with almond, lemon juice & cinnamon add to a creamy filling), French Chocolate Crepes with fruit & chocolate sauce. Maybe Tea & Petit sweets in the Salon or small Drawing-Room.
French Tea Blend “Creme de la Vanille”
This is a lovely tasting vanilla floral tea, With great scent also, often served in France. I used orange pekoe because it was a favorite of Mrs. Arabella Huntington:
2 oz. Ceylon Orange Pekoe tea
2 oz. India Black tea
8 oz. Jasmine tea & blossoms
8 oz. lavender blossoms
80 drops Cook’s vanilla extract
In a medium bowl, add tea and herbs. Mix. Drop vanilla extract on the tea and blossoms one by one and mix. Place in a air-tight container. To make a a tea pot of this tea: When using 4- cup teapot, add 4 teaspoons of tea & 1 t. for the tea pot. 4 c. hot boiling water & strain into the tea cups with a tea strainer or use a French coffee press. Recipe: Nancy Armitage
Empress Pudding Recipe (1899)
Rice: mix with milk & 1/2 c. rice. Cook at low heat. Add: 2 oz. butter & 3 eggs beaten. In a purex dish, line it with puff pastry or pie crust. Layer cooked rice 1st, then layer of jam [Apricot or Raspberry], then another layer of rice & jam. Cook 350F for 45 minutes. Pour over Vanilla custard or Paris Sauce over the Empress Pudding. Adapted recipe from 1899 Cassell’s Dictionary on Cookery.
Paris Sauce
1 c. sherry or vanilla, 1 t. powdered sugar, 2 egg yolks, 3 T. heavy cream & pinch of nutmeg. Directions: In an enamel sauce pan, add the sherry, sugar, & yolks. Stir until it begins to thicken & the add the cream. Heat but don’t boil after heavy cream has been added. Cook for 3-4 minutes. Ladle into a pretty pitcher & serve with Empress Pudding. Recipe: Nancy Armitage
1911 Mrs. Arabella D. Huntington buys Emerald (150 karats) & Diamond Brooch (previously owned by Empress Eugenie of France)
In 2006, I went to the “Belle of San Marino” art exhibition at the Huntington Library in San Marino, CA. On the wall of this interesting exhibition, was a enlarged Xerox of Tiffany & Co., jewelry store Paris invoice. It stated that on “October 28, 1911 that Madame C. P. Huntington [Arabella] purchased Emerald & Diamond Brooch for 100,000.00 francs” roughly $301,600.00 in modern money & one of the most expensive items of jewelry Arabella Huntington had purchased in Paris, France.
So when I was a reader at the Huntington Library (2004-2009), I was able to view Mrs. Arabella Huntington’s jewelry list of 120 items. It was quite impressive & worth $1,274,904.00. The 68th item on the list was “Platinum, large cluster brooch, 1 large faceted flat emerald in center; emerald weight 150 karats, worth $15,000.00” (estimate most likely in 1924, probably for insurance purposes). Wow, were they off on that estimate. It is not a complete list of her jewelry though. But some of her most expensive jewelry are included in my blog : Mrs. Arabella Huntington: Portraits, Tiaras, & Jewels.
This is where the story gets interesting: One day, while researching Arabella Huntington at the Huntington Library in San Marino CA: I went upstairs in the Art Gallery section of the rare books. I found a beautiful large coffee table book called “Tiffany 150 years”. Inside the book was a picture & story about a Emerald & Diamond Brooch (150 Karats, green emerald, set in the center of the diamond brooch, with 145 diamonds, weighing 7 karats). Tiffany & Co. had bought the stunning brooch in 1887, (that was the year of the great Louvre Museum auction of Empress Eugenie’s Jewels).
So connecting the dots, it looks like Mrs. Arabella Huntington’s Emerald & Diamond Brooch, very possibly had been the one previously owned by Empress Eugenie of France. In 1924, after Mrs. Arabella Huntington’s died, her exquisite jewelry collection was inherited by her son, Archer M. Huntington. Archer’s 2nd wife, Anna Huntington (the famous sculptress) was not interested in any of Arabella Huntington’s jewelry. So in 1924, Archer sold the entire lot of his mother, Arabella Huntington amazing jewelry collection to Harry Winston in New York City, NY.
Inside the Huntington's Story 