On September 24, 2019 and for the third consecutive year, Friends of the Domaine de Chantilly (FODC) held an extraordinary gala evening at Chantilly. Under the leadership of its Chairman, Prince Amyn Aga Khan, and its Board of Directors, this prestigious event was co-chaired by Katharine Rayner and Michel David-Weill. They brought together an Honorary Committee of internationally renowned figures such as His Royal Highness Duke Franz of Bavaria, Count and Countess Edouard de Boisgelin, Mr. and Mrs. Bertrand Chardon, Mr. and Mrs. Eric Freymond, Their Highnesses Prince Hubertus and Princess Alexandra Fugger-Babenhausen, Mr. and Mrs. Achille Murat Guest, Dr. Amin Jaffer, Dr. Susan Kendall, Ambassador and Mrs. Earle Mack, Peter Marino, Mrs. Jean-François Méjanès, Ambassador and Mrs. Nikolaus Meyer-Landrut, Prince and Princess Poniatowski, Baron and Baroness Seillière, and Mr. and Mrs. Jean Solanet.
- Institut de France Chancellor Xavier Darcos, Katharine Rayner and Prince Amyn Aga Khan
- German Ambassador to France Nikolaus Meyer-Landrut and Mrs. Meyer-Landrut
- Maryvonne Pinault and Frederic Mitterrand
- Betty Eveillard and Nathalie Brunel
- Dr. Susan Kendall and Dr. Mathieu Deldicque
- Mr. and Mrs. Bertrand Chardon
- Count and Countess Edouard de Boisgelin
- Mr. and Mrs. Achille Murat Guest
- Ishtar Méjanès and Ina Giscard d’Estaing
- Mr. and Mrs. Eric Freymond and Countess Aubert de Proyart de Baillescourt
- Mr. and Mrs. Jean Solanet
This elegant gala dinner attracted almost 300 art collectors, philanthropists, cultural notables, business leaders, dignitaries and friends from all over the world who gathered in support of a major exhibition on Chantilly and Meissen porcelain scheduled to open in September 2020. The Friends of the Domaine de Chantilly was particularly delighted to welcome this year many generous donors who have already contributed to the exhibition as well as renowned experts and dealers in the field of porcelain and decorative arts.
- Dr. Amin Jaffer, Alfiya Kuanysheva and Prince Mubarak Al Sabah
- Sarah-Katharina Andres-Acevedo and Alfredo Reyes
- Sénator and Mrs. Albéric de Montgolfier, Nicolas Kugel
- Mr. and Mrs. Renaud Finaz de Villaine
- Mr. and Mrs. Pascal Ravery
- Jörg Geller, Arlette Jasper-Kohl and Prof. Edwin Kohl
- Caroline Robin-Mariéton and Prince and Princess Antoine de Broglie
- Mr. and Mrs. Emmanuel Marty de Cambiaire, Baroness Augustin Le Clément de Saint-Marcq, Daniel Thierry, Marina Charette de La Contrie and Prince Stanislas d’Alburquerque
- Eric Woerth and Eric Le Maire
- Aneta Aslakhanova and Nirmal Sethia
- Sophie de Brito e Cunha-North and Christopher North
- Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Steinitz
- Celia Cattelain, Mr. and Mrs. Frédéric Mathy
- Hervé de La Verrie and Baroness Jean de Langlade
- Marquis and Marquise de Chaumont Quitry
- Ambassador and Mrs. Patrick Vercauteren Drubbel and Christian Langlois-Meurinne
- Mr. and Mrs. Mario Tavella
Upon arrival at Chantilly, guests were greeted by Prince Amyn Aga Khan, Chantilly’s curators Nicole Garnier, Mathieu Deldicque and Marie-Pierre Dion as well as Général Jérôme Millet and Fondation de Chantilly Executive Director Fériel Fodil. They were then led outside to the lovely Volière Garden bordering the castle and overlooking the English Gardens. Maître d’s from Maison Lenôtre wearing Champagne Laurent-Perrier aprons were on hand to serve the signature pink “Cuvée Rosé” – personally selected by the esteemed champagne house’s CEO Stéphanie Meneux – whose brilliant color and exquisite taste were only matched by the scenery.
- Lenôtre maître d’s with Champagne Laurent-Perrier’s “Cuvée Rosé”
- Château de Chantilly
- First guests arrive in the Volière Garden
- Prince Amyn Aga Khan, Their Highnesses Prince Hubertus and Princess Alexandra Fugger-Babenhausen
- Rita Jamai, Carina Obadia and Zineb Benhlima (Van Cleef & Arpels)
- Prince and Princess Poniatowski
- Pavel Smutny and Jakub Hollman
- Jane Aaron Bobrow, The Honorable Dennis Kloske and Marie-France Pochna
- Camille Valette, Pierre Gasnier, Hermine Bastide, Noémie Deschamps, Mathieu Legars and Anna Sundstrom (Coolmore Studs)
During the cocktail reception, guests were serenaded by musicians from the talented orchestra Le Concert de la Loge whose founder, Julien Chauvin, devised a special program reminiscent of the courts of Augustus II the Strong, Elector of Saxony and King of Poland, who founded the Meissen Porcelain Manufactory in 1710 and of Louis-Henri, Prince de Condé, who created the Chantilly Porcelain Manufactory in 1730. Guests sipped champagne while musicians in 18th-century costumes arrived by gondolas provided by Thierry Léger and Les Jardins de Le Nôtre and by Richard Winckler and Voga Veneta Paris. Such festivities had never been seen at Chantilly since the time of the Princes de Condé!
As dusk fell, Prince Amyn Aga Khan addressed guests to warmly express his appreciation to all those who so generously supported the Friends of the Domaine de Chantilly. He particularly thanked the Gala Co-Chairs, the Committee and each of the sponsors as well as the organization’s Board members including Nathalie Brunel, Betty Eveillard, Alice Goldet, Maryvonne Pinault et Daniel Thierry.
- Musicians from Le Concert de la Loge
- Baronne Seillière and Serge Proutchenko enjoying the performance
- Guests watching the arrival of gondolas
- Musicians arriving by gondola
- Musicians from Le Concert de la Loge
- Champagne Laurent-Perrier’s “Cuvée Rosé”
- Château de Chantilly illuminated at night
- Prince Amyn Aga Khan making remarks
Afterwards, Prince Amyn invited guests to continue the festivities inside the Château. As everyone entered the Stag Gallery, they were greeted by music while admiring sculptures from the Meissen Porcelain Manufactory and Chantilly’s collections. Many posed for pictures in front of this special display.
- Musicians from Le Concert de la Loge
- Guests in the Stag Gallery
- Katharine Rayner
- Bird in Meissen porcelain
- Mr. and Mrs. François Rochas
- Caroline Whitman and Marcia Fuller French
- Marina Aaron and Edgar Batista
- Mr. and Mrs. Cyrille Niedzielski
- Baron Seillière, Ambassador and Mrs. Howard Leach
- Pascal de Jenlis and Arielle de La Mettrie
- Marie-Claire Daveu, Pierre Durand and Cathy Vedovi (Kering)
- Beatrice Jahnke and Dr. Karl Reindl
- HRH Princess Béatrice de Bourbon des Deux-Siciles, Count and Countess Louis-Jean de Nicolaÿ
- Kirsten Brünejes and Michael Röbbig-Reyes
The Château’s most beautiful rooms were open for dinner: the Paintings Gallery where the Duke d’Aumale, son of the last King of France and final owner of Chantilly, hung his favorite French and Italian works; the Tribune which presents famous artists from the Renaissance to the 19th century; the Santuario where one can admire masterpieces by Raphael, Botticelli and Jean Fouquet; the Psyche Gallery with its stained glass windows dating from the 16th century; and finally, the Gem Gallery which houses small treasures including miniature portraits and precious objects.
The internationally acclaimed floral artist Eric Chauvin created the green and white centerpieces for each table. The Meissen Porcelain Manufactory provided delicate white figurines to complement the flower arrangement as well as large plates with a garland of striking green vine leaves whose installation was overseen by Michael Ray Albrecht, the Manufactory’s Director of International Development. Additional decorations were provided by Maison Options who, as always, perfectly mastered the art of the table.
- Paintings Gallery
- Duke d’Aumale’s surtout de table in the Stag Gallery
- Santuario
- Tribune
- Psyche Gallery
- Gem Gallery
- Decoration by Eric Chauvin, Meissen Manufactory and Options
- Paintings Gallery
The menu was designed by Guillaume Gomez, the talented chef at the Palais de l’Elysée, the residence of the President of the French Republic, and by Guy Krenzer, renowned chef of the venerable catering house Lenôtre. Guests began with an entrée of creamy artichoke soup with mushrooms accompanied by a delectable Château Canon 2005, which was followed by a main course of spicy duck and vegetables paired with a splendid Château Rauzan-Ségla 2008. To finish, guests enjoyed a dessert of vanilla and caramel infused vacherin and pear. A true feast for the senses!
- Château Canon 2005 and Château Rauzan-Ségla 2008
- Daniel Thierry and Marina Charette de La Contrie
- Pedro Corrêa do Lago, Carole Mack, Dr. Amin Jaffer, Katharine Rayner, George Farias and Robin Hambro
- Camille Valette, Thierry Della Longa, Hermine Bastide and Mathieu Legars
- Chef Gomez preparing the main course
- Château Rauzan-Ségla 2008
- Emmanuel Marty de Cambiaire and Véronique Prat
- Duchess Sophie de Württemberg and Mrs. Stephan Schottenhamel
- Benoît d’Aboville, Baroness Bernard d’Anglejan Chatillon and James Hoagland
- Guests in the Tribune
- Guests in the Gem Gallery
- Chef Brunet presenting dessert to General Jérôme Millet and Nicolas Escoulan
- Stellene Volandes and Kinsey Marable
- Chefs Brunet, Krenzer and Gomez with Prince Amyn Aga Khan, Arlette Jasper-Kohl, His Highness Hubertus Prince Fugger-Babenhausen and Brigitte Meyer-Landrut
- Sir Richard Hitt, Aigle Arend Hasper, Dr. Susan Kendall, Countess Louis-Jean de Nicolaÿ, Michèle le Menestrel Ullrich and Nicole Salinger
Throughout dinner, guests were thoroughly entertained by Le Concert de la Loge who performed music inspired by the courts at Dresden and Chantilly, including pieces composed by Händel, Telemann, Charpentier and Bach. Afterwards, everyone enjoyed a walk through the galleries to marvel at Chantilly’s vast art collection before leaving the Château where they were saluted by musicians and fire breathers who marked the end of a fabulous evening.
- Le Concert de la Loge in the Tribune
- Le Concert de la Loge in the Paintings Gallery
- Guests contemplating masterpieces in the Santuario
- Dr. Mathieu Deldicque, Michele Beiny Harkins and John Whitehead
- Maryvonne Pinault, Nathalie Brunel and Prince Amyn Aga Khan
- Count and Countess Hélie de Ganay, Prince Poniatowski
- Fire breather and juggler
- Guests watching the final performance
- Artists in the Courtyard
- Château de Chantilly
Among the guests in attendance this year were: Marina Aaron, Prince Mubarak Al Sabah and André Dunstetter, Stijn Alsteens and Froujke Slofstra, Dominique Arpels, Hermine Bastide and guests of Coolmore Studs, Princesse Minnie de Beauvau Craon, Michele Beiny Harkins, Jane Aaron Bobrow and The Honorable Dennis Kloske, HRH Princess Béatrice de Bourbon des Deux-Siciles, Aude Charquet, Marquis and Marquise de Chaumont Quitry, Cyrille Cohen, Marie-Claire Daveu and guests of Kering, George Farias, Mr. and Mrs. Renaud Finaz de Villaine, Marcia Fuller French, Marquis and Marquise de Ganay, Dr. and Mrs. Joachim Hausser, Prof. Edwin Kohl and Arlette Jasper Kohl, Alfiya Kuanysheva, Nicolas Kugel, Hervé de La Verrie, Baroness Jean de Langlade, Christian Langlois-Meurinne, Ambassador and Mrs. Howard Leach, Senator and Mrs. Albéric de Montgolfier, Mr. and Mrs. George Muzinich, Duc de Noailles and Joëlle Chapelon, Mr. and Mrs. Christopher North, Carina Obadia and guests of Van Cleef & Arpels, Vicomte and Vicomtesse d’Origny, Marie-France Pochna, Count and Countess de Pradel de Lamaze, Alexandre Pradère, Mr. and Mrs. Louis-Antoine Prat, Alfredo Reyes, Michael Röbbig-Reyes, Mr. and Mrs. François Rochas, Pamela Roditi, Countess Gregorio Rossi di Montelera, Pavel Smutný and Jakub Hollmann, Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Steinitz, Mr. and Mrs. Mario Tavella, John Whitehead, and Duchess Sophie de Württemberg.
- Mr. and Mrs. Olivier Robin-Mariéton
- Mr. and Mrs. James Gaggero
- Carol Mack and Tracey Amon
- Bernard Mure and Georgina Alioth
- Dr. and Mrs. Joachim Hausser
- Sophie-Caroline de Margerie, Mr. and Mrs. Bertrand Chardon, Nicolas Joly
- Laura Lindsay, Lady Maclean, Marquise de Brissac, Louis Greig and Sir Charles Maclean
- Jacques Bouhet, Mr. and Mrs. Jean-Marie Eveillard
- Countess Lilian Rossi di Montelera and Pietro Meschi
- Louis-Xavier Joseph and Anne-Hélène Decaux
- Mr. and Mrs. Robert Liberman
- Mr. and Mrs. George Muzinich
- Charles Balsan and Baroness Jacqueline von Hammerstein-Loxten
- Joëlle Chapelon and Duke de Noailles
- Anejade Vaccarella, Christina Fried, Goly Noghrey and Janelle Styles
- Mr. and Mrs. Saladin Kassimy, Count and Countess François de La Béraudière
- Princesse Amélie de Bourbon Parme and Jérémie Delecourt
- Nathalie Brunel and Laure de Gramont
- Kate de Rothschild and Georgina Macpherson
- Mr. and Mrs. Mahmood Khimji
- Francis Tancrède and Anne Desnoyers
- Mr. and Mrs. Stephan Schottenhammel
This magnificent gala evening raised important funds for the first ever exhibition to be held on Meissen and Chantilly porcelain that will highlight the dialogue between these prestigious productions and their influence on decorative arts during the Age of Enlightenment. To learn more about this exhibition, please visit this page.
Friends of the Domaine de Chantilly would like to thank the Gala Chairs, the Honorary Committee, the sponsors and all those who made this Gala evening possible. We hope to see everyone at next year’s event (please stay tuned for announcements to come!) and at “The Making of Extravagance. Porcelain from Meissen and Chantilly” exhibition which will be on view from September 5, 2020 to January 3, 2021.
Photos (c) Luc Castel and Bruno Cohen