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(Photo: Fritz Von Der Schulenburg)
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| Men's Salon in the Ambassador's Residence |
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Here in Birmingham, we were excited for our friend
Catherine Cabaniss when her husband, Bill, was named United States
ambassador to the Czech Republic. In fact, I'm sure "friends" began crawling out of the woodwork to beg an
invitation to their glamorous new digs, the Petschek Palace in Prague.
The baroque building is stunning, but the furniture is remarkable,
too -- most of it bears inventory stickers the Nazis affixed during their
occupation, in preparation for carting it all back to Germany. The
Cabanisses have filled the palace with contemporary art, which strikes a
fabulous contrast with the formal environment. They host parties for
various Czech organizations and have been gracious to visitors from
Birmingham, where a trip to Prague has become this year's social
trophy. This room is the men's salon in Petschek Palace.
At one time, it was customary for the fellows to gather here after
dinner to drink, smoke, and brag. The stools around the table are
covered in petit point tapestry and date to around 1700. Somehow,
it's difficult to imagine men lounging on the Louis XV canapé.
Perhaps people had better posture back then.
SEE IT IN PRINT: "Ambassador's Residence in Prague," Southern Accents, September-October 2005, pages 196-203; salon furnishings are period property of Petscheck Palace.
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