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[[left margin]] Cecil [[/left margin]]

December 28, 1953

Dear Mr. Cecil:

It was very pleasant to receive your letter of November 29, and I am happy to say that at last I have been able to trace the Beauvais tapestry after Le Prince, "Le Repas", one of the series of the Jeux Russians. It is at the Metropolitan Museum, N.Y. a gift of Mrs. Oliver Gould Jennings, size being 12' high x 20' wide.

I had mentioned to you previously that I thought it had gone to Alfred Lowenstein in Brussels, but it was a Casanova one, in no way connected with the Wallace-Bagatelle collection.

Now until I received your descriptions of tapestries I had entertained the hope that the series of tapestries "Flowers and Birds", which decorated the house of George Kessler in Paris, and were later acquired by Francois Coty (included in the latter's auction) had come from Wallace-Bagatelle, but evidently they did not. (ten of them).

As to the Roman de la Rose, the only ones which I can think of, from the title, would be the three also in the Metropolitan, but they were acquired by my father from Sigismond Bardac, and I would doubt whether they could be the same ones. Furthermore, the Metropolitan series numbers three.

As you correctly state, I believe my brother has still the French Royal Arms on red background. I do not know what became of the other.

I am afraid this is all the light I can shed on this problem, for the time being, but as usual you can be sure that should I hear of anything new in this respect I shall post you without delay, and in turn do not hesitate to call upon me.

With kindest regards and the best wishes of the Season,
Sincerely yours,
(Germain Seligman)

Robert A. Cecil, Esq.
The Wallace Collection
Manchester Square
London W.1
England

TP

[[right margin]] Cecil [[/right margin]]