Lot Essay
This carpet was formerly housed in the magnificent Villa les Cèdres, Saint Jean Cap Ferrat, France, a historic residence once owned by King Leopold II of Belgium. The villa was built in 1830 and acquired by the king in 1905 who transformed the villa and its gardens, using it as the setting of his illicit love affair. Following his death, in 1922 the villa came into the possession of Louis Alexandre Marnier Lapostolle, creator of the famous eponymous liqueur. The rich design of the present carpet formed part of a sumptuous interior complimented by an impressive variety of furniture and works of art.