ANDRE' PERUGIA AT THE MUSEE D'HISTOIRE DE LA VIE QUOTIDIENNE | PART 3

1927 | Blanche Montel for André Perugia | detail Source: La Revue de la Femme

Digging our archive we found a brief comment from the newspaper L'Excelsior about Madame Montel's performance at the Palais Royal in the comedy "L'Attachée" by Yves Mirande. She was playing the role of a ministry official juggling with too many suitors.

This is what the journalist reported :

"Les chaussures de Melle Blanche Montel, sont de Perugia, sac et soulier en peau de reptiles Alpina; Soulier en peau de reptile rouge, soulier en chevreau glacé bleu pâle, sac en peau de reptile rouge, soulier de daim rouge, lignes or."

"The shoes of M.lle Blanche Montel, are by Perugia, bag and shoes in reptile skin by Alpina. Red reptile leather shoe, pale blue shoes in glazed kidskin, red reptile skin bag, red suede shoe, gold lines."

L’Excelsior | May 7, 1929

No photographs, only the descriptions "Red reptile leather shoe" and "pale blue shoes in glazed kidskin" plus the Alpina reference. Seems like a suitable account for both shoes from the MHVQ Collection pictured above. Also the date is a match, or close to. Then again, it could only be a coincidence, although one we like very much.

In the end, we agree, no smoking gun. We can't say Blanche Montel was the owner of the Perugia shoes from the MHVQ Collection.

It doesn't really matter, what is important is that we would like to thank the museum and especially Madame Apolline Rouget, in charge of the Conservation of Collections and Exhibitions at the Musée d'Histoire de la Vie Quotidienne for her kind collaboration and invaluable help.