"You can go to Sears-Roebuck for a self welt!"

So said a friend as she was advising me on the recovering of several items. Gimp, fringe, tape, cord, tassels - the world of passementerie can be an overwhelming one to navigate, but it is these details which can transform a plain Jane chair into a Zsa Zsa Gabor.

While revisiting the Safra sales catalogue last week, I remembered how struck I was by the beautifully detailed upholstery when viewing the sale at Sotheby's a few years ago. As I am increasingly in a Castaing frame of mind, it is probably no surprise that I'm responding to the many Napoleon III touches Mrs. Safra and her decorator Howard Slatkin adopted.

Here are a few for your pleasure....

a set of 6 Directoire painted and parcel gilt chairs

Mid 19th Italian Painted and Parcel Gilt Stool in the form of a chaise longue