WEIRD BEDCHAMBER

Hawera Star, Volume LI, 20 February 1932, Page 9

WEIRD BEDCHAMBER

Inventor of Eton Crop

ANTOINE, the .famous Parisian hairdresser -“A- t}i,> man who invented the Eton crop, which brought him a fortune—lives to-day surrounded bv symbols of death in one of the most amazing 'houses in the world (says the “Sunday Chronicle”)Antoine is still young, still successful and popular, yet once he crosses the threshold of his home he enters a weird apartment where everything reminds him of the grav e. In his bedroom •a crystal coffin serves for a bed until it shall be needed for its regular purpose. Vases filled w lth lilies dot the room, while a place of honour is accorded to a replica of his,tomb m minature. The elevator leading to the apartment is made of o-lass and aluminium, and resembles the fa-m----oiis°balloon in which Professor Picard made ius altitude record. In one corner of the great-liv-ing room on a pedestal is a huge head carved manner of the most advanced modernists. It portravs “Thoughts on Death.” Within' the pedestal is situated a radio set, ami at the room’s opposite end is a magnificent pipe organ. Everyttiing is carried out in a decorative scheme of sombre black. Even the bath is of black porcelain; Antoine has a grave, almost melancholy, manner. and his eyes are dreamily sad. “I have ]irepared this home with all its symbols of death to remind me that soon I shall pass,” he said recently. “I have already had my tomb constructed at Gravignies, on a little property I own thcr. It is of marble, and was executed by the noted Polish sculptor Xavier Dunikowski, of Cracow, from plans d rawn by me. It represents the spirit's last kiss as it departs from the body.

“I have planned my funeral in every detail. I shall lie exposed in the coffin surrounded by masses of liWes. My head will lie on a gathering of silver wings. Vari-coloured lights will play upon me for twenty-four hours. The invitations to the funeral will be on glass. Whib* the organ plays for the last time twelve beautiful mannequins with hair dressed in my various most famous styles will act as pall-bearers.”

Antoine says there are also several surprises which will not be made known until the proper time. “I call the ceremony at my funeral, ‘My last creation.’ ” he added.