What can I say about the fabled French Liner Normandie that hasn't already been said far more eloquently or expertly than I could ever dare?  For most collectors, the immediate answer to "What's your favorite ship?" is unabashedly, the Normandie -- and with good reason.  She was undoubtedly one of the most remarkable examples of the melding between ocean liner architecture and high art, with her deco interiors and her cutting-edge exterior appearance.  If ever a ship so perfectly embodied her country's deco aesthetic, it is without a doubt, the SS Normandie.  That said -- and many liner aficionados will crucify me for this -- I find her to be just a bit too overdone, more of an art museum than a comfortable way to cross the pond.  Still, the ship and her rooms are jaw-dropping and I am fortunate enough to have a few pieces related to her in my collection. A few years ago, I acquired the collection of Ms. Jean Kroger Wiemeyer, a passenger aboard this famous liner in 1938 who developed a life long love affair with the ship thereafter.   (Her nephew believes that she took her trip in August of that year, and I am now determined to locate the passenger list!)  The provenance of these pieces is contained in a letter she wrote to me upon my purchase of her items.  “Dear Mr. Perry, When I was a young girl, my aunt, Mrs. William Bodemer, took me on an extended tour of Europe in 1938 – we went on the Normandie 1^st  class and had the opportunity to meet many well known people, such as  the Duponts, Kelloggs, the Pulitzers, the Fords and the Goodriches.  Kitty Carlyle, Simone Simone, Lynn Fontaine and a famous dancer from the Ballet Russe.  We were the last group of tourists to visit Germany before they closed the border.  My aunt who was a world traveler, and who always booked her trips through the old Provident Bank on First Street in Cincinnati, obtained this ship model for me when they gave up their travel agency around 1948.  This ship is 69 years old and has no restoration whatsoever.  Sincerely, Jean Kroger Wiemeyer.”  Can you imagine traveling alongside these famous names?

inundated with some very amusing emails from other bidders wanting to know more about it. It really is a lovely item, and while I haven't figured out the best way to display it, it's one of those items in my collections that seems to get a lot of attention from ship enthusiasts when they visit.  I've included a closer shot of the ship image.  But perhaps my favorite piece of Normandie memorabilia is a set of four photo artists proofs of the stunning murals by Jean Dunand from the First Class Smoking Room.  These shots were taken while the murals were still in the artist's studio prior to their installation on the ship, and you can see where the doorways are cut out of the panels.  The photos are signed by the artist on the back with hand-notated descriptions of each.  I had them framed with windows cut into the backing so that the writing can still be viewed.  The four scenes depicted are Fishing, Horse Training, Harvesting, and Sports.  These pieces are on display in my living room, hanging above a gorgeous Art Model Studios model of the ship, and another of my favorite models of the SS United States.  They were framed using UV protective glass, and fortunately, they get no direct sunlight during the day.  I'd love to see these panels in person someday.  If you know of their whereabouts, please email me!    These are just a few of the highlights from my Normandie collection. My liner models are featured on a separate page. Thanks for looking!

Among the items shown in the first photograph are a demitasse from the 1st class table service, and a Limoges porcelain "almond box."  Also in her collection was a brass binnacle from the ship which she bought at an auction, and whose provenance is authenticated by a letter she included.  The model she refers to is a very fanciful, massive and features real LifeSaver candies along the superstructure to simulate life rings!  The model was restored and rewired by Tom Nicolai, and in its glass case currently serves as a console table in my den.  From Ken Schultz, I acquired an actual piece of the ship!  It's a small wall mounted bedside shelf from one of her Tourist Class cabins.  I have this on display in my Queen Mary room, beneath a lovely wood laminated travel agency print of the ship. Another item, which I believe to be a sold aboard souvenir item, is this parchment lampshade with a lovely image of the ship which appears to be hand-painted.  I cannot make out the signature, but when I won this item on eBay, I was

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