LONDON.- The distinct style of two contrasting interiors will be the highlight of a Christie’s house sale in London on Wednesday, 12 September 2007. The luxury of Imperial Russia juxtaposed with Rococo silver-gilt mirrors, Chinese ceramics and garden furniture from the Th��tre de Verdure at Chateau de Groussay designed by the Cuban born architect Emilio Terry underline the contents of a grand and opulent Holland Park town house. In contrast, the St Moritz chalet was furnished with bold floral upholstered French provincial furniture and decorated with charming foliate-patterned ceramics and glass mirroring an alpine idyll.

Offered from a private collector, the sale is expected to fetch in excess of �1.5 million; estimates range from �100 to �80,000. The contrasting interiors are bound together by a collection of fashion accessories that go beyond the wildest dreams of any international fashionista. Handbags and belts by Herm�s, Chanel, Louis Vuitton and shoes by the iconic Manolo Blahnik, will be a lure for many who wish to avoid the long and in many cases now closed waiting lists to join the fashion elite. Must-have pieces include a baby blue crocodile leather Chanel bag (estimate: �500-1,000), a Louis Vuitton steamer bag (estimate: �500-800) and a pair of Manolo Blahnik electric blue crocodile court shoes (estimate: �300-500).

International glamour and luxury are by-words for Herm�s and in particular the Kelly bag which was named in honour of the blonde and patrician Hollywood actress, Grace Kelly. In 1956, Princess Grace had been married less than a year to Prince Rainer of Monaco when she obscured her pregnancy with a crocodile Herm�s bag on the cover of Life magazine.

Created in 1892, the bag was down-sized for daywear in the 1930s. After its Royal moment on the cover of Life, it was dedicated to Princess Grace, and, as in a fairytale, lives on after her.

The collection includes twenty-three super-fine crocodile leather Kelly handbags, in a variety of classic colours, ranging in size from the diminutive and decorous 25 cm. example (estimate: �2,000-4,000), up to the most coveted and intensely desirable 35 cm. fashion statement (estimate: 10,000-12,000).

Furniture and interior highlights include a sumptuous German Ormolu and glass lustre thirty-six light chandelier, circa 1830 (estimate: �40,000-60,000), a pair of rococo north Italian silver-gilt mirrors, circa 1735 (estimate: �40,000-60,000), a set of twelve neo-classical Russian brass-mounted stained mahogany dining chairs, late 19th century/early 20th century (estimate: �15,000-25,000) and a Chinese export famille rose part dinner service, Qianlong (1736-95) (estimate: �30,000-50,000). Silver highlights include a pair of George III wine coolers (estimate: �30,000-50,000), whilst for the library a large collection of art reference and literature books will be offered with estimates from �150 to �5,000. Garden furniture includes sixteen green painted beech garden chairs, designed by the Cuban born architect Emilio Terry for the Th��tre de Verdure, Chateau Groussay, circa 1945-50 (estimate: �20,000-40,000).

This private collection offers a rare and privileged opportunity to wrap oneself up in the world of cool and dynamic international interior design ranging from city chic to alpine retreat and to join the worldwide passion for classic fashion.