Duval

Duval, the Paris furniture dealer and decorator (Mon Journal indexes «Duval, magasin de meubles»: t.3 pp.236, 239; t.4 pp.147–166, 255, 279–282; t.5 pp.145–146; t.6 pp.179–189) from whom the Bashkirtseffs order the furnishings of their Nice villa in 1874. Not to be confused with «Duval (Mathias), professeur d'anatomie» (t.11 pp.59, 66). No first name found.

Diary

• 1874-06-15/16 (020.0294, 020.0300): Marie and her aunt go from the dealer Smith to Duval, «ses meubles sont magnifiques ... Duval est le premier et ses prix sont plus raisonnables que ceux de Smith.» On 06-17 (020.0324) plans for the rooms he requested are expected.
• September 1874, Paris (024.0004–0073): days spent «à choisir les étoffes» for her room, the salon, the green antechamber, the dining room and the smoking room; her bed, a pink shell on lion's-paw feet with a three-feather aigrette («il ne manque que ich dieu»), on a blue velvet dais. The budget is 50,000 francs.
• 1874-10-03 (024.0210): in despair she wants to cancel the order. 1874-12-24 (027.0394): the deacon writes that Duval has put the Nice furniture in an exhibition in his shop («Tout Paris les admire ... pour une princesse autrichienne»).
• January 1875 (028.0231–028.0267): the payment dispute begins: Duval, who had said the aunt could pay as she saw fit, «évite les pourparlers»; «Cinquante mille francs payés pendant dix ans sont raisonnables ... mais cinquante mille francs tout de suite c'est folie.» By 1875-06-25 (034.0571) he demands payment in cash and the matter goes to the lawyers.
• November 1875 (050.0071–0205): Marie, «la tête forte de la maison», negotiates with him; «Avec Duval c'est arrangé, nous partons demain» (1875-11-26, 050.0205).