Antique, elegant, delicate, steeped in history – all these things can be said of this rectangular “Porte savonnettes ancien, offert à M Renée Lagasso par Mme Hary,” translated as “an ancient soap holder given to Mr. Renee Lagasso by Mrs. Hary.” What fanciful stories can be thought up regarding their relations … just friends or were they more? This piece epitomizes what is absolutely lovely about antiquities: the story, the history of a piece, the life it has led before it gets to you. It’s just pure magic!