Eliza Ferriday, Caroline’s mother, had so many interesting friends but these two might take the cake. I’ve loved researching Prince Matchabelli and his wife for Lilac Girls. Such a fascinating couple!
Prince Georges Matchabelli was an amateur chemist, Georgian prince and Georgian ambassador to Italy, but fled the Soviet Union and came to the United States after the Russian Revolution. The Prince and his wife, Princess Norina Matchabelli, the colorful actress whose stage name was Maria Carmi quickly established themselves in New York City.
Prince Matchabelli’s perfumes, originally made in France, were hugely successful here in America. Nornina designed the iconic packaging, after the Prince’s own crown and the crown bottles with cross stopper are still very collectible today.
Norina, born in Florence, Italy, was once a called one of the six great beautifies of Europe and enjoyed a successful stage career.
In the late thirties Norina and the Prince divorced and she became a devoted mandali of Indian spiritual teacher Meher Baba.
Hi, I too have researched the Norina Matchabelli. Please tell me who this person is who knew them, where and when?
BTW: the dashing young man with the scarf around his neck is not the Prince. It is a model for the perfume ad.
Thank you,
Jeanne
Hi Jeanne,
Thanks for the info–so glad to know that is not the Prince!
Caroline Ferriday and her mother Eliza were society women living in New York–Eliza did a lot of charity work to benefit displaced White Russians and knew the Matchabellis and socialized with them in New York.