The Rothschild Surrealist Ball
The Surrealist Ball of 1972 demonstrates that the Rothschild family, arguably the richest family in history, did not rely solely on their wealth to host successful events. The party, which was hosted by Marie-Hélène de Rothschild and her husband at the Château de Ferrières, one of France's grandest nineteenth-century chateaux, has since come to be remembered for its meticulous planning, unusual decorations, and meticulous attention to detail.
The ball lived up to its moniker, featuring all the elements of a "surrealist" celebration. It took place in the Château de Ferrières, one of France's largest and most opulently decorated residences at the time. The who's who of the European and American elite were invited, including Audrey Hepburn and Salvadore Dali, who created the entire event.
The entire château was redlit for the event, giving the impression that it was on fire. All of the attendees were instructed to dress up in "black tie, long gowns, and surrealism heads," which likely explains all of the odd headdresses visible in the recently published collection of event photos. All of them were welcomed by butlers who occasionally acted like cats while costumed as cats. If that wasn't surrealistic enough, the dinner was presented on a mannequin of a dead person, the forks were replaced with fish skeletons, and the dishes were all coated in fur.
Even while it may sound a little strange—and it was—the party was a success and is today regarded as one of Marie-best-organized Hélène's affairs, which is saying a lot because she was known for her creative parties.
