The Paris Martini Cats Collection

When Mme. Martini of Paris died at the age of 98 with no heirs except her seven cats, rumors spread quickly that the more than ample estate would be left to a number of deserving charities. Not so. The entire estate was left to the less deserving seven cats. And what an estate it was! There was a beautiful Ile de la Cite apartment decorated with only the finest antiques and art which Mme. Martini had spent a lifetime collecting. She had also acquired a number of husbands' estates in the process. Upon her death, a beautiful trust fund was discovered which guaranteed that the seven feline heirs would continue to live the life to which they had become accustomed.

So begins the story of the Paris Martini Cats. In honor of their benefactor, they now devote themselves to consuming as many martinis as possible each day. At the same time, each pursues some form of music or art including, of course, culinary arts, which they pursue with gusto. In their sorties from their exclusive Paris apartment, they always frequent the famous Paris Flea Market. Perhaps to the dishonor of their benefactor, they are exchanging the priceless antiques for shabby chic, somewhat more befitting their authentic tastes. However their art collection is cutting edge. They are particularly excited about an emerging American folk artist, Marjorie Rose Powell, whose use of color and her exuberance for life reflect their own joie de vivre. Martini Cat evenings are spent in cabarets and concerts, especially when their hero Kid Rock is in town. Their at-home soirees are the talk of Paris. Out of town, the Paris Martinis may be found on the sun-drenched shores of Key West or the chic beaches of the Italian Riviera.

For a decade, the Paris Martini Cats Collection has documented the adventures and misadventures of these colorful characters. Many of the shabby chic interiors of their Paris apartment now grace the walls of private collections in America and Europe. Their trips to the flea market, to Key West, and to Italy have been documented in the beautiful colors and imagination of Marjorie Rose Powell.