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| Viscounts de Gaigneron-Morin |
The Astier Family
Marthe-Virginie-Denise ASTIER (1902-1997) was the daughter of Monsieur Placide-Alexandre Astier (1856-1918), former Senator of the French Third Republic for Department of Ardèche (1910-1918). He was also Député for the same Department from 1898-1910. |
| Placde Astier (Public Domain) |
In 1897, Placide-Alexandre Astier obtained the first Prize (Gold Medal) at the Bruxelles Exposition for the drink he invited known ass the "Kola Astier".
The Astier family were small landowners and later entered the world of Pharmacy.Furthermore the Astier family were owners of the Le Château des Agneaux which today is the "Club d'Ozoir". See picture below (Source). The Astier family remained in charge of the Atier Laboratories until 1986 when the grandson of Placide Astier, Patrice Astier was compelled to sell the family business (Source)
The Astier family were owners of Château des Agneaux and the farm known as Bourbonderie. The castle and land might have been part of the dowry of Marthe Astier for her marriage to Elie de Gaigneron-Morin. In 1925, Madame Marthe de Gaigneron Morin sold it to an important land-owner from Ozoir-la-Ferrière, Mr. Guillaume MAURICE. Later one Mr. Maurice sold the castle to an American editor named Elmer Sidney PRATHER who turned it the "American Country Club" from 1926 to 1940.
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| Château des Agneaux (Public Domain) |
Marriage
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| Marthe de Gaigneron-Morin in her wedding dress (1922) |
It appears that Élie and Marthe were part of the "Jet-Set" of the French cultural and political world of the 1920's and 1930's. They are mentioned in numerous society magazines as well as the newspaper "Le Figaro" many times.
Marthe de Gaigneron-Morin was specially known for appearing in the French fashion magazine "Vogue". However, after premature death of the Viscount Élie de Gaigneron-Morin, at age 51, his wife must have withdrawn from society.
The couple issued three children:
1) Philippe de Gaigneron Morin, Viscount de Gaingeron-Morin (1923-1973). There is no issue from this branch.
2) Gilles de Gaigneron Morin (1925-?). There is issue from this branch. This line continues to the present day.
3) Axelle de Gaigneron Morin (1933-2003). There is no issue from this branch.
It is important to note, that in French society Marthe and Èlie were known as the Count and Countess de Gaigneron. However, the actual hereditary title was probably Viscount de Gaigneron-Morin.
After all, the father of Èlie de Gaigneron was Marie-Louis-Philippe-Maxime de Gaigneron-Morin, Viscount de Gaigneron Morin (1940-1908) who married Agnes de Gontaut-Biron (1862-1941).
See Gaigneron-Morin Branch
Fashion Icon
Among the Gaigneron ladies, Marthe stands out for her beauty and overall style. She was often featured in the french magazine "Vogue" between 1922 and 1936. One of her first appearances in the magazine took place the year (1922) she wed the Viscount de Gaigneron-Morin (see above picture).
Her marriage spread in "Vogue" was next to that of Marie-Laure Bishoffsheim, the future Countess de Noailles whom Jean de Gaigneron, brother-in-law of Marthe, paints in the 1930's. Her wedding was also covered by another French fashion magazine called "Les Modes".
At some point, the well known Russian emigré to Paris, Serge Ivanoff (1893-1883) made a sketch in pencil and graphite of the Marthe de Gaigneron-Morin. The drawing was for the magazine "Women's Wear Daily" in Paris.
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| Marthe de Gaigneron Morin (Vogue, 1934) |
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| The Countess de Gaigneron-Morin (Vogue, 1933) |
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| Pencil sketch by Serge Ivanoff (Source 5) |
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Sources Consulted
1) Biography on Placide Astier was taken from the webpage of "Ancien sénateurs" (http://www.senat.fr/senateur-3eme-republique/astier_placide0139r3.html)2) The website on Le Château des Agneaux provided important information on the Mr. Placide Astier and his daughter (http://www.golfozoir.org/index.php/le-p/historique/).
3) Information on the Astier Laboratories was taken from the website "Societé d'Histoire de la Pharmacie" (http://www.shp-asso.org/index.php?PAGE=astier).
4) Image of the young Marthe Astier taken from the magazine "Les Modes" online version.
5) "Vogue" magazine online through the National Library of France (BNF)
a) 1932 - Winter Edition
5) Pencil sketch by Serge Ivanoff of the Countess of Gaigneron-Morin from a private collection. The sketch was found on ebay and was later sold to a family member in 2015.
