Folies Bergère plumes auctioned in Paris

(Reuters) - Many feathers will be auctioned off in Paris this weekend when the extravagant headdresses, skins and scanty costumes of the Folies Bergère shows found a new home with the highest bidder.

Symbol of the turn-of-the-century joie de vivre, the Folies Bergère was a palace of frivolity and popular entertainment, filled with almost naked girls adorned with fringes and exaggerated frills. Now about 6, 000 costumes, posters, programs and paraphernalia from former director Hélène Martini's collection - nicknamed "the Empress of the Night" - were sold on June 9 and 10 by auctioneers Bailly-Pommery & Voutier.

Feathers, sequins, sparkles and all sorts of frufru features were at the auction. From a flowery five-layer petticoat worthy of the most enthusiastic cancan to avant-garde caps that would not look out of place in Las Vegas.

Estelle Danière, the last leader of the Folies choir, said she was thrilled to see all the old costumes on display on the old Paris stock exchange. "If they could talk, what would they say? They would have a lot of anecdotes, " Estelle, wearing a sparkling silver slit with a high slit, told reporters on Friday. "I hope they find someone who gives them a second life, " she said. "They deserve it - find the spotlight again and do another show."

During its glory days, Folies Bergère inspired painters such as Manet and Toulouse-Lautrec, who portrayed the waitresses and dancers, as well as their admirers of provocative glances.

It also provided an entranced audience for the music-hall's top talent, from Montmartre cabaret star Jane Avril to jazz-era darling Josephine Baker, who became legend after her first appearance wearing little more than a skirt made of bananas.