the rib room

the art of conviviality
the rib room has always been hung
with original paintings and prints by the
artist Feliks topolski. appropriately,
it was here that a dinner was held for
topolski’s seventieth birthday in 1977 –
‘an enormous table for twenty-four and
authentically celebratory waiters,’ as the
artist described it. Sitting among various
diary writers were arabella Churchill
(invited ‘because she personifies my hippy
period’), prince George Galitzine, who
had taught topolski english, the architect
Cedric price and topolski’s family: wife
Caryl, son Daniel and daughter teresa.
topolski described himself as ‘an old frog,
phonily brooding,’ but concludes:
‘however, the baked alaska with seventy
candles arrives and Caryl is at ease.’
Left: Above the bar is Feliks Topolski’s study
for the Coronation frieze that HRH the Duke
of Edinburgh commissioned for Buckingham
Palace in 1960
Right: A painting by Feliks Topolski,
commemorating his seventieth birthday dinner
at The Rib Room
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