A List of Your 15 Favorite Posts from the Last Two Years

Over the past two years, thus far, I’ve posted just shy of 4900 articles to Stalking the Belle Époque including the 588 Chapters of Mr. Punch of Belgrave Square and Punch’s Cousin. There’s a little something for everyone here from discussions of antiques to the television programs which Bertie most enjoys.

Regular readers know that the ten most popular posts of “all time” are always listed on the right side of the page. However, here are fifteen more of your favorite posts. These posts are the among those which you have read the most.

Crown Copyright
The Royal Collection
Image Courtesy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

1. Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House 

This magnificent work of art, housed in Windsor Castle, was made for Queen Mary, consort of King George V as a means of showcasing the finest in British craftsmanship. It remains a gorgeous testament to a brilliant period.

The Victoria & Albert Museum

2. The Diamond and Ruby Tiara 

Made in 1835, this tiara doubles as a necklace. Housed in the V&A, it’s indicative of the magnificent naturalistic jewelry which dominated Britain in the 1830s. 

The Winchester Mystery House

3. The Winchester Mystery House 

Sarah Winchester’s Sprawling Queen Anne mansion in San Jose California may appear, from the exterior, to be just another of America’s Victorian castles, but it holds a series of odd secrets and features no shortage of weirdness.

Crown Copyright
The Royal Collection
Image Courtesy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

4. The Cambridge Emeralds 

Queen Mary managed to return many lost treasures to the Royal Collection, but she took special delight in her acquisition of her grandmother’s magnificent emeralds.

5. Buckingham Palace 

The primary official residence of the British monarch, Buckingham Palace began its long life as a country house. Centuries of expansion and alteration have made it into one of the grandest homes in the world.

6. Waveny House 

Known to fans of the dearly departed daytime drama, “All My Children,” know this fine Tudor-style estate as Cortlandt Manor, but Waveny House remains one of the most elegant historic homes in the U.S.

7. Pauline Collins and John Alderton 

They were Thomas and Sarah from the original “Upstairs, Downstairs,” and this real-life couple continue to be one of Britain’s premier acting families.

8. Belgrave Square 

At the heart of London’s posh City of Westminster, Belgrave Square has been the home of Britain’s elite for centuries.

BBC News

9. The Halo Tiara 

The world watched with pride as Prince William of Wales married his longtime love Katherine Middleton. The newly created Duchess of Cambridge was the focus of global attention as she appeared at Westminster Abbey on her wedding day. Wearing the “Halo Tiara,” the Duchess’ beauty was not outshined by the jewels, but rather, only heightened.

10. Queen Elizabeth II's Wedding Dress 

Sir Norman Hartnell designed this magnificent gown for the 1947 marriage of the future Queen Elizabeth II to Prince Philip.

The Victoria & Albert Museum

11. The Coral Tiara 

Tiaras seem to be popular. This unique creation of coral is one of the most unusual of the jeweled headpieces we’ve examined.

12. King Edward VII’s Dog Caesar 

While not a faithful husband, King Edward VII was loyal to his pets, and they to him. No dog was closer to the King than Caesar who famously followed his master’s coffin during his funeral procession.

The Victoria & Albert Museum

13. The Mrs. Roy Hudson Circle Gown 

This gown by the famous House of Worth is the epitome of 1950s glamour.

The Victoria & Albert Museum

14. The Janey Morris Brooch 

The wife of the celebrated designer William Morris, Jane Morris was also a favorite of the Pre-Raphaelite painter Dante Gabriel Rossetti who famously gifted her with many jewels including this stunning brooch. 

USA Network

15. Matt Bomer 

We are fans of Mr. Matt Bomer and, it seems, you are too. The talented star of USA’s “White Collar” has become quite the film star of late. However, more so than his celebrity and incredible good looks, it’s his spirit and humble charm which afford him limitless appeal.

Building of the Week: Waveny House, New Canaan, Connecticut

At the center of New Canaan, Connecticut’s beautiful, three-hundred acre Waveny Park stands “The Castle” which is also known as Waveny House. Designed in 1912 by William Tubby for oil magnate, Lewis Lapham, the Tudor-style house served as a summer home for the Lapham family.

Graceful stone porticoes overlook the luxurious grounds which were designed by Frederick Law Olmstead, Jr. The mansion features elaborate wood paneling, leaded-glass windows, glistening wide-plank floors, marble fireplaces and hand-stenciled walls and ceilings. Relatively unchanged since it was built, the house was sold to the Town of New Canaan in 1967. Today, the house and Waveny Park are open to the public as a community recreation center. The mansion can be rented out for special occasions and weddings.



ABC Daytime

 Speaking of weddings, many of you are familiar with Waveny House. The exterior of “The Castle” served as the façade of All My Children’s “Cortlandt Manor.” There, the daytime drama staged one of the medium’s most opulent and highly-anticipated weddings—the nuptials of Nina Cortlandt and Cliff Warner in 1981. Here’s a clip from that fondly-remembered episode which gives us a good look at Waveny House.