One of my favorites in my collection of antique hand fans is this beautiful silk, hand-painted fan with lace trim. Dating to the late Nineteenth Century, this fan is French in origin and has been signed by the artist, “Henri Luna.” The scene is typical of these fans—a courtly scene of well-dressed people at a fete, listening to musicians amidst the splendor of a well-manicured courtyard.
The celluloid sticks are intricately pierced and gilded, adorned with carved and painted roses which mirror the brightly painted flowers in the scene. The lace trim is in remarkable good condition given its age and is only slightly yellowed.
This fan was encased sometime in the 1930’s—mounted on rose-colored mohair. I always find fan cases to be delightful in and of themselves. I think it’s the shape of them that appeals to me. This one is particularly lovely with a relief of carved ribbons and roses at the crest.
You’ll have to pardon the glare in these pictures. This fan is hung about nine feet from the floor and I was standing on a chair (much to Bertie’s dismay) when I took the photos. Short of breaking my neck, there was no good way to block the reflection of the chandeliers.
If you enjoy watching Joan Crawford smoke, drink and act amidst the ugliest lamps in film history, then Warner Brother’s stunning 1946 picture, Humoresque is for you.
With a screenplay by Clifford Odets based upon the novel by Fannie Hurst, Humoresque tells the story of a young man (John Garfield) named Paul Boray who dreams of rising above his life above his parents’ grocery store to become a celebrated violinist. Boray gets his chance when his friend, Sid Jeffers (played by the charmingly disturbed Oscar Levant) invites him to go along to a high society party at the home of a wealthy family.
Warner Brothers Pictures
There, Paul meets his hostess, Helen Wright for the first time. Helen is the beautiful and dissatisfied wife of an older wealthy man. She takes an immediate interest in Boray despite taunting him. Soon, Helen begins encouraging Paul’s career and acting as his patron—and more. Paul’s doting mother does not take kindly to his relationship with this married, seemingly-treacherous woman, and makes her opinions known, however Paul is undaunted. Their coupling, of course, has disastrous results. As Paul’s career rises, Helen descends further into her neuroses. In a scene cleverly directed by Jean Negulesco, Helen makes a final decision about her fate.
Warner Brothers Pictures
A character unto itself in this picture, the music speaks for the characters in many instances. Franz Waxman’s original score incorporates some of the most beautiful classical pieces ever written. From Boray’s editorial selection of music which he feels represents Helen to the motif of Dvorak’s Humoresque, the film’s score is as prominent as any of the characters.
This is a film that feeds your senses. In classic Warner Brother’s style, it’s grand, but gritty. Crawford is at her very best and is an excellent match for the powerful John Garfield. If you haven’t seen Humoresque, I’d wholeheartedly recommend it. It will keep you endlessly entertained.
In terms of art media, “pastel” refers to an implement consisting of a stick of pure color pigment bound in a suspension with a neutral hue and low saturation.The colors of pastel sticks are pure--the closest approximation to their natural pigments.The use of pastels in artwork provides untainted color.The hardness of pastels varies from quite soft to a crayon-like hardness.Pastels can be blended in much the same way oil paints can, but offer a crispness more like that of pencils or charcoal.Artists since the Sixteenth Century have employed pastels as a medium, treasuring the pureness of color that they provide.
As Punch’s Cousin continues with Chapter 55, we’ll see Naasir reunited with his friends. However, the trauma he experienced at the hands of his captors may find the loyal man to be a bit changed. As Mr. Punch becomes increasingly human, will he wish to let Julian come back to the surface? After all, despite all of the troubles that he and his companions are facing, Punch is having a good time with his newly discovered family. What will Punch’s newfound sense of joy and freedom mean for Julian?
We’ll learn more about Robert and what motivates him as the presence of “The Elegant Ogress” becomes more apparent in Marionneaux. Is it really Iolanthe Evangeline who’s taunting poor Adrienne and Cecil, or is someone doing it on her behalf? Even though Arthur is gone, his spirit seems to linger on, causing trouble for Mr. Punch, Julian and Robert. And, just what is happening at the Rittenhouse Mansion? As Cecil tries to assist his brother and Punch/Julian in their quest, will his employer, Edward Cage interfere? Perhaps there’s more in Mr. Cage’s workshop than a few wax figures.
And what about the woman who calls herself "Barbara Allen"? Is she a friend? She did help Naasir escape, after all. Or was her motivation far more sinister? One doesn’t name oneself after “Cruel Barbara Allen” without good reason.
You’ll find the answers to all of the above, plus the reappearance of the odious Duchess of Fallbridge, next week in Punch’s Cousin. As always, my continued thanks to all of you who have been reading and sending me your comments and questions. I promise another exciting week is in store!
To quote Heidi Klum, “As you know, in Fashion, one day you’re in, and the next day, you’re out.”Fashions come and go, styles change.While none of us wants to look like a throwback to a less-than-attractive time period (no mullets, please), it’s important to remember that you can create your own personal style.If we look back, we can see that many people successfully created their own styles—styles which worked for them for decades.Take Kitty Carlisle for instance.Her look never really varied.From the 1930’s until her death, she looked relatively the same.She had a sense of timelessness about her.And, it worked. Joan Crawfird and Bette Davis each developed their signature looks over time. We'll never forget them. Will we? That’s something that we can all achieve.Find a look that works for you and make it your signature.Rely on classic lines and an overall presentation that never goes out of style.You’ll find it’ll keep you youthful and feeling like yourself for decades to come.Remember, it’s okay not to follow the pack.The people who we always remember are the ones who show us they’re true individuals.
Several years ago, I purchased a group of small unframed drawings from the collection of an unknown artist. Many in the group are dated from the 1850’s-1890’s. They are all drawn by the same hand, but unsigned. This small landscape is one of my favorites.
It demonstrates the sort of brooding landscape which rose to prominence in late Nineteenth Century English paintings. Rendered in pastel, moody trees are silhouetted by an amber sky. In the distance, a placid pond reflects the horizon. Even after over a century, this work is crisp and free of smudges. I only wish I knew the name of the person who created this little masterpiece. However, there’s comfort in knowing that though he or she is nameless, a clear voice remains through these lovely works.
Can you believe that October is just around the corner? Time flies when you’re stalking the Belle Époque. This week, we’ll open the gates to Buckingham Palace and explore the history and grandeur of one of Britain’s most impressive palaces. We’ll also be taking a look at some beautiful gems, paintings and sculptures from the world’s finest museums. As always, we’ll have a daily object from my collection of “stuff” and some goals that we can all easily set for ourselves.
As Punch’s Cousin continues with Chapter 55, we’ll become further acquainted with Adrienne and Cecil as well as get our first glimpse into the strange goings-on at the Rittenhouse Mansion. Mr. Punch will be making appearances of his own as we continue our search for his influence on the arts, and we’ll meet some of the people who keep the spirit of Mr. Punch alive in the twenty-first century. A further peek into The Royal Collection will reveal the famed “Cambridge Emeralds,” and we’ll have a chance to feast our eyes on some of the hidden jewels that most visitors don’t have a chance to see.
Delicious treats, decadent art, a delightful British comedienne, and an intimate look at the rivalry between Bette Davis and Miriam Hopkins will mark our approach to October. I’m so very much looking forward to sharing all of this with you, and so very pleased to see how eager you are to share your corners of the world with our online community. Here’s wishing all of you a fantastic week!
The celluloid sticks are intricately pierced and gilded, adorned with carved and painted roses which mirror the brightly painted flowers in the scene. The lace trim is in remarkable good condition given its age and is only slightly yellowed. 
You’ll have to pardon the glare in these pictures. This fan is hung about nine feet from the floor and I was standing on a chair (much to Bertie’s dismay) when I took the photos. Short of breaking my neck, there was no good way to block the reflection of the chandeliers. 
