Over three thousand diamonds backed in silver, pink and yellow foil adorn this bloodstone snuff box. German in origin, the box was made for Frederick II of Prussia who had a collection of over three hundred snuff boxes.
Heralded for its magnificent use of gold mounts and the clarity of its diamonds, the box was considered one of the great treasures of Prussia. In 1917, it was seized by Soviet authorities and, as these things often did, somehow ended up in the hands of Mary of Teck.
Screenwriter Davis Seidler long had a fascination with King George VI. As a child, Seidler had also worked to overcome a stammer and was inspired by the story of the reluctant King whose speech impediment caused him considerable distress. While researching the life of King George VI, Seidler discovered that His Majesty’s stammer was greatly improved after working with a speech therapist, Lionel Logue.
The Queen Mother, wife of the late King George VI, would not give her permission for the details of her husband’s association with Logue to be revealed until after her death. Upon her death in 2002, Seidler wanted to begin on the project again, but health problems prevented him from doing so. Finally, in 2009, he began the screenplay that would become The King’s Speech. Initially, he used creative license to recreate the interactions between Logue and King George VI. However, nine weeks before shooting, Logue’s diaries were found and actual exchanges were introduced into the script.
Directed by Tom Hooper, The King’s Speech stars Colin Firth as King George VI (he received an Academy Award and a Golden Globe for his portrayal), Helena Bonham Carter as the future Queen Mother, Geoffrey Rush as Logue, Claire Bloom as Mary of Teck (the mother of George VI and Edward VIII) along with Sir Derek Jacobi and Guy Pearce. Filmed in and around London in a variety of locations meant to double for Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace, the film was lauded for its visual historical accuracy.
The picture concerns not only King George VI’s struggle with his speech impediment, but also his conflicting feelings about the abdication of his brother, the brief King Edward VIII. Firth and Bonham Carter portray the Duke and Duchess of York as an intimate couple who are strong in their commitment to one another and to their country and who are caring parents of their two children, Princess Elizabeth (the present Queen) and Princess Margaret Rose.
Though the picture takes some dramatic license with facts, it is mostly quite accurate. Any inaccuracies can be overlooked in favor of the brilliant performances and stunning visuals. This is one film that deserved the attention which was lavished upon it and is a must-see for any anglophile, history buff or lover of excellent cinema.
One of the most watched episodes of the much-beloved original Upstairs, Downstairs series was the fifth episode of the second “series” (in the U.S., we’d call it a “season”) entitled, “Guest of Honour.” In this episode, Lady Marjorie and Mr. Bellamy welcome a special guest into their home—King Edward VII. Of course, His Majesty’s dinner companion wasn’t his consort, Queen Alexandra. As Lady Marjorie put it, “Her Majesty doesn’t play bridge.” He was, instead joined by his longtime mistress, Alice Keppel.
Let’s pause for a moment to note an interesting historical fact which never ceases to amuse me. Alice Keppel, King Edward’s “friend,” is the great grandmother of the present Duchess of Cornwall and wife of Prince Charles, Camilla. As we know, Camilla was “friends” with Charles during his marriage to Diana, Princess of Wales. So, it seems that “entertaining” members of the Royal family is a family tradition.
Okay, back to Upstairs, Downstairs. What’s most exciting about this episode is the glimpse into the preparations for such an event. Mr. Hudson, Mrs. Bridges, Rose, Edward and Ruby show us the care and detail that the staff of a great Belgravia townhouse would have taken in preparing a feast for the King.
It’s a lovely and interesting episode. Here’s a clip.
Last week as Punch’s Cousin moved ahead, Barbara Allen had quite a shock when she discovered that Julian, Robert and her son will still alive. Barbara vowed to live an honest life and not squander her newfound chance. While Cecil was doubtful, Mr. Punch believed his master’s sister and welcomed her to stay (along with Charles) in their home.
Meanwhile, life was further complicated for Barbara—and everyone else—when Arthur returned to New Orleans along with his seedy companion, Gerard. Cecil told Arthur that he and Punch would help him if Arthur continued his seduction of Ulrika Rittenhouse and retrieved the missing blue diamond.
Speaking of Ulrika, she was thrilled to see Arthur and wasted no time in using him for her own plans. Leaving Iolanthe’s ill child at Edward Cage’s house, Ulrika and Arthur hurried to the prison to tell Iolanthe that she’d been framed for a murder she did not commit. Enraged, Iolanthe vowed revenge—as she does.
Adrienne, Robert and Marjani ended up at the home of one of Marjani’s friends—the Routhe family. Mr. Routhe delivered a message to Punch and Cecil, letting the two men know that they were safe, for the time being. But, were they? With Marie Laveau and Giovanni Iantosca lurking outside, their peace might be in danger.
Furthermore, Julian’s getting antsy. Calling Mr. Punch in to their private internal room, Julian had a message for his other half—and a surprise visitor. Naasir’s spirit lingered within Julian. What did he have to impart to Mr. Punch? We’ll find out this week.
As Mr. Punch and his friends face threats from Iolanthe, Ulrika, Marie, Edward, Giovanni and Arthur, they’ll soon discover that circumstances aren’t going their way. Look for Robert to do something truly surprising and expect to see Marjani’s strength tested. Will Barbara be able to resist Arthur’s odd charms? A big turning point will come this week as Punch’s Cousin continues.
Many thanks to all of you for your continued support! This promises to be an exciting week!
We’re a society of splintered people who communicate via devices instead of faces. Our speech is reduced to 140 characters, abbreviations and a lack of personal depth. Today, take some time to find unity with your community.
Take a walk around your neighborhood. Get to know your community. See who lives around you. Make a point to visit local businesses and see what your corner of the world has to offer.
It’s also a great day to find unity with yourself. Examine what you think and feel. Try to reconcile your differing thoughts. Sometimes black and white really do come together to make a beautiful shade of gray.
This dear, little box of inlaid stone is a souvenir of New Orleans brought to me by my parents from one of their trips. I’ve always admired this box for its simple design and the masterful inlay of black and white stone.
Such clever designs are an excellent representation of the artistic community of Louisiana where a variety of media thrive in the hands of countless talented native artists. From music to the visual and performing arts, New Orleans is truly one of the most creative places in the U.S.
While some of us may be experiencing some springtime cloudiness, we’re going to focus on sparkle this week at Stalking the Belle Époque. This week, the weather calls for gems—from diamonds to architectural and artistic gems.
We’ll take a look at some of the most precious treasures in the world. We’ll visit the remarkable jewel that is “Il Duomo” in Florence. Some of the most amazing paintings and sculpture ever created will grace these pages this week and we’ll also be treated to another glimpse into the jewelry of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
We’ve got music, movies, magnificent artifacts, and much more ahead for us this week. I can’t wait to share it with you all!
