Mastery of Design: An Enamel and Diamond Toothpick Case, 1780

Toothpick Case
Enamel, Gold, Diamonds, 1780
This and all related images courtesy of:
The Victoria & Albert Museum

Did you think that just because I’ve been slow with the posts today (I still don’t feel well) that I’d neglect to give you a shiny thing to look at? Today’s sparkler is an oval, jeweled, and enameled gold toothpick case. The cover and base are painted in translucent blue over an engine-turned ground which has been edged in opaque white with gold flowers and translucent blue within gold borders.
The cover of the box—meant to be a toothpick case--is set with diamonds with the initial “O” surmounted by a baron’s coronet and bordered by laurel in an oval frame. The case’s base is set with plaited hair which has been preserved since 1780 under glass within an oval medallion.

The beautifully enameled sides of the box are punctuated by a diamond thumb-piece while the interior of the lid is set with a mirror. The interior bottom of the base is engraved with a coat-of-arms and a motto, ‘MIHI CURA FUTURI.’

This toothpick case belonged to Robert Henley Ongley, first Baron Ongley (c.1720-1785) who sat as the Whig member of Parliament for Bedford. The inscription was added after his death and in commemoration of his passing.

Hey, look!  The original green leather box.

Treat of the Week: A Magnificent Peach Cake with Swiss Meringue Butter-cream Frosting

My mother on her wedding day,
September 18, 1971. 

This weekend was a very happy joyful occasion as we celebrated my parents’ fortieth wedding anniversary with a wonderful meal and a great day together.

Every week brings a grand treat, but this one is particularly exceptional. A delicate, moist white cake has been infused with a puree of fresh peaches. Each layer has been sliced and spread with a strawberry filling which is made all the more delicious by the presence of whole, small, wild strawberries.

The cake has been iced with a peach Swiss meringue butter-cream which has been adorned with exquisite piped decoration and dusted with golden sugar. And, there are some cupcakes to match, too. It was a fitting way to celebrate their Ruby Anniversary, and, now, I’m happy to say I have a new favorite cake!

The Happy Couple.

And, two years later, I came along, and there went the neighborhood. 

Gifts of Grandeur: A Shropshire Ornamental Dish, 1830

Ornamental Dish
Shropshire, England
1830
The Victoria & Albert Museum

This ornamental porcelain dish is filled with models of fruit & flowers, also of porcelain. The whole of the piece is painted in enamels and gilded. The dish features a stylish wavy rim and panels of open trellis-work which are surrounded by gilt rococo scrolls in relief. Depicted here, we see: chrysanthemums, an anemone, a tulip, clematis, apples, pears, peaches, strawberries, gooseberries and a plum.


Such dishes were made for purely decorative purposes—either set out on the table or sideboard in pairs during the dessert course, or even mounted on a wall or displayed on a stand. These were the height the revival of the Rococo style, which was often combined with this type of naturalistic adornenment.

Thr origins of this dish have been traced to Coalport in Shropshire. The factory shipped in heavy raw materials from the nearby port and to sent the finished goods to London. This particular area of Shropshire has long been associated with ceramics.

Person of the Week: David Canary

Born in Elwood, Indiana in 1938, David Canary first shined on the sports field as a high school football star, earning a football scholarship to the University of Cincinnati where he studied music and trained as a singer. His training served him well. Just days after being graduated from college, Mr. Canary was hired as part of a Broadway chorus.

Soon, he’d earned himself a semi-regular role on the nighttime serial Peyton Place as “Russ Gehring.” However, in 1967, Mr. Canary’s career really began to flourish when he won the role of “Candy Canaday” on Bonanza. David Canary’s love of the stage never faded despite his newfound small-screen stardom. He appeared on Broadway with Colleen Dewhurst in, "Great Day In The Morning", and with Geraldine Page in Tennessee William' "Clothes For A Summer Horse.” His other stage credits include: "Kismet,” "Man of La Mancha,” "The Fantastics,” "The Seagull", and "MacBeth.”

On the Set of Bonanza

Daytime TV fans became familiar with Mr. Canary’s work in 1981 when he assumed the role of "Steve Frame" on the Another World. Later that same year, Mr. Canary joined the cast of All My Children where he would play the dual roles of Adam and Stuart Chandler until 2010 and 2009 respectively.

With a host of other Primetime roles to his credit, Mr. Canary continues to make both comedic and dramatic performances in a variety of programs. The five time Emmy winner and his wife, Maureen, have a son and a daughter.

Look for Mr. Canary to return to Pine Valley for the final week of All My Children’s broadcast run this week. For the many decades of exceptional performances and entertainment that he has offered the world, David Canary is our “Person of the Week.”

Punch’s Cousin, Chapter 346

The vision of Prince Albert spoke softly as he ushered Julian through the imagined door to his past.


“They’ve tried to do this before. Are you aware of this?”

“They?” Julian squinted, refusing to look at the image of the room where he’d spent the first years of his life.

“Guignol, Scaramouche—the others.” Albert answered gruffly. “They’ve even devised other schemes to make you more amenable to the idea.”

“What sort of schemes?”

“Did you really think that the spirit of your deceased valet appeared to you within your own mind?” Albert spat.

“I…” Julian shook his head. “I didn’t really question it.”

“No, I don’t suspect you did.” The Prince grunted.

“I questioned you—your presence.” Julian replied tartly, beginning to become irritated.

“Indeed.” Prince Albert smiled.

“Are you one of their devises?”

“What do you think?” The Prince chuckled.

“You’d have to be.” Julian frowned. “I didn’t think Guignol or Scaramouche sophisticated enough for this.”

“What makes you think it was those two?”

“Well, it wasn’t Punch. I can hear him calling for me.”

“No,” Prince Albert answered gravely. “It most assuredly wasn’t Mr. Punch. He’s the one who has prevented you from revisiting your past, your memories. He’s been the creature that’s blocked you. He is, as he says, the ‘Guard.’”

“And, I thank him for it.” Julian nodded.

“You’re still not looking.” Albert pointed to the room to which Julian had since turned his back. “Your Mr. Punch is not here now.”

“I’ve learned to ‘guard’ myself.” Julian snorted.

“Have you?” Prince Albert laughed. “Haven’t you become complex? Yet, not so complex as to understand how your own mind functions or who is presently in control.”

“I am in control.” Julian shouted.

“Are you?” Prince Albert grinned. “Then, turn around and look at your room. It should be familiar to you.”

“It is.” Julian scowled. “If you’re a creation of my own thinking, you must recall that it’s only been a few weeks since I was last in Fallbridge Hall. Of course I remember it.”

“The Hall, yes.” Albert nodded. “But, that room? When was the last time you were in that room?”

“I don’t know.” Julian shrugged.

“Why haven’t you been in there?”

“I don’t like the way it smells. Roses.” Julian shuddered.

“You love roses, Your Grace!” Albert snapped.

“Yes, on the plant or cut and in a vase—fresh and colorful. Not dried and dead. Not that. That smell is different.”

“Do you smell it now?” The Prince asked.

“I do.” Julian shivered. “It permeates the room.”

“Look at the room,” Prince Albert repeated.

“No.”

Prince Albert grabbed Julian by the shoulders and forced him to turn around. “Look at the room!”

Suddenly, Julian’s eyes stung and burned as a scene that he hoped never to remember flickered in front of him.



Did you miss Chapters 1-345? If so, you can read them here.

Card of the Day: The Jerusalem Chamber at Westminster Abbey

The principal room, of the Medieval House of the Abbots at Westminster Abbey, the Jerusalem Chamber was added by Nicholas Litlyngton who was the Abbot of Westminster from 1362-86. There’s some debate about the origins of the room’s name, however it was not unusual in the Middle Ages to assign names to rooms. Other rooms at the Abbey have similar names such as Jericho and Samaria.

This room has been the scene of many historic meetings including: the committees dedicated to writing the Authorized Version of the Bible in 1611, a similar meeting to write the Revised Version in 1870, and the New English Bible in 1961 and the Revised English Bible in 1989. IT has also been the location for the laying out of the bodies of many important figures and has hosted numerous Royal events.

The room is commemorated in the Churchman Cigarette Company’s 1935 Silver Jubilee Series since it is, during coronation ceremonies, the temporary (heavily-guarded) storehouse for the crown jewels and Royal regalia which are used during the ceremony.

Object of the Day: A Souvenir Handkerchief from the Reign of King George V and Queen Mary

A recent addition to my collection of Royal memorabilia is another souvenir handkerchief. Of course, it depicts King George V and Mary of Teck since I tend to favor them. What’s particularly nice about this one is that it also shows their entire family.

Now, this souvenir is not from the coronation nor is it from the Silver Jubilee in 1935. IT was made at some point before 1919 since the family portraits include Prince John who died following a traumatic epileptic seizure in January of 1919. Following John’s death, Queen Mary was so heartbroken that the young prince was barely spoken of again, let alone depicted on any souvenirs.

The handkerchief is printed with “God Save Our King and Queen/ King George V and Queen Mary/ and their Family.” Portrait ovals of George and Mary hover above smaller depictions of their five children: “David” (later King Edward VIII and, then, the Duke of Windsor), Albert (known as “Bertie” to the family, later King George VI), Princess Mary, Prince Henry, Prince George and Prince John. Below the family portraits, are the words and music for “God Save the King” which is labeled as “The National Anthem.”

The handkerchief, though delicate is in excellent condition for its age and is now neatly preserved in a frame made by my father.