The Art of Play: Princess Elizabeth’s Little House, 1933

Dolls' House Version of Princess Elizabeth's Little House, 1933
The Victoria & Albert Museum

Here we see a dolls' house that was made in 1933 by Lines Bros of Merton, Surrey as a model of the Welsh cottage style playhouse which was presented to Princess Elizabeth (now Queen Elizabeth II) on her sixth birthday in 1932 by the people of Wales.

The original house, called “Y Bwthyn Bach” now stands in the grounds of Windsor Castle. The child-sized cottage was used to raise funds for children's charities before the Princess was allowed to play with it. The real house has four rooms including a kitchen and bathroom fully equipped with working appliances.

Princess Elizabeth and her sister, Princess Margaret Rose, delighting in hosting parties for their friends in the cottage. This dolls' house version at a cost of 56/- (£2.80) allowed many parents in the 1930s to offer their daughters a miniature of the princess’ famed playhouse.

Treat of the Week: Pecan Maple Penuche Cake

Here’s a dessert fit for royalty. A moist, spicy cake has been iced with a rich, thick maple penuche and topped with pecans.

Now, what’s a penuche? A penuche is a fudge-like confection made of brown sugar, cream and butter. Maple syrup is very often added to this popular candy, so much so that, in many regions penuche always has a maple flavor. In many ways, a penuche is like a praline.

Due to its consistency, penuche can be spread onto a cake as an icing. As it cools, it hardens. The texture of the penuche—thick, sugary , soft and fudgy is a perfect counterpoint to a moist cake. My mother, here, has created a beautiful maple penuche and used it as an icing. It is truly decadent and wonderful.

Try looking for penuche recipes to find one that you like. Use the warm penuche mixture as an icing with your favorite cake and see what you think.

Precious Time: The Edward East Clock Watch, 1645

Clock Watch
Edward East, 1645
The Victoria & Albert Museum

Beautiful and functional, this clock-watch strikes the hours and also has an alarm mechanism. The back plate is signed “Eduardus East Londini.”

Edward East (born 1602, died around 1697) was, in 1660, appointed Chief Clockmaker to King, Charles II (ruled 1660-1685). He enjoyed a large and thriving business until 1697, when he may have died. It has, however been noted, that he never really wanted to be a clockmaker and only entered the profession reluctantly.

Despite his rumored resistance, he talent in the profession is undeniable as evidenced by the

finely engraved naturalistic flowers on the reverse of the case. These are in the style of the prints published for the use of engravers and enamellers by Jacques Vauquer (1621-1686) in Paris.

King Charles I was always fascinated by mechanical objects, and also enjoyed making gifts of them. It is thought that this watch was made for the King who gifted it to his sister, Elizabeth, Queen of Bohemia to, in turn, gave it to Gilbert Spencer in 1661.

History’s Runway: La Ligne Libre; “Belgique,” 1957

Gown
Dior, 1957
The Victoria & Albert Museum

This opulent, but, delicate, dress was designed by Christian Dior (1905-57) in 1957, the year of his death. The gown was commissioned by the Baroness Alain de Rothschild to wear for the state visit of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip to Paris in April of 1957.

The 1957 state visit was the most important event of the 1957 Parisian social calendar. Couturiers were flooded with commissions for evening gowns and gala dresses. Lady Gladwyn, the wife of the British Ambassador, noted that even the Queen’s dresses could not compete with the grandeur of the gowns of the French society ladies.

We should note that Dior’s dress was originally white. Now, it appears to be an off shade of gray. That’s simply because it’s dirty with age. So, why not clean it? It is treated with a stiffening agent that would be destroyed by cleaning of any kind. So, in order to preserve the gown, it must remain as it is.

The gown features a strapless bodice and a full, gathered skirt. Net is draped around the bodice and a tulle fichu adds fullness around the shoulders, attaching at the front. The boned bodice has a cream silk lining.

Originally, the gown had a long satin ribbon tied in a bow, attached to the bodice at the point the fichu collar meets. The original ribbon is lost. However, at a photo shoot for the V&A in 2006, a light green ribbon was added to approximate what was originally there.

Punch’s Cousin, Chapter 393

“Scalp wounds,” Robert explained as he wrapped ripped rags around the head of the wounded officer who had finally awakened, “tend to bleed quite a lot. The man’s brain has been shaken and contused, as Hippocrates would have called it, a ‘concussion.’ He’ll be well in a few hours. Perhaps, a headache, nothing more.”


Robert and the elder officer helped the young man to his feet.

“Who did this to ya, Boy?” The elder officer asked.

“The Duke.” The man said weakly.

“That loon has a history of hitting folk across the head!” Edward shouted. “You all may try to cover it up, but we all know! He’s a menace!”

“No, he isn’t.” Robert frowned.

“Fine, fine,” Edward Cage moaned. “The young man is well. Why are you wasting time standing here with him then when someone should be out looking for my son!”

“Someone’s got to stay with the prisoners.” The elder officer said, ‘and my associate ain’t in no condition to be left alone.”

“I’ll want the prisoners.” Edward smiled wickedly.

The elder officer looked at Robert and Marjani for a moment. He finally nodded. “Fine with me, Mr. Cage.”

“Go on! Find my boy!” Edward commanded.

The elder officer ran from the house as Edward Cage ordered Zettie to take the young man to the back where he could lie down.

Alone with Edward, Robert stiffened defiantly, “I don’t see why we’re prisoners. We’ve done nothing wrong.”

“Collusion!” Edward snapped.

“You’ll never prove such a foolish thing!” Robert laughed.

“Maybe not. But, if I’m the only law, then, I don’t gotta prove it to anyone.” Edward winked.

Meanwhile, Mr. Punch, Adrienne and Cecil panted as the crouched behind a thick row of hedges.

“Now, what do you suggest we do?” Cecil growled softly to Punch. “You’ve struck a man and we’ve stolen a child.”

“The child is ours to begin with.” Punch sniffed. “Coo! You know that! As to hittin’ that bloke, you’d have done the same thing, you would, if you’d thought of it first.”

“You would have,” Adrienne smiled, still holding “Colin.”

“True.” Cecil snorted.

“As for what we do next,” Punch continued. “We find your son, get our chums and get on that ship to England and leave all this foolishness behind!”

“Hush,” Adrienne hissed. “Someone is coming.”

Cecil and Punch paused as they heard heavy footsteps coming quickly toward them.

“We’re done for now,” Cecil muttered.



Did you miss Chapters 1-392? If so, you can read them here.

Obscure Book of the Day: Our Queen: A Royal Album

This isn’t a Pitkin Book! I know…shocking. “Our Queen: A Royal Album” was a Pitkin-like photographic guide made, obviously, to compete with the publishing company responsible for most of these little album-type books.

The work of the Scion Publishing Company, obviously in anticipation of the 1953 coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, this little book is filled with lovely images of the new Queen and her family. Whereas the Pitkin Books offer some very well-written text, this book really only features captions on the photos and an opening statement wishing much health and happiness to the new Monarch.

However, the pictures are quite lovely and give us a chance to see bits of history which would have otherwise been lost.

Let’s take a look inside…

Object of the Day: A Souvenir Handkerchief Commemorating the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, 1952-53

I’ve recently gone wild and added a lot of vintage and antique handkerchiefs to my collection of Royal memorabilia. My father has very kindly framed them all for me.


This one dates to 1952 to 1953 and was made to commemorate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. We see, in the center of the textile, a portrait of Her Majesty in an oval inset over Buckingham Palace and beneath her crowned cipher. The whole of the handkerchief is lined with the labeled crests of those nations and countries who made up the Commonwealth.

Made of a silky synthetic material, the handkerchief is in remarkably good condition and still retains its brilliant colors. The original "Made in England" tag remains.