Stalking the Belle Époque

Sunday, July 1, 2012

Mastery of Design: The Topaz Necklet, c. 1780

Necklet of White Topaz
Part of a Demi-Parure
Portugal, 1780-1800
The Victoria & Albert Museum

This necklace, made in Portugal between 1780 and 1800, features a symmetrical bow design from which five loops suspending an equally symmetrical bow and pendant hang.

The piece is typical of neo-classical Portuguese design. It is a portion of a “demi-parure” - a half set of jewels - which is comprised of a pair of long pendalogue earrings (long pear-shaped pendants hanging beneath bows).

The stones are white topaz which are set in silver to enhance their clarity. That this set remains as it is owes to the fact that the stones are topaz and not diamonds. Had they been diamonds, the set surely would have been ripped apart and reset several times over.

Drawing of the Day: Joe Elvin, 1907

Joe Elvin
George Cooke, 1907
The Victoria & Albert Museum

Here’s another Edwardian Music Hall caricature by George Cooke. This one shows Music hall star Joe Elvin (1862-1935) with his trademark red wig.

Elvin was born Joseph Patrick Keegan in London's Seven Dials, and made his first appearance at the age of eight in Brighton. As a young man, he worked with his father as Keegan and Little Elvin doing comedy song and dance routines. Elvin later starred in spectacular sketches, many of them written by Wal Pink, especially those with racing themes. Elvin famously wore a ginger wig in these routines.

This caricature, like most of the others by Cooke, has been autographed by the subject. In this case:

"I aint Barmy. Yours In the 'padded Room' - Joe Elvin.”

Sunday Morning Special: King George and Queen Mary: Part 1 of 4 - The Royals Who Rescued the Monarchy

This interesting documentary chronicles the lives of King George V and Queen Mary—The Royals Who Rescued the Monarchy. After the reign of his father, King Edward VII, George V had many a problem to face, and, then, the First World War, put a strain on the Empire.

Enjoy Part One of Four. This will give you a taste of an excellent series.

The Home Beautiful: The Greenlands Bath Taps, 1900

Click Above Image for Detail
Taps from Greenlands
Nelson Dawson, 1900
The Victoria & Albert Museum

A work of white metal, copper and brass, this bath tap unit was installed in “Greenlands,” a lush country house near Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire. The owner of Greenlands was one William Frederick Danvers Smith, 1st Viscount Hambledon who commissioned this design from Nelson Ethelred Dawson (1859-1942).

Greenlands is now a civil service staff college but, many of Dawson’s fittings remain in the house. Clearly, this isn’t one of them since its in the V&A. It is often studied as an excellent example of the decorative arts of 1900. Furthermore, Dawson is still considered one of England's most important arts and crafts designers. Incidentally, Dawson’s drawing for these taps, dated May 1900, is also in the V&A—see below.

Mr. Punch of Belgrave Square will Continue on Monday

Our Mr. Punch has endured another difficult time. It wasn’t bad enough that a murdered man was found on the front steps of his luxurious Belgrave Square townhouse, but he also was being poisoned by an unknown enemy. So, it seemed only natural that the Duke of Fallbridge/Mr. Punch should pack up his family for a little holiday in Scotland.

After arriving at the Molliner family home in Aberdeenshire, things seemed to be looking up. Punch was having a good time showing his son and his companion around Grange Molliner. He even had a special kilt made for Robert. Meanwhile, the staff from Belgrave Square seemed to be getting on well with the Grange’s staff – well, except for Mrs. Pepper and the Grange’s cook, but that was to be expected.

So, discovering that Miss Barrett was nowhere to be found was highly disappointing. Punch, Robert and the majority of the staff went in search of the governess. While looking, Punch showed Robert the top of one of the castle’s turrets where, as a boy, Julian/Mr. Punch had carved a message in the stone.

Gerard, Charles and Finaly looked for the governess in the old hunting lodge on the estate. They didn’t find her, but Charles discovered that someone had recently been in the cottage since the wax on one of the candles was still soft.

Meanwhile, Gamilla had taken Colin to the nursery where she witnessed the baby say his first word. Poor Gamilla, she’s already endured the barrage of questions about Colin’s parentage from the Grange’s housekeeper, Mrs. North. Seeing Colin speak his first word, “Punch,” was the treat she needed. Too bad Miss Barrett had to spoil it.

Miss Barrett showed up at the nursery, declaring that she was terribly ill. Gamilla recalled that the governess had, in fact, seemed sick on the carriage ride. Ellen explained that she had passed out in her room and rolled under the bed where no one saw her. Robert was furious and didn’t believe Ellen. The woman, then, as if to prove her point, fainted. Punch watched as Robert and Speaight carried off the governess. Robert declared that if he found her to be false, he’d throw her out.

What’s going on with Ellen? She has been acting rather peculiarly lately. And, why was Punch so unnerved when atop the tower with Robert? Is he recalling something that even he has repressed? Furthermore, there’s something else strange going on at the Grange, something which will prove to make Punch’s holiday less than pleasant. Make sure not to miss a chapter of Mr. Punch of Belgrave Square this week. But, if you do, there’s a chapter summary and a link to each chapter in the Archive. Thanks for reading!

Unusual Artifact: The Two-Headed Chimera Tap, 16th C.

Bronze Tap in the Shape of a Chimera
Italian, Sixteenth Century
The Victoria & Albert Museum

This bronze tap was crafted in the late Sixteenth Century in Italy and takes the form of a two-headed dragon of chimera in full relief.

Grotesque figures often graced Italian flask or barrel taps like this one which were used to siphon liquids. This example, being of bronze, and sculpted so intricately would have been devoted to a special purpose in a very wealthy household.

Object of the Day: A Trade Card for a Molasses Faucet

Click image for Full-Size

I admit, I don’t often worry about the location of my molasses. However, it was a big concern for our Nineteenth Century ancestors. So much so, in fact, that they needed special tools to keep their molasses under control.

This Victorian trade card advertises such a tool. So, get out your big ol’ wooden drum of molasses and let’s see what we can do here.

The front of the card shows double comic illustration of a mustachioed gent who is worried about his molasses. He says in the first frame:

My Goodness! Where is my
Molasses by this time –

And, in the second frame, he has gone into his storage room to discover that his precious molasses is…

On the Floor!!

What a pickle.

Well, let’s see what the back says:

->>: ENTERPRISE :<<-

Improved Patent Suction and Force

Measuring * Faucet,

TINNED

WARRANTED to meas-

ure correctly and draw

a gallon of molasses in

winter in one minute.

The only Measuring Faucet

ever invented which has stood

the test, having had its durabil-

ity and econmy proven by years of experience.

No grocer can afford to be without it.

Advantages Over the Old Style Molasses Gate.

1st.—IT SAVES TIME, as it draws molasses

winter and summer, directly into a jug or bottle,

without the use of a funnel.

2nd.—IT IS CLEANER, as it dispenses with

the use of measures, and is, consequently, free from

flies and dirt.

Each Faucet is WARRANTED to measure ac-

cording to United States Standard.

It is known to be a common fact that many

measures in use, whether stamped or otherwise,

are incorrect, and our Faucet will not agree with

such measures. A gallon measure should contain

eight (8) pounds, five and one-third (5 1/3) ounces of

water. Our Faucet will invariably be found correct

when this test is made.

PRICE. -- $3.00

=================

FOR SALE BY THE HARDWARE TRADE.

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