Mastery of Design: The Ladakh Necklace, 1800-1850

Necklace
Ladakh, 1800-1850
The Victoria & Albert Museum

This necklace of coral and turquoise beads is punctuated with silver spacers. Made in Ladakh, the fringe design echoes Indian fashion design of the early to mid-Nineteenth Century. The work of an unknown jeweler, it’s likely that this necklace was made for export as it is made in the color scheme which was enjoying the utmost popularity throughout Europe at the time. 

Figure of the Day: The Banyan Man, 1760-1780

The Banyan Man
France, 1760-1780
The Victoria & Albert Museum

The work of The Lunéville Pottery Factory in France, this wholly Rococo figure of a standing man was made to appeal to the Eighteenth Century fascination with the exotic and the asian. The figure is dressed in a turban and a banyan, and is likely a lost member of a set of dessert figurines.

The figure was made of tin-glazed earthenware adorned with enamel colors and dates between 1760 and 1780. 

Sunday Morning Special: Popeye in "Aladdin and his Wonderful Lamp," 1939

Further proof that 1939 was the greatest year in cinematic history, this needs no explanation.

Painting of the Day: Girl with a Fan, 1864

Young Woman with a Fan
William Dobson, 1864
The Victoria & Albert Museum

One of the most popular artistic subjects of the Victorian era was the idealized representation of young femininity. Queen Victoria’s accession as a handsome young lady was the start of this English fascination with representations of youthful women as wholesome innocents without a trace of sensuality.

This painting from 1864 is a great example of the genre. The work of William Dobson (1817-1898), known for his religious paintings, this piece marks Dobson’s transition to lighter subject matter in an attempt to attain wider appeal. 

The painting is pure studio fantasy. The sitter has been attired in a turban and silk robe in the style of Syrian costumes of the era. However, her ensemble is that of a man, not a woman—a fact Dobson couldn’t have known. 

Mr. Punch of Belgrave Square will Continue on Monday

So, Ellen’s alive. I get the feeling that most everyone is disappointed.

Not only is she alive, but she’s keeping her charade up. Of course, she’s not aware that the Duke, the Doctor, Finlay and the staff are aware that she’s an imposter. Nevertheless, Johnny Donnan and the Baron Lensdown are falling for her routine.

Lensdown, however, has just delivered the news—a clear betrayal of Ellen—to the Duke that his former governess is still living. It’s a safe bet that he’ll be told pretty quickly what’s afoot. What will happen with this shady peer next?

Meanwhile, Punch and Robert—in front of everyone on the staff and Lennie—are questioning Finlay about his association with the faux-Ellen. Is he telling the truth or trying to swing things in his own favor? Lendsown may be more help than he knows or would want to be.

The surprises aren’t finished yet. There’s a doozy, as Hazel would have said, in store this week. So, make sure to come back on Monday. If you’ve missed a chapter, you know you can always catch up in the Chapter Archive.

See you next week!

Gifts of Grandeur: An Indian Turban Ornament, 1800-1850

Turban Ornament
Jaipur, 1800-1850
The Victoria & Albert Museum

Made between 1800 and 1850, this ornament was designed to be worn on a man’s turban. It’s likely that such a fine jewel would have been made for the Maharaja of Jaipur in Rajasthan by the royal workshop. Jewelers in Jaipur have long been celebrated for their high-quality, thin enamels. 

The ornament is made in the form of a peacock—an unusual motif for the era. Some speculate that rather than for the regent, the ornament was made for a ceremonial figure of the deity Krishna whose attribute is the peacock. 

Object of the Day: Rumford Chemical Works Baking Powder

Click on image to get a closer look.

Nothing says home-baked goodness like “Chemical Works.”

The front of this handsome, and atypically large, trade card is printed with a very Rembrandt-y portrait of a curly-locked tot of indeterminate gender. The work of The Major & Knapp Lithography of New York, the card is copyrighted 1884 by the Rumford Chemical Works.

So, what could this be advertising? Oil? Cleaning solution? Soap? Insecticide?

Nope.

Baking powder.

How can this be? Let’s see what they say: 

Prof. HORSFORD'S 

SELF-RAISING 

BREAD PREPARATION. 

The Healthful and Nutritious 

Baking Powder. 

It is recommended and used by the leading Physicians 

and Chemists, and its use is positively 

Beneficial to Health. 

     Phosphate of lime is an essential constituent of all grains, and
is an important nutritive principle and indispensable element in the
construction of all the animal tissues.
     In the process of bolting fine wheat flour, a large portion of the
phosphates are lost.
     This Powder supplies the phosphates, this rendering the bread,
biscuit, etc., healthful and nutritious. 
    No other Baking Powder in the world ever received such high
commendation from eminent authorities. 

SPECIAL DIRECTIONS. 

       Sift the Powder and Flour thoroughly together before wetting.
     Have the oven HOT before mixing the dough.
     Mix the dough as quickly as possible, and put it into the oven immediately. The
quicker this is done, the better the result. 

------------------------- 

Send to Rumford Chemical Works, Providence, R.I., for the Horsford Almanac 

And Cook Book.

Wow! What specific instructions! Next time I try to bake something, I'll make the oven vaguely HOT and then work as fast as I can. I wonder what the little child on the front of the card would say. Nothing, I suppose, since he or she would likely be very disinterested.