Print of the Day: Mr. Punch at Madame Tussaud's, 1999

Poster by Denis Piper, 1999
The Victoria & Albert Museum

I don’t usually write about recent objects, but this one was too perfect for today that I couldn’t resist. Well, obviously, we can see that it’s a poster letting us know that Punch and Judy would be appearing at Madame Tussaud’s in London for Christmas. They actually look quite pleased to be doing so.

The advert for this special Christmas appearance was designed by Denis Piper.

Object of the Day: A Dog Toby Vesta Case

Reaching the age of thirty-nine has a good many advantages. I can, frankly, see why Jack Benny remained thirty-nine for the remainder of his life. Perhaps I will, too. It should be fairly easy as long as the makers of facial moisturizer and auburn hair dye continue to stay in business.

So, since the world didn’t come to an end today, I thought I’d share with you one of the gifts that I received from my mother and father for my recent birthday. He’s a Vesta Case, and he’s very cute. 

Vesta Cases, also known as Vesta Boxes and match Safes were made , primarily, from the 1830s to the 1920s to hold “vestas,” short matches made by a company who borrowed their name from the Roman goddess Vesta, the deity of fire. These cases kept the matches dry and contained. Since matches were a very integral part of daily life during a period where fire was the primary source of light and heat, keeping them dry and handy was pretty important.

This little sterling silver Vesta takes the form of a sweet-faced terrier who is, of course, Mr. Punch’s Dog Toby. Sorry for the slightly blurry pictures, but it’s rather difficult to take pictures of small, shiny objects. Believe me, I’m surrounded by small, shiny objects and have tried to photograph all of them at some point. Nevertheless, you can see how handsomely made he is. And, look! He’s got lovely, sparkly green eyes! I find these especially pleasing since my Bertie’s eyes flash green in the light.

Having been made in the last quarter of the Nineteenth Century, he was built to last and shows no evidence of his age. I find this to be hopeful. I hope I stay as well preserved by the time I get to my next thirty-ninth birthday.

Gratuitous Bertie Dog Picture: The Bertie-politan

"I usually just wear a bandanna."

Image: A Neapolitan Boy Decorating the Head of his Inamorata at the Festa of the Madonna del Arco. 1840, Uwins (1782-1857), Given by John Sheepshanks, 1857 to The Victoria & Albert Museum.

You, too, could have a cup of tea with Bertie. Or, you could wear his picture proudly. Visit our online store to see our range of Gratuitous Bertie Dog products.

Mastery of Design: Queen Mary's Christmas Egg, c. 1900

Egg of Enamel, Diamonds, Gold, Rubies and Emeralds
Crown Copyright
The Royal Collection

Image Courtesy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

This egg of cream guilloché enamel is set with a diamond band around the middle and features an upper section adorned with ribbon swags. The lower portion is set with heart trophies of rubies and emeralds. A gold ring allows for hanging from a gold stand with a circular base chased with a spiral pattern.

This beautiful object was a gift to Queen Mary, consort of King George V, for Christmas of 1927. It was given to her by Prince David (later, briefly, King Edward VIII, and, then Duke of Windsor); “Bertie,” a.k.a. Prince Albert George (later King George VI); Elizabeth, the Duchess of York (later, Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother); Princess Mary and Harry Lascelles and their children. Though it looks like Fabergé, it’s actually the work of Dreyfous of 128 Mount St., London.

The egg itself dates to about 1900.

Gifts of Grandeur: Queen Alexandra's Christmas Gift Book, 1908

Queen Alexandra's Christmas Gift Album
"Pleasant Recollections."
Britain, 1908
Crown Copyright
The Royal Collection
Image Courtesy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

A page from the album.
Crown Copyright
The Royal Collection
Image Courtesy of Her Majesty
Queen Elizabeth II

In 1908, shutterbug Queen Alexandra, consort of King Edward VII (1844-1925) amused herself—while her husband was doubtlessly amusing himself in other, yuckier ways—by producing an album of her photographs which she intended to be published to raise funds for her favorite charities. 

Though known as “Queen Alexandra’s Christmas Gift Book,” the album was actually titled “Pleasant Recollections.” The leather, gilt-tooled book with relief duo-tone photographs was enclosed in a deep red jacket of suede and velvet. Queen Alexandra personally chose the photos of her family and friends which were to be included in the book from her huge collection of personal photos, most of which she had taken herself.

We see here the Queen’s own personal copy of her book. Ninety of the 137 photos were printed in photogravure (a very detailed intaglio print from a copper plate) and forty-six of them were mounted by hand on the dark green pages, so that those who purchased the photograph book would feel that they had, in fact, the Queen’s personal album.

The book, sold at 2s 6d (12 ½ p) a copy and it was published simultaneously in England and America on November 12, 1908. Huge orders were also rushed to Russia, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Germany, France. The album proved incredible successful, and, much to the Queen’s pleasure and satisfaction, raised vast amount for over thirty charities of Her Majesty’s choosing.

The Interior Cover
Crown Copyright
The Royal Collection
Image Courtesy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Cookie of the Day: The Butterscotch Cookies

In past years, I’ve mentioned the “friendly” rivalry in my family regarding these cookies. They are, without a doubt, one of the top contenders for the title of Favorite Christmas Cookie. We will squabble about who gets to eat the last of these gorgeous, cakey, butterscotch cookies. This year, I’m happy to report, I got to eat the FIRST one! Ha! 

So, what could cause our usually mellow little group to launch a war? Only the tenderest, most beautiful of cookies, flecked with nuts and topped with the creamiest, most delicate of butterscotch frostings—adorned with colored sugar. They are truly exceptional. You know I’m ready for this year’s battle. I’ve got all sorts of tricks up the sleeves of my many cardigans. 

And, thusly, I offer a warning to my mother and father:

It’s on! They’re mine.  

Mr. Punch of Belgrave Square, Chapter 217

Chapter 217 
What I Am



“Where you been?” Hortence snapped as Orpha let herself into Eudora’s musky parlor.

“You’re hardly in a position to be questioning me,” Orpha replied casually.

“Now, you listen to me,” Hortence growled. “Maybe at the Duke’s house we was in different classes, but here, you ain’t no governess and I ain’t no chamber maid. You was a poor workhouse girl and I had me a family. So, maybe it’s me what should be talkin’ down to you.”

“I beg your pardon, my Lady.” Orpha smirked, bowing theatrically.

“What’s all this, then?” Eudora sniffed, coming into the parlor as she scratched herself. “Why are the two of you always squabbling?”

“It’s our deep love for one another.” Orpha laughed.

“Ellen, you been gone a long time. We got a lot to talk over.” Eudora grimaced.

“My name is not Ellen!” Orpha snapped.

“Well, dearie,” Eudora shrugged, “you spent so much time tryin’ to convince us that you was Ellen, you can’t fault us for not remembering what name you’re usin’ now.”

“I suppose that’s flattering.” Orpha replied.

“Ask her where she’s been, Eudora.” Hortence snarled.

“She’ll tell us by and by.” Eudora yawned.

“I shall indeed.” Orpha smiled.

“Well, wherever you was,” Hortence began, “you sure weren’t helpin’ us. Old Hutch got hisself taken away by the Queen’s guards.”

“You could have guessed that since the Duke and his companion were going to the palace that they’d report what had happened here to Her Majesty.” Orpha answered airily.

“After all we told ‘im?”

“Please, Hortence, you really didn’t expect that we’d intimidate the Duke of Fallbridge?”

“Didn’t we?” Hortence frowned. She looked at Eudora.

Eudora put her hands on her hips. “I thought we did.”

“You’re both so delightful.” Orpha grinned. “But, no, this has played out exactly as I had anticipated.”

“You gonna share with us?” Eudora smirked. “Last I heard, we was tryin’ to get some gold off of the loony Duke.”

“And, we shall.”

“Not now he’s got the Queen’s special men standin’ outside the ‘ouse, we ain’t.” Hortence barked. “We told him that if he didn’t do what we said, we’d tell the world that his precious boy is his sister’s bastard, and what’s more, we’d take that boy from his arms. We can’t get to the little brat now!”

“We don’t need to.” Orpha laughed.

“Why not?” Hortence asked.

“Eudora,” Orpha ignored Hortence, “have you room for three more children here?”

“I ain’t got room for me own brood, let ‘lone any more. Why?”

“I’ve brought three little visitors with me.” Orpha winked. She walked across the parlor and opened the front door, ushering in three children.

Little Fern wrinkled her nose as she walked in—the foul smell of the place overwhelming her.

“What’re these?” Hortence squawked.

“These, dear, dear Hortence,” Orpha smiled. “Are our key to the Duke’s coffers as well as a knife in the throat of the man who made me what I am.”





Did you miss Chapters 1-216 of Mr. Punch of Belgrave Square? If so, you can read them here. Come back tomorrow for Chapter 218.