Antique Image of the Day: Punch and the Devil

Mr. Punch and the Devil
Print of unknown origins
George Speaight Punch and Judy Archive
The Victoria & Albert Museum

This engraving is something of a mystery. Nothing is known about its origins and it could date anywhere between the Seventeenth to Nineteenth Centuries. The work of an unknown artist and publisher, the print has been hand-colored with watercolors and, at a later date, mounted on card.

The image depicts a decidedly human-looking Mr. Punch as he defeats the Devil (who is quite grotesque and ferocious) by literally kicking his posterior. Long a part of the Punch & Judy mythology, Punch’s triumph over the Devil has frequently been portrayed in art, however, few depictions are as jubilantly realistic.

Object of the Day, Museum Edition: Mr. Punch's Devil, 19th Century

Watercolor Painting
Nineteenth Century
The George Speaight Archive at
The Victoria & Albert Museum

Worked in watercolor by an unknown artist and dating to the late Nineteenth Century, this drawing portrays a puppet devil and other grotesque characters. Since this is part of the V&A’s George Speaight Punch & Judy Collection, we can presume that the devil we see here was probably used as Mr. Punch’s Devil, however, the presence of the other puppet demons suggests that the painting depicts a group of figures which had many purposes. 

The work bears an inscription on the reverse.  While this handwritten note doesn’t give us any idea about the origins of the painting, it does give us a little sense of its life before coming to George Speaight and ending up in the V&A.

On the back, in pencil, is written, “Puppet/ devile from Faciet/ The [illigible] Puppet/ presented by Max Joseph/ to Mary/ May 14th 1963.”

Interesting.  All of that meant something to someone at one point. 

I really like this.  I wouldn’t want to display it in my home since it would scare Bertie, but I find it appealing in a devil puppet kind of way.

Gratuitous Bertie Dog Picture: The Dull-Maker

"All this time you're wasting, you could be making pancakes."

Image:  The Lace Maker, Josephus Laurentius Dyckmans (1811-1888) (artist), Creation Date: dated 1846, Materials: Oil on panel, Dimensions: 41.3 x 44.0 cm, Acquirer: 

Prince Albert, Prince Consort, consort of Victoria, Queen of the United Kingdom (1819-61),
Provenance: Given to Prince Albert by Queen Victoria, 26 August 1846; first recorded at Windsor c. 1872, Crown Copyright, The Royal Collection, Image Courtesy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

You know you want to have a Bertie Dog mug, tee-shirt, tote bag or water bottle. You know you do. So, take a look at our online store. 

Mastery of Design: The Lady Cory Garnets, 1835

Lady Cory's Garnets
France, 1835
The Victoria & Albert Museum

This necklace, made in 1835, was inspired by ancient Greek garnet jewelry which, like this piece, used fine gold wire to affix the stones.  This piece typifies the jewelry of the 1830s which was often lighter in metal weight, but set with a wide range of different stones, often in archaeological styles.  

Look at the the highly ornate filigree work of spirals and volutes (cannetille) and granules (grainti) which offer an appealing relief texture.   The Parisian jeweler responsible for this piece obviously made it to appeal to the British populace who could afford such pieces and their growing interest in ancient styles.  The necklace was acquired by Lady Cory who added it to her important collection of jewels--now housed in the V&A.  

Unfolding Pictures: Mary of Teck’s Irish Lace Wedding Fan, 1893

Irish Lace Fan
Presented to Princess Victoria Mary of Teck, 1893
Irish lace, blond tortoiseshell, diamonds, pearls, emeralds,
gold, silver, ruby
The Royal Collection

This exquisitely delicate Irish lace fan was presented to Mary of Teck upon her marriage to the future King George V I 1893. The handmade lace with it’s intricate pattern is supported on blond tortoiseshell sticks. The guards—also of blond tortoiseshell—is inset with diamonds in the shape of shamrocks surrounding the monogram “V.M.” (for Victoria Mary—Mary struggled with her name for awhile, choosing to be called Queen Mary to become distinct from her husband’s grandmother, Queen Victoria).


Above the monogram, is an inlaid ducal coronet of gold, diamonds, pearls, emeralds and a ruby. The fan was presented to Mary by Lord Houghton, Viceroy of Ireland. After the potato famine, Irish workers searched for ways to improve the country’s economy. Intense labor was considered unsuitable for a lady, but lace work was deemed acceptable. So, the women of Ireland applied themselves to mastering the art of lace-making. This fan is emblematic of their magnificent work.

The fan’s original box survives and shows that it was made especially for Mary by Duvelleroy in France. 

Bertie's Pet-itations: Storms

Here's Bertie's weekly opportunity to share his ideas for creating our new "Beautiful Age."  Bertie's advice, I'm sure, can be applied to many different areas of our lives.

And, so, I happily hand the computer over to him.


Bertie says:

Sometimes when the thunder is loud, I just need you to tell me it's going to be okay.

Mr. Punch of Belgrave Square, Chapter 332

Chapter 332 
A Perfect Day 



“Is Mr. Barrett comfortable, Your Ladyship?” Gamilla asked.

“Yes, he’s in the library with His Grace,” Lennie nodded, “enjoying a puppet show.”

“Ain’t that nice.” Gamilla smiled. “I reckon he’ll be goin’ back to his rooms soon.”

“Yes,” Lennie replied. “As soon as we can secure a new custodian for him while the other poor man recovers. Dr. Halifax thinks he can have someone quite dependable within the day.”

“I’m glad to know it. Thank goodness for Lord Colinshire.”

“Oh, I’m not used to these titles yet.” Lennie sighed.

“Mr. Speaight was very clear we should address you proper.”

“I confess, I’m rather going to miss hearing you call me Miss Lennie. I like the way it sounds with your gentle accent.”

Gamilla smiled. “Well, Miss Lennie, maybe when it’s just the two of us, I can still call you that.”

“Thank you.” Lennie replied. She looked around. “Where’s Ruthy?”

“Just in the night nursery, givin’ Master Colin his bath.”

“Do you think you can leave your post for a few minutes?” Lennie asked.

“I don’t see why not.” Gamilla answered. “Did ya need me for somethin’?”

“I do, something very urgent.” Lennie replied.

“Well, then, let me jus’ tell Ruthy where I’m goin’.” Gamilla looked curiously at Lennie.

A few moments later, Gamilla returned to the day nursery and nodded. “I got a few minutes, Miss Lennie. How can I help ya?”

“I need you to come with me to my room. If you don’t mind…”

“Not at all.” Gamilla answered.

The two women retreated to Lennie’s room where a large package, wrapped in white paper with a bright pink ribbon sat on the bed.

“What’s this?” Gamilla asked.

“Open it and see.” Lennie grinned.

“Is it?” Gamilla’s eyes widened. “Is it my…dress?”

“It is.” Lennie giggled. “It just arrived. I had Charles bring it in here. I know it’s selfish, but I couldn’t wait to see it.”

“Neither can I!” Gamilla hurried to the package. With shaking hands, she untied the ribbon, pausing to notice the label. She stopped and read it aloud. “To the future Mrs. Gerard Gurney. No. 65 Belgrave Square.” Her voice trembled. “I…”

“I know.” Lennie nodded. “Now, open that package before I die of curiosity!”

“Yes, Miss.” Gamilla laughed. Taking the lid off of the box, she gasped.

“Oh…is that a good reaction or a bad one?” Lennie asked nervously.

“Good, Miss Lennie. Very good.”

“Let’s see it, then!”

Gamilla lifted the gown from the box.

“Oh, my…” Lennie pressed her hand to her heart.

“It looks just like the one that was ruined. Look how well they done matched the silk to the color Marjani made for me.”

“It’s magnificent. Oh, and the little blossoms made from ribbon…”

Tears welled in Gamilla’s eyes. “It’s like it’s the dress I done dreamed of. How’d they know? How’d they know to match it so well to what we done made? I didn’t think I described it well at all when we was there.”

“You did a very fine job of it, Gamilla.”

“Miss Lennie?” Gamilla grinned slightly. “Did you…did you have an’thing to do with this?”

“Well, perhaps I sent a little note afterwards, just to give the dressmaker a sense of what I recalled of the original.”

“Oh, Miss.” Gamilla shook her head. “I don’t know what to say.”

“Gamilla, you’re as much a part of this family as I am. In fact, maybe more so. You’ve been here longer than I. His Grace and Baron Colinshire and I simply want your day to be as perfect as possible.”

“It will be, Miss.” Gamilla sniffed. “If all of you are there to witness it.”

“We’d be nowhere else.”

“Oh, dear, I’m sure Ruthy’s finished Master Colin’s bath by now. I’d best get myself back to the nursery. If I ain’t there to tell her, Ruthy never knows what to do next.”

“She is rather dependent, isn’t she? But, she’ll learn soon enough.” Lennie said. “If you don’t mind, I’ll take this to your room and lay it out so it won’t wrinkle.”

“No, Miss. I’ll do that. Wouldn’t be fit for you to do that.”

“Nonsense, I want to.” Lennie replied. “It’s not everyday I get to lay out a wedding dress.”

“Soon enough, I’ll be arrangin’ yours.”

“Oh, you’ve been listening too much to my brothers. There is no wedding for me in the offing.” Lennie chuckled.

“Don’t be so sure, Your Ladyship.” Gamilla grinned. “And when that time comes, if you’ll let me, I’ll be right there to see that your day is perfect, too.”



Did you miss Chapters 1-331? If so, you can read them here. Come back tomorrow for Chapter 333 of Mr. Punch of Belgrave Square.