The Belle Époque Today: The Walker Art Gallery’s “Talking Heads”

The Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool, England, is known as “The National Gallery of the North” and houses one of the largest and most thorough collections in the U.K. outside of London. Aside from its fantastic collection of paintings and sculpture from the Thirteenth Century to the present, the gallery has a superbly interesting and interactive Web site which showcases important items from the collection as well as shares invaluable information about them.


One of the most interesting features of The Walker Art Gallery’s Web site is their “Talking Heads” feature wherein several of their most famous paintings have been animated to answer pre-recorded questions. It’s quite a lot of fun. Take a look!

Web Site Review: The Shop at Irma Shorell

Few senses bring back the immediacy of a time and place than scent. The smell of a certain perfume can remind you of your mother, your first dance, your wedding day…anything. Perhaps you have a favorite fragrance that you loved, but can no longer find. You have a good chance of finding it through the “Long Lost Perfume” collection from The Shop at Irma Shorell. Proprietor, Jeffrey Dame, has recreated a collection of scents from beautiful days gone by. Mr. Dame has revived the fragrances of My Sin, Crepe de Chine, Bakir, Sortilege, Casaque, Ecusson, Memoire Cherie, Maroc, Most Precious, Replique and Bond Street. According to their Web site:

Through the use of perfume formula journals, the purist of chemistry and subtle, flowing artistry, these very special perfumes from a generation of unparalleled beauty have been brought to the fullest of life.

The Shop at Irma Shorell also offers a line of fine beauty products for the skin and a vast selection of other products that will put you in mind of beautiful times both past and future.

Web Site Review: The Best Source for Sparkle

As a collector, I’m always searching for outstanding antique and estate jewelry. One of the best selections I’ve ever seen is online. The Three Graces offers a truly exceptional assortment of estate and antique jewelry from the pre-Georgian to more modern pieces. Owned by Lisa M. Stockhammer, The Three Graces is located near Austin, Texas with an office in Houston. With eight years of experience online, The Three Graces is recognized as one of the leading dealers of jewels in the industry. Their Web site includes a sumptuous collection of diamonds, precious gemstones and truly unusual works of the jeweler’s art.  They even have some lovely stickpins! I especially like the platinum and diamond monkey stickpin. If you’re looking for the perfect engagement ring, a unique gift or a beautiful bauble, this is the place. A visit to their site will have you drooling! Their Web site also offers a listing of their jewelry by era. And, I have to say, their descriptions and photographs of each piece are superb. A handy resource they’ve included on their site described each time period, special instructions on how to care for antique jewelry and a guide for selecting the perfect cut for you. What a joy! I applaud The Three Graces for their incredible selection and for doing their part in making this a much more beautiful era.