Unfolding Pictures: Fan Depicting Claudia Proving Her Innocence, 1740

Fan Depicting Claudia Proving Her Innocence
Crown Copyright
The Royal Collection
Via The Royal Collection Trust
Image Courtesy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

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Fan Depicting "Claudia Proving Her Innocence"
Italian, 1740
Kid Leather, Pierced Ivory, Mother-of-Pearl
The Royal Collection
Image Courtesy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Claudia Quinta was a Vestal Virgin. Her job was to tend the fire at the Forum which had been brought by Aeneas from Troy to Rome—as one does with fire. As was often the case with those wacky Vestal Virgins, there was a bit of a kerfuffle regarding her virtue and she ended up being accused of adultery. One would think that with all the fire-tending, she wouldn’t have had the time for other pursuits, but there you have it. Claudia was forced to prove her innocence. And, she managed to do it with the help of the Goddess Cybele. Fair enough. You see, she proved her chastity by pulling a ship with the strings of her girdle. Now, how that shows her to be chaste, I’m not sure. If anything, it proves she had a strong midsection and nothing more, but nevertheless, the elders saw this miraculous bit of naval and navel fortitude to be evidence enough that she wasn’t an adulterous, but rather a freakishly strong, happy little Vestal Virgin. Imagine what she could have done if she had Spanx.

This fan with pierced ivory sticks and mother-of-pearl guards sports a kid leather leaf painting with a scene of Claudia as she moves the ship, aided by Cybele. Created in 1740 by an unknown Italian fan-maker, the fan was a favorite of Princess Charlotte, the daughter of King George IV. When Princess Charlotte died in childbirth, many of her belongings were bequeathed to her dresser/friend, Mrs. Louis. Upon Mrs. Louis’ death on Easter Sunday of 1838, this fan and a number of other personal mementos which had belonged to the Princess were given to Queen Victoria. Victoria put this fan on display because she believed it to be quite fine and attractive. And, it truly is.

Finely painted with beautiful workmanship in the sticks and guards, the beauty of this fan has not faded in over two centuries.

Object of the Day, Museum Edition: "A Lump of Innocence," 1809

"A Lump of Innocence"
Crown Copyright
The Royal Collection
via The Royal Collection Trust
Image Courtesy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Really, Gentlemen, if you gaze upon me in this manner you will put me quite to the blush!"

Properly entitled, "A Lump of Innocence," this hand-colored etching by the celebrated Thomas Rowlandson (1757-1827) is dated 30 Sep 1809.  Depicting a rather amply-proportioned woman, the print shows the central figure coyly looking down as she asserts her innocence in any flirtations which might have arisen around her.  Her attire and the objects around her bely her proclamation. She wears gaudy, flashy jewellery and a golden headband,  Meanwhile, she holds a glass of brandy in her right hand as a bottle of brandy stands on the table to her right. Clearly, she has meant to attract a bit of attention.

The print is inscribed in the plate:

109 / Woodward Del. / Price One Shilling coloured / Rowlandson fe / London Pubd/ September 30th 1809 by Thos Tegg No.111 Cheapside

One more day...

The Sick Lady with Her Physician
After Caspar Netscher
c. 1664-1680
Crown Copyright
The Royal Collection
Via The Royal Collection Trust
Image Courtesy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Hello everyone,

I'm still quite sick.  I look at it this way--it's my body's way of purging itself from all of the putrid, vile, horror of the past year so that it might function all rosy and aglow in 2014.

Or...

It could just be that I'm sick.

Nonetheless, I'm giving myself one more day to recover.

So, we'll begin with our 2014 festivities tomorrow and we shall do so with all sorts of exciting things.

I'll see you then.

Joseph

Happy 2014!

We will be back with new posts on Monday, January 6.

Of particular interest will be the Christmas and New Year's Editions of "The Treat of the Week."

Here's wishing everyone a Happy 2014!

History's Runway: Lady Haig's Schiaperelli New Year's Gown, 1938

The Victoria & Albert Museum

Lady Alexandra Dacre (then Lady Alexandra Haig) wore this fascinating ensemble at a masked carol party in December 1938 to mark the change of the year to 1939. The gown was designed by Elsa Schiaparelli (1890-1973) who was celebrated for her attractive, sophisticated, and whimsically designed evening clothes. 

Salvador Dalí, Christian Bérard and Jean Cocteau were among the contemporary artists who designed fabrics and accessories for Schiaperelli whose designs were largely influenced  by Cubism and Surrealism.In 1935, Schiaperelli was the first to introduce the motif of the exposed zipper—a trend that popular designers of today claim as their own original property.   

Schiaperelli’s masterful work is evident in this ensemble.  The evening jacket is of black satin backed marocain, with long sleeves--ffitted, collarless and single-breasted with two gathered patch pockets. The neck edge is decorated with a bold embroidered pattern.

The long black dress is crafted of satin backed marocain and features a low V neck, adorned with a ruffle. The back is low and square with the famous exposed zipper.  

Gifts of Grandeur: The Dudley Box, 1579

This pretty little box was made in England in 1579 to hold sweetmeats.  Gifts of sweetmeats, sugared fruits and candies were traditional presents at New Year in the Royal Court.  Sometimes these were presented in special, and often precious, containers such as this one.   

The crest of Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester (died 1588) is inlaid im silver in the lid. Dudley was the favorite of Queen Elizabeth I, and was, therefore, a very important fella about the court.  No doubt, this box must have been made especially for Dudley as a New Year's gift.  

Curiously, after the box had been donated to the V&A, it was untouched for many years.  In fact, it was not opened until 1968 when the crest of Dudley and inscribed date  was discovered for the first time.

The box is decorated in the technique known as damascening, a process, especially popular in the Sixteenth Century, in which gold and silver ribbon is forced into a cross hatched surface of iron using a copper tool. The base iron was darkened with heat and chemicals so that it would develop a blue or black hue which would contrast with the gold and silver ornament.  





 

Print of the Day: New Year's Eve at the Savoy Hotel, 1925

The Victoria & Albert Museum

Here, we see a menu card from London’s famed Savoy Hotel which days to 1925. The front bears an illustration depicting a group of clowns emerging from behind a curtain which is presently being drawn open by a chubby cherub, flying above. The drawing is signed “Kennedy North.”

The menu was printed specifically for the Savoy’s opulent New Year’s event and was meant to be taken as a souvenir.