Saltram Part 5

This is the Velvet Drawing room, redecorated as it appeared on 1770, but missing most of its original red silk velvet hangings.

Quite stunning, I must say.  As you can see the walls are covered in pictures, just as they would have been in the late 18th century.

The smaller picture looks in the other direction towards the windows and shows a part of the ornate ceiling. I really like the gilded window seats.

This is a Boulle writing desk in the Louis XIV style.  It was greatly sought after and many pieces left France after Napoleon was defeated at Waterloo.  My final piece of furniture is the fascinating scagliola table top decorated with rompe-l'oeil playing cards and a letter dated 1713. It is thought the game being played on this table is piquet.

For all its beauty and columns, there is yet more to come which is even more beautiful and luxurious.

Until Next Time, Happy Rambles.

Goodreads Giveaway Countdown

Count down is on!  

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Her Highland Protector

by Ann Lethbridge

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Until next time, Happy Rambles.

Saltram Part 4

It really is time to look inside the house. The entrance hall is just as pretty as the outside, don't you think?

This is a mid eighteens century space. I was quite fascinated by the pink and white checkered floor and those really uncomfortable hall chairs.

The table is Georgian with a marble top and cabriole legs.  There is a matching one on the opposite wall. The bracket clock is Boulle from the mid 18th century.





The next room is the Morning Room.  It was also occasionally used for small family dinners.

Apparently about two thirds of the pictures in this room are in the same positions as they were in 1819.

The dining table is mahogany as are the Gothick dining-chairs both dating to the middle of the eighteenth century, as well as a set of Chippendale-style dining-chairs.

I really took a shine to this gilded side table. there are a pair of them. They are English frames and the tops are Florentine, inlaid with specimen marbles and mosaic pastoral scenes.  I have to say that my pictures do not do these rooms justice, but if they give you a sense of what they are like, then I am pleased.

These rooms are laid out in the gallery style. There is no corridor, one simply moves through one room to the next and the next room is something to behold.

More about that next time. Until then, Happy Rambles.

Fashion May 1812

It has been a while since I posted any fashion and I thought it was time.  I have two gowns from two hundred years ago that I thought you might like a a break from our explorations of Saltram where gowns very similar to these would have been worn.

Both of these gowns are from Ackerman's Repository for May 1812.

The descriptions are as follows:

Promenade or Carriage Costume.
    A Round spencer robe of blossom coloured sarsnet, trimmed with tufted Chinese silk fringe; a drapery of deep Vandyke lace, continued round the back and shoulders to the bottom, in the loose Polonaise style; the spencer sitting close to the throat, without a collar, which is supplied by that of the morning robe of white muslin beneath. 
A provincial bonnet of the same material as the spencer, ornamented with two curled white ostrich feathers, placed in adverse directions in the front. Half-boots of blossom-coloured kid; ridicule to correspond; and gloves of lemon-coloured kid, or pale tan colour.

I do like this gown very much. That reticule is teeny tiny isn't it? And such an interesting shape. Not much more in there than a handkerchief I would think.

Domestic or Morning Costume.

    A French frock of fine plain India muslin, with demi-train, and long full bishop’s sleeves. Waggoners’ cuffs, with gaged front, and shoulders to correspond. Tucker of double-rolled muslin, which also finishes the cuffs round the hands. 
    A Parisian mob cap of fine lace, confined round the head, and terminating on one side with a celestial blue or silver grey ribbon. Sash of the same, tied in small bows and ends in front. Hair in waved curls, divided in the center of the forehead.
   Spanish slippers of lemon-coloured kid, and gloves of the same material. 
   The peculiar taste and elegant simplicity of these habiliments are further specimens of the graceful invention of the celebrated Mrs. Gill, of Cork-street, Burlington-gardens, from whom we have obtained them.


This young lady looks very much as if she has the die away down pat. I wonder if the note she is holding is from a beau?  I presume that by domestic, they are referring to the wearing of it at home. I can't say that I like the waggoner's cuffs much. I can imagine them getting in the soup. or at least in my soup. I am sure she would be much better at keeping them under control than I would.  This dress seems to have a bit of everything, a train, a sash, bishop sleeves, a gaged (?) front and shoulders, a tucker of double rolled muslin and something similar on the cuffs beneath those waggoners sleeves.  Remarkable. No wonder she looks so out of sorts. I definitely need to find a character to wear this one.

Until next time, Happy Rambles.

Saltram Part 3

Saltram House was originally a Tudor House but the Parker family remodelled into a Palladian mansion through the latter half of the 18th century and on into the Regency as we will see.

This is the South front. Its Entrance Porch with the Doric columns and the coat of arms were added in 1820 by the Parker who had become first Earl of Morley in 1815.

This is the House from the East front.

And a view from the house across the ha ha. A drop in the lawn with a wall to keep the deer and other animals roaming the park of the manicured lawns used by the inhabitants.

To me the house looks almost pretty enough to eat. A wedding cake of a house. And there is lots more to see if you care to stick with me.

Until next time, Happy Rambles.