Regency Houses - Saltram Continued

I could not leave the library without a picture of this desk and several other items that are evocative of the Regency.

Family tradition says this desk was given to Sarah, Duchess of Marlborough who gave it to her granddaughter who gave it to Lady Catherine Parker. Made of beechwood inlaid with brass and shell it is thought to be by Boulle (1642 - 1732), but it was restored badly in the nineteenth century when the red leather insert was added.

Even so, it really is a beautiful and extraordinary piece of furniture. On top is a silver gilt inkstand.

Naturally, since we are in the Regency, we have to feature other forms of entertainment. This is a rosewood games-table from the Regency era. Its cross over legs are painted to look like bronze and was made by the London firm J. McLane & Son (1770 to 1815)  The middle section of the top is reversible and is fitted with a backgammon board. Here we see it set for draughts.

I would love a table like this.

Another must have are library steps.


I lightened the picture because this corner was dark so the colour if off a bit.

These steps fold up to form a sabre-leg arm chair and is considered to be the Patent Metamorphic Library Chair by Morgan and Sanders pictured by Ackerman in 1811.

 I have no information of this gaming table, but just loved it enough to include it, because of the scoops for money or chips.  And the chairs.

 And so concludes our truncated tour of Saltram. There was much more to see and many more photos that I took, but I would encourage you to see it for yourself if you ever have the chance.


Until next time, Happy Rambles

Regency Fashion

January 2014

This is our second fashion plate for the month from Ackerman's Repository.

Morning Dress

A round robe of plain jaconot muslin, with spencer bodice, and rounded falling collar, edged with lace or needle-work; the same ornamenting the bottom of the dress. 

A loose robe pelisse of Indian muslin, thrown quite open in front, trimmed entirely round with a full gathered border of muslin or lace; the back confined at the bottom with a lemon-coloured ribband, brought round the waist, and tied in bows and ends in front. 

The Flushing mop cap, composed entirely of lace, ornamented with lemon-coloured ribband, which also confines it under the chin. A small rosary and cross of amber, twisted round the wrist, and a broach of the same confining the dress at the throat. Slippers and gloves of lemon-coloured kid.






Such a pretty Dress don't you think, and I like the stool and cushion she is perched on. It looks like summer more than winter to me. And a Flushing mob cap. Flushing is the English name for a harbour in the Netherlands, called Vlissingen. In case you wanted to know. Why there is a mob cap named after it, I do not profess to know. But it is very sweet.

That's it until next time, Happy Rambles.

Regency Fashion - January 2014

We are now well into the Regency of George Prince of Wales period and of course in the depths of the English winter.  Nothing like the kind of winter we have the northern parts of North America, still warm clothing is a wise thing.

This Promenade costume from an Ackerman plate looks toasty.

A Plain cambric robe, with long gathered sleeve and high arched collar, trimmed with net lace or muslin. A Spanish lapelled coat of fine orange Merino cloth; full epaulette ornaments on the shoulders: the whole lined throughout with white sarsnet, and trimmed with a raised border of white velvet or swansdown. 

A small, provincial bonnet of the same material as the coat, ornamented with full curled ostrich feather. White spotted ermine or Chinchilli muff. Gloves grey or light blue kid. Half-boots of orange-coloured jean or velvet.

Until next time, Happy Rambles.

Happy New Year

I hope everyone enjoyed their holiday celebrations and wish you all the best for 2014.

I must say Christmas 2013 will be one that stays long in my memory and with a cocktail of emotions, both good and bad.  We were hit by the ice storm on the Sunday before Christmas and it was almost Boxing Day morning, Dec 26, before power returned and even longer before we could honestly say we were back to normal, which is why I have been so slow posting this blog.

Really, we cannot complain. A great many people were hit a lot harder and for longer than we were. And we managed to get together with family and friends more or less as usual. Lots of laughter about do I use the generator to curl my hair, or keep the heat on the house?  Scarcrow hair is the new in-thing, right?

 Mostly, I am heartsick about the damage to the old trees in my neighbourhood. But we survived. And the trees will come back in their own good time.  I hope you also survived whatever came your way, and are looking forward to the coming year.

Lots of plans for 2014 and lots of fun information coming your way.