The Ornamented Being
Ornamented: -verb: Adorn; beautify. Be·ing: -noun: Fulfillment of possibilities; essential completeness.
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I have no idea who these people are but lady on the right I need your cape coat in my life!
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So my friend messaged me and said I was on the gift shop page for the Jane Austen Centre and I though right, like that could ever be me. I went to the page fully prepared to correct him and nearly knocked my tea cup over!!
Oh my gosh it is me!!!
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Off to the Tudor Revels! If you are in Southampton stop by for my lectures on Tudor fashion, The Queen in Context: Anne Undressed.
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This was the tea gown I created for the Jane Austen Festival in Bath, England.
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I apologize for having been absent from my blog for so long! Without further delay I present my ball gown worn for the 2012 Jane Austen Festival Ball in Bath, England held at the Pump Rooms in the Roman Bath. I was sewing on it up until the last night but I am very pleased with how it turned out!
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I’m going into my final year of University and I can’t be more thrilled! See you all on the other side, wish me a safe flight!
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Brooch with cameo of Queen Victoria, by Félix Dafrique; cameo by Paul Lebas (active 1829-70)
Brooch with cameo of Queen Victoria (front above, back below)
By Félix Dafrique; cameo by Paul Lebas (active 1829-70)
Paris
Dated 1851
Shell, gold, enamel, emeralds and diamonds
Museum no. M.340-1977This brooch was shown at the Great Exhibition in London in 1851, perhaps to attract the queen’s attention during one of her many visits to the exhibition. The image was taken from a portrait that showed the queen in Garter robes.
The Parisian jeweller Félix Dafrique revived a Renaissance style of jewel called ‘commesso’ (meaning ‘joined’). The cameo was cut by Paul Lebas, a well-regarded sculptor and gem engraver, who often exhibited at the Paris Salon. His most prominent works included cameo portraits of the French royal family.
The brooch was shown at the Great Exhibition, where over 6 million visitors viewed more than 13,000 exhibits.
In carving the cameo, Lebas probably followed this engraving. The original portrait shows the queen facing the other way, but the engraving is in reverse.
Sully was a society portraitist from Philadelphia. On a visit to London in 1837 he was commissioned to paint a portrait of the new queen. He was delighted with her ‘sweet tone of voice, and gentle manner’. She, in turn, was pleased with the portrait, which highlighted her best features: her shoulders and the curving line of her neck.”
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After much debate I am pleased to announce that I will be attending the Regency Ball held during the Jane Austen festival in Bath on the 23rd of September.
I have started a mood board of ideas but they mostly revolve around gold and ivory. These are just a few of my favorite inspiration pieces.
The first is a detail of the Napoleon cameo in a portrait of Josephine. The next photo is the entire painting of Josephine by Andrea Appiani.
I am very inspired by the gown worn in the portrait of Elisabeth Alexeievna by Jean-Laurent Mosnier, 1802 Russia and by Catharina of Württemberg, 1807.
What are your favorite paintings from this period?
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Today was a beautiful day. The sun’s reflection seemed to turn everything it touched into such vibrant shades of colour. The roses are in bloom and the clouds in the sky would have made Maxfield Parrish weep in joy.
And then I realized that today would have been Anne’s last sunset, that for her there would be no more flowers, no more beautiful summer days, there would be nothing. For Anne, today was her last day.
I pray that on tomorrow morning four hundred and seventy six years ago the day would have beautiful and quiet so that she could have passed from this plane with the warmth of the sun welcoming her into Heaven. God bless you and keep you Queen Anne. You are in my heart always.
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Well, it’s official. After two years of living in London I have become a tea snob.
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The most brilliant video I have seen on youtube in a long time.
Go WATCH!
Also, the hobble skirt scene is brilliant. -
All I can say is YES KATE, YES! That suit is ten types of beautiful and it suits you beautifully! Pun intended :D
I love that colour on the Queen and it’s lovely to see Prince Phillip. Bless him he looks wonderful!
