19th Century · 30 December 2024
In August 1827, a giraffe calf arrived on the shores of England as a diplomatic gift by Muhammad Ali of Egypt to King George IV. It was housed in George IV's menagerie and the giraffe quickly became the talk of the town, igniting a fascination that influenced everything from fashion to hairstyles.
Jewellery History · 10 December 2024
Garnets with their deep red splendour are a staple in 19th century jewellery. They added splashes of colour to the already colourful dress of this century.
19th Century · 18 November 2024
Women in 19th Century Publishing – La Mode Illustrée, Magazine Owner Emmeline Raymond and Her Illustrators Héloïse and Adele-Anaïs Colin
Jewellery History · 12 November 2024
One material that gained prominence during the Romantic and early Victorian era was foam gold, or "Schaumgold" in German.
Books · 10 October 2024
Before Mrs Beeton: Elizabeth Raffald, England’s Most Influential Housekeeper – by Neil Buttery & Blighty or Bust: The Epic 2,000-Mile Escape of WWII prisoner-of-war, Raymond Bailey. In His Own Words – Edited by David Wilkins
Books · 15 August 2024
Margaret Cavendish wrote utopian SciFi in the 1600s - long before Mary Shelley and others. Her work The Blazing World explores topics such as rulership, gender norms and futuristic technologies.
Renaissance · 09 August 2024
A glimpse into a surviving High Renaissance palazzo in central Florence and what it tells us about life in the past!