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1. An Eighteenth-Century Waistcoat
By Zara Kesterton (@ZaraKesterton) This eighteenth-century man’s waistcoat would look appropriately festive at a Christmas party, with its cream silk and rich embroidery glimmering under candlelight. It was likely made initially for use at the British court between c.1770 and c.1795. The waistcoat features a floral design with an innovative machine-made net applied over dark…
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2. Pearls in the Armada Portraits
By Ellie Doran (@Elena_Doran) Only three Armada Portraits of Queen Elizabeth I survive.[1] All were painted to commemorate the English defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588. Whilst it is fun to play ‘spot the difference’ between the details in each portrait, these paintings also provide beautiful sources for examining the global in the early modern period.
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3. A French Christmas Carol
By Tiéphaine Thomason If you were to stroll through the chilly streets of late seventeenth-century Paris, you would be sure to hear singing. This singing would be set to tunes ranging from the solemn, almost melancholic ‘Or nous dites Marie’ (But tell us Mary) to the decidedly jolly ‘Laissez paître vos bêtes’ (Leave your beasts…
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4. A Courtroom for an Ecclesiastical Court
By Zoë Jackson (@ZoeMJackson1) Tucked away in the southwest corner of Chester Cathedral lies a small, unassuming room, often devoid of the crowds that the rest of the cathedral attracts. Apart from being an interesting addition to any visit to the Cathedral, this room bears another significant distinction: It is one of the only courtrooms…
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5. Children’s drawings in a calico book
By Zara Kesterton (@ZaraKesterton) The V&A holds a large collection of textile designs by William Kilburn, one of the most innovative designers of eighteenth-century Britain.[1] Born in Dublin in 1745, Kilburn completed his apprenticeship at a cotton printing factory before moving to London to establish himself in the trade. He specialised in botanical motifs, depicting familiar and exotic…
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