Margaret ‘Daisy’ Leiter, painted by John Singer Sargent when she was 19. Photograph: Jonathan Bailey/Historic England When American heiresses crossed the Atlantic to marry into the British aristocracy during the Gilded Age, they brought more than just their fortunes. They introduced…
Tapestries have always been a fascinating blend of art and storytelling, and Brussels has long been at the heart of it all. The tapestries at Mapperton House are a shining example of this incredible heritage. In this post, I’m diving…
Boar and Bear Hunt, from the Devonshire Hunting Tapestries, tapestry woven in wool, unknown, 1425 – 30, Netherlands. Museum no. T.204-1957. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London Tapestries 101: A General Primer As I’m sure you’ve seen by now, I’m…
The Gilded Age was a time of refinement and social sophistication, and Christmas during this period reflected the optimism and grandeur of the age. Big things were definitely happening in industry and trade, and while the Christmas season did look…
Mary Evans Picture Library, 2008 From the candle-lit assembly rooms of Georgian London to the gilded ballrooms of Victorian aristocracy, the grand balls of British high society were incredible spectacles. These opulent gatherings weren’t merely social events; they were occasions…
At the turn of the 20th century, an intriguing trend took hold: wealthy American heiresses crossed the Atlantic to marry into European nobility. These women, the “Dollar Princesses,” brought with them substantial dowries that helped restore crumbling estates, revitalise British…
If you’ve been around for a while, you’ll know that I have a strong connection with Alberta Sturges—my husband’s great grandmother, the Countess of Sandwich in the first part of the 20th century, and a prolific writer and deep thinker.…
Built into the rolling hills of South Oxfordshire just an hour’s drive from London, Stonor Park’s magnificent Georgian red brick manor dominates the surrounding English countryside. Now home to Lord and Lady Camoys, William and Ailsa Stonor, their three children, and Lady Elisabeth…
Brimming with money, self-made millionaires and booming commerce, 18th century America was run by a handful of powerful family dynasties. On the contrary, aristocratic families in England faced immense financial pressure after the renaissance, with costs of running their magnificent estates…