Regency Redingote Search
- Dedication
The articles posted here are dedicated to the memory of Georgette Heyer in gratitude for the many hours of enjoyment her books have given me. She was an artist with words whose meticulously researched novels never fail to transport me to the Georgian or Regency eras.
© 2008 – 2013
Kathryn Kane, Kalligraph
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Category Archives: Bibelots
Bottle Tickets & Wine Labels
Today many of us buy our wine in bottles with paper labels which provide the name and type of the wine and other information required by our respective governments. Such was not the case during the Regency, nor had it … Continue reading
A Regency Bicentennial: The Francillon Memo
Two hundred years ago, this coming Wednesday, a London jeweller signed and dated a memo which included a hand-colored drawing and a description he had just completed of a large blue diamond never before seen in England, certainly not publicly. … Continue reading
The Jeweled Serpent
Though this serpent seldom has fangs, even when it does, there is no danger to anyone who handles it. This serpent may wrap itself around one of your digits, but will never squeeze any tighter than necessary to keep it … Continue reading
When a Tiny Enamel Pansy Was a Hallmark of Excellence — Implements
Last week, I wrote about the beautiful and elegant work-boxes which were available at a few exclusive boutiques along the shopping arcade of the Palais Royal in Paris during the Regency. This week, the variety of needlework tools which could … Continue reading
When a Tiny Enamel Pansy Was a Hallmark of Excellence — Work-Boxes
As an avid, life-long needle-worker, I became enamored of needlework tools soon after I picked up my first needle. As an historian, I have enjoyed researching the various needlework tools which our fore-mothers have employed across the centuries in their … Continue reading
The Signet Ring: Mark of a Gentleman
By the end of the nineteenth century, men of all classes had begun to wear signet rings. But during the Regency, as had been the case for many centuries, only gentlemen were entitled to wear signet rings. And each of … Continue reading
A Lock on Love
Over the past few weeks I have seen several Tiffany advertisements posted around the Copley Square area, here in Boston. Among them was one which featured several padlocks in various shapes and sizes. They were of brushed or polished metals, … Continue reading
Gimmel Ring: The Puzzle of Love?
Though seldom used today, gimmel rings had been in use since the late Middle Ages as wedding or betrothal rings. And they continued to be used for that purpose right through the Regency. Long before the Regency began, a variation … Continue reading
The Regency Telegraph of Love
Two hundred years ago, a brief article was published in La Belle Assemblée, entitled "Love’s Telegraph." Though it was actually published in the November "number" for that year, I thought it would be appropriate to discuss it in observation of … Continue reading
Alphabet of Gems: The Language of Stones During the Regency
First introduced in France as the eighteenth century slipped into the nineteenth, and despite the ongoing Napoleonic wars, this particular type of sentimental jewelery soon crossed the English Channel to become all the rage in England, just as the Prince … Continue reading
Where are the Cairngorms?
Over the years, I have read many Regency novels set in Scotland, or which included Scottish characters. And yet, I have not found any mention of cairngorms in the pages of those novels, despite the fact that they are the … Continue reading
Regency Diamonds — A Banked Fire
Most people today are familiar with modern diamonds which have been cut with great precision, giving them the mathematically exact facet size and number which allows them to reflect and refract light for optimum brilliance or fire. These precise cutting … Continue reading
Did Wellington Save the Hope? — Part Two
Last week, I wrote about the origins of the rare blue diamond now known as the Hope, and traced its adventures through the end of the eighteenth century, at which point it dropped out of sight. The large deep blue … Continue reading
Did Wellington Save the Hope? — Part One
He certainly did save the hope of England, even of Europe, that June day in Belgium, on the battlefield of Waterloo. But the Hope to which I refer is a precious blue diamond, which, thanks to the efforts of the … Continue reading
Claude Glasses and Mirrors
At leisure, then, I viewed, from day to day, The spectacles within doors, — birds and beasts Of every nature, and strange plants convened From every clime; and, next, those sights that ape The absolute presence of reality, Expressing, as … Continue reading
What is Shagreen?
And why should you care? Well, it was everywhere during the Regency, and the word actually referred to more than one material, each of which could be put to a different purpose, though all were somewhat similar in appearance. The … Continue reading
Regency Snuff Stuff
Last week I wrote about snuff, the luxury tobacco of Regency England. Like tobacco products today, there were a number of specialty articles created for the use of all those stylish snuff-takers. Snuff had to be transported and stored correctly … Continue reading
