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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 – 2019
Kathryn Kane, Kalligraph
Copyright Statement
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Category Archives: Furnishings
After Furniture Escaped the Walls
It was the English who first liberated furniture from the walls of their rooms. However, by the time the Prince of Wales became Regent, most people in other countries, both on the Continent and in America, had done the same. … Continue reading
Of Work or "Pouch" Tables for Ladies
Women have been doing various kinds of needlework for millenia. Initially, most of that work was utilitarian, primarily making and mending clothing and household textiles. But as the centuries progressed, more and more women, particularly ladies of the upper classes, … Continue reading
Posted in Furnishings
Tagged Art, Books, Drinking, Furniture, Interior Decor, Light, Regency, Technology, Writing
1 Comment
When Walls, Ceilings and Even Floors Got Mirrors
Though many people assume that the idea of putting a mirror on the walls and/or ceiling of a room originated in the twentieth century, they would by off by more than two centuries. The French, who had first invented plate … Continue reading
Morgan and Sanders: Patent Furniture Manufactory
Despite the fact that the firm of Morgan and Sanders was considered the leading patent furniture-maker in London during the Regency, neither partner ever actually never filed for a single patent for any of the unique furniture pieces they produced. … Continue reading
Posted in Furnishings
Tagged Art, Books, Furniture, Games, Interior Decor, Regency, Regency Bicentennial, Technology
6 Comments
A Regency Furniture Wood Primer
Recently, I read a Regency romance which included a scene in what was supposed to be an elegant and luxurious room in a London townhouse. Unfortunately, the entire effect was spoiled for me when the author described the supposedly very … Continue reading
After "Cotton" Was Wool
Though cotton has been woven into textiles in some parts of the world since ancient times, it was just coming into its own in Regency England. By that time, new inventions had made it possible to mechanize many of the … Continue reading
Posted in Apparel & Grooming, Furnishings
Tagged Clothing, Furniture, Interior Decor, Regency, Technology
6 Comments
John Crace & Sons
Though this firm is not widely known today, it was the most important interior decorating firm in England through the nineteenth century. The Crace family was a favorite of the British Royal Family, particularly the Prince of Wales. They were … Continue reading
Posted in Furnishings, People
Tagged Art, Books, Furniture, Interior Decor, Regency, Regency Bicentennial
22 Comments
Of Mirrors and Looking Glasses
Though it may seem incomprehensible to most of us today, until the mid-nineteenth century, only a small percentage of people ever saw the reflection of their entire body in a looking glass. That was due to the fact that looking … Continue reading
Posted in Furnishings
Tagged Furniture, Interior Decor, Light, Regency, Science, Technology
5 Comments
Hall and Entranceway Lanterns
As winter approaches and the days grow shorter, it seems an appropriate time to discuss an important lighting fixture in most upper- and middle-class Regency homes, the lantern which illuminated the main entrance hall to the house. Though such lanterns … Continue reading
Ackermann’s Repository: Patterns of British Manufacture
One of the most popular publications intended for ladies of the upper classes during the Regency was familiarly known as Ackermann’s Repository. Those who have perused copies of this publication today may have noted that some of the issues include … Continue reading
Posted in Apparel & Grooming, Furnishings
Tagged Art, Books, Clothing, Furniture, Interior Decor, Regency
5 Comments
The Curious Corner Chair Through the Regency
In actual fact, this unique form of chair, which originated in England in the early eighteenth century, had any number of names, usually suggesting a possible use, for nearly a century before the Regency began. Though they had mostly fallen … Continue reading
Lady Drury’s Closet
Lady Drury’s "closet" was indeed a small room, but unlike the closets we know today, it was not used for storing clothing or any other unneeded objects out of sight. Instead, it was a place for this noble and learned … Continue reading
The Advent of the English Chiffonier
There were pieces of furniture in France known as chiffonnières decades before the Regency began, and there are still European and American pieces known by the term "chiffonier" today. However, the English chiffonier, which originated in the early nineteenth century, … Continue reading
Cushions in the Regency
Ubiquitous furnishings in nearly every Regency home, to be sure. There were also many cushions to be found in the majority of churches across Britain at this time. Nevertheless, a cushion, whether of a humble or an elegant design, used … Continue reading
Of Knife-Cases and Knife-Boxes
Despite their name, by the turn of the nineteenth century, these cases and boxes often held more than just knives. Those which had been made in the early Georgian period were free and unfettered, so they could be easily moved … Continue reading
When the Lilies Were Cut Off the Bees
In 1804, when Napoleon Bonaparte was plotting to promote himself from First Consul of the French to Emperor of France and all its conquered territories, he created a "Council Commission" which would have the responsibility of planning all of the … Continue reading
Posted in Furnishings
Tagged Art, Furniture, Interior Decor, Regency, Regency Bicentennial
5 Comments
Teapoys: Their Regency Evolution
Despite the fact that the Regency lasted less than ten years, there were some unique objects developed during the space of that decade. Sadly, like the harp-lute and the toy panorama, the teapoy is now almost completely lost to history. … Continue reading
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