Tea With the Queen

You may not be able to actually drink tea with Marie Antoinette, but you can drink tea like Marie Antoinette thanks to the availability of some of her favorite porcelain designs to this day. Being fond of the lovely blue Cornflower, she had a set called ‘Pearl and Barbeaux’ featuring, as suggested, pearls and cornflowers. It may seem simple, compared to some of more ornate 18th century Sevres porcelains with which you may be familiar; however this service was created in 1781 by which point the philosophies of Rousseau and rising interest in English styles were influencing a simpler aesthetic. 

Not content to admire the Queen's taste from afar? You can acquire your own set from Bernardaud, or maybe just piece by piece as they start at $96 for a small plate and go up to more than $2K for large serving dishes. Want to see the originals for yourself? Me too, and when this pandemic and quarantine are over I look forward to a visit to the Hameau de la Reine to see them in all their original glory. Until then, cheers!

For Your Chateau

 If you saw my last post about acquiring my new fireplace surround, and the Greek Revival style and related interior designs of the 18th and 19th century, then you'll have been introduced to a few examples and suppliers. If, however, you are hungry for more, then feast your eyes on the following.

The  first  image is a good example of a similar piece, just slightly earlier in the American Federal style, and  also of the relative cost of such pieces. Available on Etsy, it will set you back a mere $2,500. Love the look, but don't need the genuine antiquity or the cost? You could have a modern version custom built for you, as in this version, also from Etsy. At $425 it is considerably less expensive of an option, however would still need not only an insert, but a full box to set it out from the wall. Then again, it would be perfect for anyone trying to renovate an existing fireplace. Perhaps money is no object for you (lucky you, if so!), in which case you might be interested in some Ebay listings such as this one in marble, but note that it's local pick-up only so, New Yorkers, this one's for you.

  

If you, like me, don't have a ton of money on hand, but still really want to renovate an existing fireplace to a more historic style or add a new one, check out DIYs like Young House Love or Adora Mae. Either way, happy hunting!

  

Teaser- Stays

The ever-talented American Duchess, Lauren, is in the process of making a new pair of stays for me. I find stays to be one of those things that it's just better to have someone else do, in part because they are so time-consuming and also because it helps to have an outside perspective on something so close to one's own body. Photos do help though. These are the test stays, so there will be some alterations. The final version is in a soft yellow jacquard with a brighter yellow stomacher over which the center is laced in blue ribbon. Can't wait to see them!