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!
Nor is it solely family matters which burden my spirit of late. I received sudden notice a week ago that I must vacate my rooms for use by another, leaving me without a home to go to unless I returned to my own properties. I am engaged at present in packing the few items which are my own, and preparing therefore to return to Riom and my home at Portaberaud. At first I attempted to object. To the shortness of the notice, to the cruelty of the removal, but alas, to no avail. The Chevalier has offered to accompany me, and I am caught between retreating to lick my wounds in solitude, or hosting several friends to distract me from it. Either way I am unlikely to see Maman and the rest of the family as they are away visiting with my brother Andre and his wife, Sonya in Normandy.
Meanwhile Mattieu is somewhere in the Mediterranean aboard the Auguste and we are not likely to see him until the end of the year, a fact which Maman bewails in every letter. I think it has been most difficult for her to resign herself to his independence, as she has long since become accustomed to my own. Certainly in my situation it was a bit different thanks to my father, the Comte.
I think I have decided. I will accept the Chevalier's offer and bring life and pleasure back to Auvergne with me. We need not stay long, and can either return to Paris after new arrangements are made, or travel on to Saint Saturnin. Now to return to preparations.
Olympe
You'll note that the Etsy store of BordeauxBrocante comes up pretty frequently. A brocante is basically like the French version of an antiques market. I've just stumbled onto that one, and I'm hooked on the lovely items and impressed by the styling of the photos. One of the things I use these sites for is to compare and get a better understanding of what things are worth on the market, that way I know that I'm paying a fair price when I make the leap to purchasing anything. Some items, especially genuine pieces from the past, are really worth paying a little more because the quality is so good compared to similar mass-produced items today.
Have items, stores, or sites you love? I'd love to know about them too! Want to keep them all to yourself? That's fair. Either way, happy hunting!
The titular home of the Chateau Diaries is Chateau de Lalande, which was featured first on another show called Escape to the Chateau DIY, itself a spin-off of the very popular British series, Escape to the Chateau. As the IMDB page says "Many Brits have moved to France to buy crumbling French chateaus to renovate into stunning homes. This series follows their progress and sees them try to use their homes as a business for events, etc." It's like one-stop shopping for all the chateau reality television you could want. I actually wasn't looking for anything of the sort when I stumbled across it on, you guessed it, YouTube, I was looking for videos on DIY renovations for installing faux fireplaces and wainscotting. Nonetheless, I have since been hooked.
Another spin-off vlog from the spin-off series, is Chateau Life. There's a little less DIY on the Diaries vlog, which can be disappointing, but Life isn't set at a B&B, instead it's an outdoor events venue and work on the interior is very much ongoing, so it can be delightful to see how the owners tackle renovating the Chateau de Bailleul, with an emphasis on doing it on a budget. Ah yes, a chateau on a budget, that sounds right up my alley!
Enjoyed these series yourself? Have one I missed that you want to share? I'd love to hear from you in the comments!
Has it really been two years? Many times I have picked up my pen to continue, but laid it down again defeated by the events which have seemed both too swift and endless at once. When last I wrote we were preparing for the King's hunt, an episode which should have signaled much joy, but which proved misadventurous instead. I must out with the truth, no use in delaying. Thierry suffered a fall from his horse during the hunt, and though he seemed at first little injured with no apparent broken bones, he soon slipped into a sleep from which he could not be woken. Nine days into his endless sleep I inquired of the doctor on another matter and received the glad news that I was enceinte though I had little dared to hope for a child at that point.
Thierry lingered into August of that year before expiring as gracefully as he had lived. Our child soon followed only a few weeks later, dead before it could live. My mistress, the Princess Elisabeth, with great kindness and gentleness, released me to mourn and recover at my home in Saint-Saturnin, where I stayed for the better part of the last two years.
Grief knows no safe place, however. Word of Christine's death in Sweden in childbirth in early January of 1785 was followed swiftly by that of one of my aunt's, the apparent suicide of my mother's brother who did grieve her terribly, and then that of my sweet Reinette whom I found dead one October morning with little warning. I do not lie when I say that it was all I might do for some time thereafter to merely rise in the morning and live myself.
Meanwhile the royal family have had their own difficulties, with the Affair of the Necklace only recently subsiding in May of this year. The Queen is naturally acquitted of blame, but that does not stop the wagging tongues of Paris who continue to abuse her reputation most pitilessly. There is now, though, a second young Prince, Louis Charles, and the sweetest baby Princess, Sophie, the latter of whom was only born a month ago. I, being for the last three months back at Versailles, have had the great fortune of seeing this newest child of France myself thanks to the unending support of my benefactress, Madame Elisabeth. Though she cannot now offer me the position in her household which once I held, she continues to champion my cause ensuring that a small pension is mine owing to the death of the Marquis. I remain Comtesse in my own right, but the title of Marquise de Mercoeur will die with me or be forfeited upon my remarriage.
The possibility of remarriage is on my mind, as I am very nearly too old for childbearing unless it be quite soon. There is, I confess, a young Chevalier, eldest son and heir to an old and established House, who declares his affections daily and with whom I am not at all sorry to have become better acquainted. Tongues do wag at the prospect of our union, however, as he is 14 years my junior!
Even this little missive tires me, and my new puppy tugs at the hem of my dress urging me to play. I must go. I begin to hope again, but in my hope is such fear. Is it a friend or false-faced demon, I wonder.
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.
Bonjour world! It's been many (six?!) years since I last updated this blog. In a nutshell, life and work became crazy and difficult and terrible and full of change and renewal. Like many of you, quarantine life has afforded me some time to recall the things that I enjoyed doing and to refocus my energy. For those who enjoyed the Diary entries from my fictional 18th century counterpart, I suspect she'll be back shortly, so look out for more missives coming soon!
It's not often that you can find a genuine 19th century antique fireplace for under a few thousand dollars (or pounds in this case); although if you're persistent bargains do pop up sometimes, as in some ebay listings. Just be sure to double-check on shipping costs or pick-up requirements. I've seen many listings where the shipping was more costly than the item!
The next step will be to acquire a fireplace insert, since the house obviously doesn't have a chimney and can't support a real fire. I'm leaning towards one from Wayfair at present, since I have had good experiences with several of their products in the past.
Now, obviously Greek Revival is a mid-19th century style, not in keeping with my 18th century proclivities; but the two time periods share a love of classical elements in part due to the excavations of Pompeii and Herculaneum beginning in the 1730s and 40s. This is why it is not uncommon to find fluted columns and laurel wreaths as motifs in both Neoclassical architecture and Greek Revival.
The other reason, of course, is that on either side of the pond, both in Europe and in America, there were shifts in social identity. In Europe Rousseau's philosophies were influencing people to look to the past for examples of a simpler style to contrast the ostentatious ornamentation of the Rococo swirls and florals. The Revolutionary French government and its supporters likewise hoped to utilize the imagery of the idealized Greek city state to help legitimize the new regime.
Meanwhile in America a new sort of gentry was trying to create their own style and legitimacy. Southern landowners saw themselves much as the elites and cultural aristocrats of their new nation, and as the United States moved into the new century they adopted Neoclassicism with their own twist which eventually developed into the Greek Revival style seen so often in plantation homes and civic buildings of the mid-19th century.
With another successful Fetes Galante complete at the Chateau de Versailles, I thought we'd have a Versailles-themed FYC. Enjoy this d...
