Category Archives: Pastimes

1800s Almack’s Assembly Rooms, London, and Prized Regency Era Vouchers. #regencyera #almacks #london

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Almack’s Assembly Rooms often appear in Regency Era romances as they were a well known gathering place for those in the Ton looking for wives or husbands.  1770-1840 . Almack’s or Willis’s Rooms, King Street, St James, London, UK. Almack’s Assembly Rooms, founded by William Almack at No. 26-28, were on the site of the present Almack House. The club was originally a gaming establishment but moved from Pall Mall. The Assembly rooms were on the South side of King Street in St James’s and were opened on February 12, 1765. At the time the subscription was ten guineas for which there was a ball and supper each week for the twelve weeks of the season.

Assemblies were held on Tuesdays and Thursdays, but only four or five times a season. Dates were listed in the paper along with the names of the Patronesses. When Lady Jersey took over Almack’s around 1815, assemblies were changed to Wednesdays. Many aristocrats were reportedly offended by something that happened at Almack’s but Lord Jersey is reported to have refused to duel over any inferred slights because it would have meant he was forever involved in a duel. The other well-known Patronesses were Lady Bathurst and Lady Downshire.

1826 Almack's Revisited by Charles White.: 'It was what most correct persons called 'horrid bad Almack's'. #RegencyEra #London #BritishHistory
1826 Almack’s Revisited by Charles White.: ‘It was what most correct persons called ‘horrid bad Almack’s’. #RegencyEra #London #BritishHistory
almacks_1817 April Ladies' Voucher for all the Wednesday balls at Almack's in April 1817. via Suzi Love suzilove.com & The Huntington Library, San Marino, California, U.S.A.
1817 April Ladies’ Voucher for all the Wednesday balls at Almack’s in April 1817. via The Huntington Library, San Marino, California, U.S.A.
1815 The First Quadrille at Almack’s Assembly Rooms, London. Left to Right: Marquis of Worcester, Lady Jersey, Clanronald MacDonald and Lady Worcester. “It was not until 1815 that Lady Jersey introduced from Paris the favourite quadrille, which has so long remained popular. I recollect the persons who formed the very first quadrille that was ever danced at Almack’s: they were Lady Jersey, Lady Harriett Butler, Lady Susan Ryde, and Miss Montgomery; the men being the Count St Aldegonde, Mr Montgomery, Mr Montague, and Charles Standish.” From The Reminiscences of Captain Gronow 1810-1860.
1815 The First Quadrille at Almack’s Assembly Rooms, London. Left to Right: Marquis of Worcester, Lady Jersey, Clanronald MacDonald and Lady Worcester. “It was not until 1815 that Lady Jersey introduced from Paris the favourite quadrille, which has so long remained popular. I recollect the persons who formed the very first quadrille that was ever danced at Almack’s: they were Lady Jersey, Lady Harriett Butler, Lady Susan Ryde, and Miss Montgomery; the men being the Count St Aldegonde, Mr Montgomery, Mr Montague, and Charles Standish.” From The Reminiscences of Captain Gronow 1810-1860.
1765-1840 ca. Almack's, or Willis's, Assembly Rooms, South Side Of King Street, St James, London. commons.wikimedia.org

1765-1840 ca. Almack’s, or Willis’s, Assembly Rooms, South Side Of King Street, St James, London. commons.wikimedia.org

1800s Early Exterior of Almack's Assembly Rooms, London, UK.

1800s Early Exterior of Almack’s Assembly Rooms, London, UK.

Captain Gronow, an army officer in London around 1814, wrote about the rules of Almack’s in Captain Gronow’s Recollections and Anecdotes, 1864 , but only gives his views on a few years of Almack’s history.

Almack's The fair ladies who ruled supreme over this little dancing and gossiping world, issued a solemn proclamation that no gentleman should appear at the assemblies without being dressed in knee-breeches, white cravat, and chapeau bras. From Captain Gronow's Recollections 1864.
Almack's In 1814, the dances were Scotch reels and the old English country-dance; and the orchestra, being from Edinburgh, was conducted by the then celebrated Neil Gow. From Captain Gronow's Recollections 1864.
In 1814, the dances were Scotch reels and the old English country-dance; and the orchestra, being from Edinburgh, was conducted by the then celebrated Neil Gow. From Captain Gronow’s Recollections 1864.
Almack's Few ventured to waltz at first, but in course of time, the waltzing mania, having turned the heads of society generally, descended to their feet, and the waltz was practiced in the morning in certain noble mansions in London with unparalleled assiduity. From Captain Gronow's Recollections 1864
Almack's 1864 On one occasion, the Duke of Wellington was about to ascend the staircase of the ball-room, dressed in black trousers, When the vigilant Mr Willis, the guardian of the establishment, stepped forward and said, "Your Grace cannot be admitted in trousers," Whereupon the Duke, Who had a great respect for Orders and regulations, quietly walked away _ From Captain Recollections
Almack's Assembly Rooms, London, and Prized Regency Era Vouchers. #regencyera #almacks #london books2read.com:suziloveYLD Share on X
D2D_RL_4_YLD_Young Lady's Day Regency Life Series Book 4 by Suzi Love. A light-hearted look at the longer Regency years and an easy to read view of what a young lady did, wore, and lived. https://books2read.com/suziloveYLD

What did Jane Austen wear? Her family and friends wore elegant and pretty fashions in the early 1800s. #Regency #JaneAusten #Fashion

Suzi Love Posted on by

What did Jane Austen and friends wear? Early 1800s fashions were elegant and pretty with high waists and fabrics that were almost transparent. These Empire style gowns, named after Napoleon’s first Empress, became popular throughout Europe, and were then copied around the world. Colorful outwear was added to make an ensemble more attractive and warmer. History Notes Book 26 Fashion Women 1805-1809.
https://books2read.com/SuziLoveFashionWomen1805-1809

The Empire waist gown defined women’s fashion during the Regency Era. ‘Empire’ is the name given in France to the period when Napoleon built his French Empire.

High-waisted, loose gowns were adopted by the aristocracy as a symbol of turning away from the fussy, elaborate and expensive clothing worn in the 1700s. Jean-Jaques Rousseau advocated copying peasants and returning to a simpler life and more natural fashions. Unrestricting clothing was part of the new Democracy in France and these simpler and flowing fashions were adopted all over Europe, including Britain and despite the continual wars being fought against France during the early 1800s. Not even war stopped fashions from being copied everywhere.

HN_26_Fashion Women 1805-1809 History Notes Book 26 What did Jane Austen and friends wear? This book looks at early 1800s fashions, which were elegant and pretty with high waists and fabrics that were almost transparent. These Empire style gowns, named after Napoleon's first Empress, became popular throughout Europe, and were then copied around the world. Colorful outwear was added to make an ensemble more attractive and warmer. https://books2read.com/SuziLoveFashionWomen1805-1809
Fashion Women 1805-1809 History Notes Book 26 What did Jane Austen and friends wear? This book looks at early 1800s fashions, which were elegant and pretty with high waists and fabrics that were almost transparent. These Empire style gowns, named after Napoleon’s first Empress, became popular throughout Europe, and were then copied around the world. Colorful outwear was added to make an ensemble more attractive and warmer. https://books2read.com/SuziLoveFashionWomen1805-1809
What did Jane Austen wear? Her family and friends wore elegant and pretty fashions in the early 1800s. #RegencyFashion #JaneAusten #HistoricalFashion https://books2read.com/SuziLoveFashionWomen1805-1809 Share on X
HN_26_D2D_FsshionWomen1805-1809 https://books2read.com/SuziLoveFashionWomen1805-1809
HN_26_D2D_FsshionWomen1805-1809

1863 Traveler’s Chest With Sewing Tools, Perfume and Notebook. #sewing #Antique #VictorianEra

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1863 Traveler’s Chest, French. Sewing Tools, Ruby Perfume, Aide de Memoire or Notebook, etc. Inside lid with theatre curtains. via Ruby Lane Antiques. rubylane.com

box_1863 Traveler’s Chest, French. Sewing Tools, Ruby Perfume, Aide de Memoire or Notebook, etc. Inside lid with theatre curtains. via Ruby Lane Antiques. rubylane.com
1863 Traveler’s Chest, French. Sewing Tools, Ruby Perfume, Aide de Memoire or Notebook, etc. Inside lid with theatre curtains. via Ruby Lane Antiques. rubylane.com
1863 Traveler's Chest With Sewing Tools, Perfume and Notebook. #sewing #Antique #VictorianEra https://www.books2read.com/suziloveBoxesCases Share on X

19th Century Taking Snuff and Pretty Snuff Boxes In Bridgerton and Jane Austen Years. #bridgerton #RegencyEra #JaneAusten #Antiques

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19th Century Snuff Boxes. Not only were boxes made to serve a purpose, but decorative boxes of all types were prized, especially in the 18th-19th Centuries when everything decorative and extravagant was in vogue and taking a pinch of snuff was fashionable. Snuff is made from ground or pulverized tobacco leaves and is sniffed from a pinch of snuff placed on the back of the hand.Flavorings were added to the tobacco to give a fast hit of nicotine and a lasting scent. Snuff began in the Americas and was used in Europe by the 17th Century.

Snuff became popular from the mid 1600s to the mid 1800s and was more popular than smoking. Inhaling snuff, or snuffing, was first seen by a European missionary in 1493 in Christopher Columbus’s new world within Haiti’s indigenous Taino. Until then, tobacco had been unknown to Europeans, but its use spread quickly throughout Europe during the 1500s.  By the second half of the 17th century, ornate boxes started being produced to keep the precious powder dry and an entire industry making accessories blossomed around the fashion of taking snuff.  Noblemen, and some women, carried extravagantly decorated snuff boxes with them at all times and would offer a pinch of their own particular blend to friends and family. Therefore, these boxes were always on display and so it became a competition to see who could have the most bejeweled or expensive box possible. By the mid 1800s, snuff taking was no longer popular so these exquisite and expensive snuff boxes became decorative, rather than functional.

19th Century Shoe Snuffbox. via suzilove.com and 1st Dibs Auctions 1stdibs.com
19th Century Shoe Snuffbox. via 1st Dibs Auctions 1stdibs.com
19th Century Engraved Horn Snuffbox. Heart surrounded by flowers and leaves, sides with dove, symbol of purity and peace, brass hinge and setting. via suzilove.com and 1st Dibs Auctions
19th Century Engraved Horn Snuffbox. Heart surrounded by flowers and leaves, sides with dove, symbol of purity and peace, brass hinge and setting. via suzilove.com and 1st Dibs Auctions
Box_Snuff_19th Century Carved Boxwood Snuffbox. Horse with saddle for a lid. via 1st Dibs Auctions
19th Century Carved Boxwood Snuffbox. Horse with saddle for a lid. via 1st Dibs Auctions

1804-1809 ca. Snuffbox in the Shape of A Lion, Moulinie, Bautte and Cie, Geneva, Switzerland.via Victoria and Albert Museum.
1804-1809 ca. Snuffbox in the Shape of A Lion, Moulinie, Bautte and Cie, Geneva, Switzerland.via Victoria and Albert Museum.
1820 Snuffbox with scene of harvesting fruit. By Johann Wilhelm Keibel (master 1812; died 1862). via suzilove.com and Metropolitan Museum New York City, U.S.A. metmuseum.org
1820 Snuffbox with scene of harvesting fruit. By Johann Wilhelm Keibel (master 1812; died 1862). via Metropolitan Museum New York City, U.S.A. metmuseum.org
1810 ca. Jeweled Gold Snuff Box, Switzerland. Maker’s Mark Geneva. via Christie’s Auction Rooms. christies.com
1810 ca. Jeweled Gold Snuff Box, Switzerland. Maker’s Mark Geneva. via Christie’s Auction Rooms. christies.com
19th Century Taking Snuff and Pretty Snuff Boxes In Bridgerton and Jane Austen Years. #bridgerton #RegencyEra #JaneAusten #Antiques https://www.books2read.com/suziloveBoxesCases Share on X
HN_11_D2D_Craftsmen created containers of precious metals, leather, silks, and decorated them with jewels to make exquisite and expensive items as well as practical carrying cases. books2read.com/suziloveBoxesCases

What did ladies do and wear in Bridgerton and Jane Austen’s time, or early 1800s? Books 4 and 5 Regency Life Series. #Bridgerton #RegencyEra #JaneAusten #BritishHistory #nonfiction

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What did ladies do and wear in Jane Austen’s time, or early 1800s? #Regency #History #nonfiction Books 4 and 5 Regency Life Series. Young Lady’s Day and Older Lady’s Day in Books 4 and 5 in the Regency Life Series.
These books depict the often-frivolous life and fashions of ladies in the early 1800’s, or during the lifetime of Jane Austen, but also gives a glimpse into the more serious occupations ladies may undertake. Through historic images, historical information, and funny anecdotes, they show how a lady fills her day, where she is permitted to go, and who she spends time with. These light-hearted looks at the longer Regency years are an easy to read overview of what people did and wore, and where they worked and played. There is plenty of information to interest history buffs, and lots of pictures to help readers and writers of historical fiction visualize the people and places from the last years of the 18th Century until Queen Victoria took the throne. Young Lady’s Day ~ Older Lady’s Day

RL_4-5_YLD_Young Lady's Day Regency Life Series Book 4
What did ladies do and wear in Bridgerton and Jane Austen's time, or early 1800s? Books 4 and 5 Regency Life Series. #Bridgerton #RegencyEra #JaneAusten #BritishHistory #nonfictionRegency Life Series. https://books2read.com/suziloveYLD Share on X
D2D_RL_4_ Young Lady http://books2read.com/suziloveYLD

1700 ca. Chess and Backgammon Box With Ivory Pieces, Augsburg. #GeorgianEra #antiques

Suzi Love Posted on by

1700 ca. Chess and Backgammon Box, Augsburg. Decorated in violet wood veneer, ebony and ivory. Ivory checkers and chess pieces, hinges and push button lock in gilded brass, two horn goblets, two ivory dice, thirty-none checkers’ pawns stamped both sides with effigies of cities, Munich, Vienna, Nuremberg, Prague, Danzig, of kings and queens, Prussia, England, Scotland, Poland, and various scenes. Via AnticStore.com

1700 ca. Chess and Backgammon Box With Ivory Pieces, Augsburg. #GeorgianEra #antiques https://books2read.com/suziloveBoxesCases
1700 ca. Chess and Backgammon Box With Ivory Pieces, Augsburg. #GeorgianEra #antiques https://books2read.com/suziloveBoxesCases
1700 ca. Chess and Backgammon Box With Ivory Pieces, Augsburg. #GeorgianEra #antiques https://books2read.com/suziloveBoxesCases Share on X
HN_11_D2D_Craftsmen created containers of precious metals, leather, silks, and decorated them with jewels to make exquisite and expensive items as well as practical carrying cases. books2read.com/suziloveBoxesCases

1813 October White At-Home Dress, Lace Cap and Red Shawl As Worn by Jane Austen. #Regency #JaneAusten #Fashion

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1813 October Morning Dress, English. Jane Austen and her family and friends would have worn this style of relaxed dress and cap. White At-Home dress with morning lace cap and a red shawl. Plain cambric underdress, three-quartered muslin or Chinese silk robe trimmed round the bottom and up the front with Indian border, or needle-work, and finished with a deep flounce of lace. Convent hood and pelerine of white net lace, confined under the chin with a silk cord and tassel. Hair in irregular curls with a fancy flower in the front. Short rosary and cross, plus bracelets, of coquilla beads. Buff or lemon kid slippers and pale tan gloves. Fashion Plate via Rudolph Ackermann’s ‘The Repository of Arts’. 

This is a typical outfit worn at home in the morning in the house, to be seen only by family or close friends. A lady might wear this while writing having breakfast, writing letters, or reading. Called by the various names of Undress, to At-Home dress, or Morning dress, it is the most relaxed ensemble a lady will wear all day. The sort of outfit Jane Austen would have worn when writing her books.

1813 October White At-Home Dress, Lace Cap and Red Shawl. #Regency #JaneAusten #Fashion
1812 Red Dress, French. High-waisted red Merino wool dress with short puffed sleeves, high Chako hat with a plume long white gloves and white shoes. Fashion Plate via Journal des Dames et des Modes, or Costume Parisien.
1813 October White At-Home Dress, Lace Cap and Red Shawl As Worn by Jane Austen. #Regency #JaneAusten #Fashion. https://books2read.com/SuziLoveFashion1810-1814 Share on X
HN_27_D2D_fashwomen1810-1814 https://books2read.com/SuziLoveFashion1810-1814
HN_27_D2D_fashwomen1810-1814 https://books2read.com/SuziLoveFashion1810-1814

1826 Almack’s Revisited London: ‘It was what most correct persons called ‘horrid bad Almack’s’. #RegencyEra #London #Dancing

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1826 Almack’s Revisited by Charles White. ‘It was what most correct persons called ‘horrid bad Almack’s’.

1770-1840 . Almack’s or Willis’s Rooms, King Street, St James, London, UK. Almack’s Assembly Rooms, founded by William Almack at No. 26-28, were on the site of the present Almack House. The club was originally a gaming establishment but moved from Pall Mall. The Assembly rooms were on the South side of King Street in St James’s and were opened on February 12, 1765. At the time the subscription was ten guineas for which there was a ball and supper each week for the twelve weeks of the season.

1826 Almack’s Revisited by Charles White. 'It was what most correct persons called 'horrid bad Almack's'.
1826 Almack’s Revisited by Charles White. ‘It was what most correct persons called ‘horrid bad Almack’s’.
1826 Almack's Revisited London: 'It was what most correct persons called 'horrid bad Almack's'. #RegencyEra #London #Dancing https://books2read.com/suziloveROver Share on X
RL_1_D2D_Regency Overview RetailerLinks https://books2read.com/suziloveROver
RL_1_D2D_Regency Overview RetailerLinks https://books2read.com/suziloveROver

I love Old Stuff! How about you? Take a look at Suzi Love’s Pinterest Boards. #Pinterest #History #RegencyEra

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I love Old Stuff! How about you? Take a look at Suzi Love’s Pinterest Boards. pinterest.com/suziloveoz

Fashion women 1800- 1820 http://pinterest.com/suziloveoz/fashion-women-1800-1820/

Fashion Women 1820- 1850 http://pinterest.com/suziloveoz/fashion-women-1820-1850/

Fashion Men 1800- 1820 http://pinterest.com/suziloveoz/fashion-men-1800-1820/

Fashion Accessories 1800- 1850  http://pinterest.com/suziloveoz/fashion-accessories1800-1850/

Books – Jane Austen  http://pinterest.com/suziloveoz/books-jane-austen/

I love Old Stuff! How about you? Take a look at Suzi Love's Pinterest Boards. #Pinterest #History #RegencyEra. pinterest.com/suziloveoz Share on X

From the finish of the 18th century until 1820, men’s fashions in European and European-influenced countries moved away from the formal wear of brocades, lace, wigs and powder to more informal and relaxed styles. Focus was on undress rather than formal dress. Typical menswear in the early 1800s included a tailcoat, a vest or waistcoat, either breeches, pants, or the newer trousers, stockings, shoes or boots, all worn with an overcoat and hat. This basic ensemble was accessorized with some form of neckcloth or cravat, gloves, walking stick, cane or riding crop, handkerchief, fobs, watch and perhaps a quizzing glass or eye glass. 

Skirted coats were replaced with short-fronted, or cutaway, tailcoats worn over fitted waistcoats and plain, white linen shirts. Knee breeches were gradually replaced by tight-fitting pantaloons and later trousers, decorative shoes with buckles were replaced with a variety of boot styles, and fussy and ruffled neckwear gave way to intricately tied, white linen neck cloths. A Regency Era, or early 1800s, gentleman was outfitted in more practical fabrics, such as wool, cotton and buckskin rather than the fussy brocades and silks of the late 1700s. 

1804 Men's Fashions In The Time Of Jane Austen. #Regency #Fashion #JaneAusten Share on X
HN_23_D2D_Fashion Men 1800-1819

1808 Lady In A High-Waisted White Dress Reading A Book Outdoors. #Regency #JaneAusten #Fashion

Suzi Love Posted on by

1808 Lady In A High-Waisted White Dress Reading A Book Outdoors, French. Dress has short puffed sleeves and is worn under a frilled Pelerine, or shoulder cape, long tan gloves, walking shoes and a white country style hat with a blue bow. The lady is leaning on a post and reading a book. Fashion Plate via Journal des Dames et des Modes, Costume Parisien.

Empire Style Dress:  Named after the First Empire in France. Empire dresses had a low neckline and skirts started directly under the bust and flowed into the classical relaxed wide styles of Greece and Rome. This style of dress is associated with Jane Austen and her contemporaries as a high-waisted dress was worn most days. Cotton, silk or taffeta were the popular fabrics.

Definition Pelerine:  Tippet or shoulder cape, usually waist-length, with long, pointed ends in front. Popular in England and colonial America.

1808 Lady In A High-Waisted White Dress, French. Dress has short puffed sleeves and is worn under a frilled Pelerine, or shoulder cape, long tan gloves, walking shoes and a white country style hat with a blue bow. The lady is leaning on a post and reading a book. Fashion Plate via Journal des Dames et des Modes, Costume Parisien.
1808 Lady In A High-Waisted White Dress, French. Dress has short puffed sleeves and is worn under a frilled Pelerine, or shoulder cape, long tan gloves, walking shoes and a white country style hat with a blue bow. The lady is leaning on a post and reading a book. Fashion Plate via Journal des Dames et des Modes, Costume Parisien.
1808 Lady In A High-Waisted White Dress Reading A Book Outdoors. #RegencyFashion #JaneAusten #HistoricalFashion https://books2read.com/SuziLoveFashionWomen1805-1809 Share on X
HN_26_D2D Fashion Women 1805-1809.https://books2read.com/SuziLoveFashionWomen1805-1809
Fashion Women 1805-1809 History Notes Book 26 What did Jane Austen and friends wear? This book looks at early 1800s fashions, which were elegant and pretty with high waists and fabrics that were almost transparent. These Empire style gowns, named after Napoleon’s first Empress, became popular throughout Europe, and were then copied around the world. Colorful outwear was added to make an ensemble more attractive and warmer. https://books2read.com/SuziLoveFashionWomen1805-1809