19th Century Tantalus, or Drink Holder, With Hand-Painted Glasses and Bottles, as would have been used in the homes of Jane Austen and the Bridgertons. via 1st Dibs Auctions 1stdibs.com
Tantalus: A small wooden cabinet containing drink decanters. The box has a lock and key to keep unauthorised people from drinking the contents e.g. servants and younger sons, yet still allowing the decanters of drinks to be on show. The word, Tantalus, is a reference to the unsatisfied temptations of the Greek mythological character Tantalus. Patented in the UK in 1881 by George Betjemann, a cabinet maker from the Netherlands, whose workshop was on Pentonville Road, London from the 1830s.This type of small drinks cabinet would have been used in most households during the Bridgerton family’s and Jane Austen’s times, unless the householders were teetotalers. via 1st Dibs Auctions 1stdibs.com
1807 Two Ladies and a Gentleman, English. Lady in lavender walking dress, or Pelisse, with fur trim, holding a blue reticule or bag, fitted lavender bonnet with tassel and yellow gloves. Lady in white evening dress with salmon tunic caught up at one side and evening turban. Man in long blue overcoat, or Redingote, with contrasting collar, high white cravat, yellow gloves, tall Hessian boots with tassels, and wearing a top hat. via Le Beau Monde, or Literary and Fashionable Magazine, London, U.K.
These are the types of outfits worn by Jane Austen and contemporaries in England and shown in their English magazines. The same designs had probably already been seen in France, because English publishers obsessively copied French fashions despite the two countries being at war for many years.
19th Century Early Women’s Cotton Caps. Worn as morning caps, night caps, or under other hats. With lappets, hanging ties, or tails, which were also called ‘follow me lads’, or ‘flirtation ribbons’. via Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, U.S.A. mfa.org. via Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, U.S.A. mfa.org
Definition Caps: Worn as morning caps, night caps, or under other hats. Jane Austen and her family and female friends would have worn caps like these, sometimes during the morning at home, to bed to keep their long hair from becoming knotted, or under a bonnet to hold a hairstyle in place. Caps sometimes had hanging ties, or tails, were also called ‘follow me lads’, or ‘flirtation ribbons’.
Definition Lappets: Two long strips of material, often lace, hanging from top of head down back or over shoulders. Sometimes extensions of a headdress and a requirement for court dress.
19th Century Early Women’s Cotton Caps. Worn as morning caps, night caps, or under other hats. Hanging ties, or tails, also called ‘follow me lads’, or ‘flirtation ribbon’s. via Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, U.S.A. mfa.org
1811-1820 Regency Era Overview. The British Regency was the period from 1811-1820. King George III was deemed mad and unfit to rule so his son became his proxy, the Prince Regent, or Prinny to his close friends. The Prince Regent was often a figure of ridicule in Jane Austen’s times and featured regularly in caricatures, or cartoons, as a fat man who overindulged in everything and spent an exorbitant amount of money.
As a period in Britain’s official history, the Regency lasted less than ten years, although scholars apply the term Regency to a much longer period. It began in 1811, when George Ill was declared mad and the Prince of Wales was appointed Regent. It ended in 1820 when the King finally died and the Regent was crowned George IV. However, the Regency was a period in Britain’s history that had an effect on the social and cultural life for four decades, from the start of the French Revolution in 1789 to the passing of Britain’s Great Reform Act in 1832.
The decision to make George IV the Regent took a lot of political debate. After nearly two and a half months of political wrangling, the British government agreed to grant the title of Prince Regent on George. The Act of Parliament was finally passed by a commission in the House of Lords on February 5th 1811 and the Prince was formally sworn in as Regent at Carlton House the next day. He continued to rule as Regent until 1820 when, on his father’s death, he assumed the title George IV and reigned until his own death in 1830.
During the Regency, royalty and upper class ladies and lords, or the Beau Monde, lived elegant and extravagant lives that also allowed excesses and depravity. Britain was united behind exceptional heroes in long wars against France, but internally divided by class distinction and political agitation. The foundations of a modem industrial nation were laid by engineers, inventors and scientists. while Romantic poets and visionary artists dreamt of escape to earlier times and more ideal worlds. From: Queen’s Gallery, London, U.K. For more on this, take a look at my book Regency Overview. https://books2read.com/suziloveROver
1800 Gentleman and Son, French. Man in brown, double-breasted, cutaway coat with wide fur collar, ankle length loose trousers with a fob at his waist, black shoes. Son in high-waisted trousers, white shirt, red jacket, black hat and shoes and carrying a sword. Fashion Plate via Journal des Dames et des Modes, or Costume Parisien.
During the early 1800s 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 were replaced with boot, such as the tan topped boots worn here, and fussy 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. The men in Jane Austen’s life would have worn an elegant outdoor ensemble like this for everyday excursions around the countryside.
Are you a Bridgerton fan? Love Jane Austen? Love history? Take a look at a Young Gentleman’s Day in the early 1800s. Light-hearted look at a young man’s day in the early 1800s. Depicts the ups and downs of a young gentleman’s day in the Regency Era, or Jane Austen’s years. Through historic images, historical information, and funny anecdotes, it shows how a young man about town fills his day, where he goes, and who he spends time with. This light-hearted look at the longer Regency years is 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. books2read.com/suziloveYGD
Historic images, historical information, and funny anecdotes give an overview of life in the early 1800s. Information for history readers and writers of the Regency Years, for Jane Austen fans and all history buffs. Pictures help visualize the people and places of the long Regency period. https://books2read.com/suziloveROver Regency Overview Regency Life Series Book 1 by Suzi Love.
The Regency Life Series By Suzi Love depicts the ups and downs of life in the early 1800’s, or Jane Austen’s years, or the Regency Era. Fun pictures, historical information, and funny anecdotes show how people fill their days, where they go and with whom they spend their time. 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. Plenty of information for history buffs and lots of pictures help readers and writers of historical fiction visualize the last years of the 18th Century until Queen Victoria took the throne.
1809 Pink Dress From A Cashmere Shawl, French. Carrying pale green shawl, long white gloves and hair in ringlets. Fashion Plate via Journal des Dames et des Modes, or Costume Parisien. These sort of cashmere shawls were a much-prized fashion accessory for all ladies who could afford them. Jane Austen and her family and friends would have been extremely fortunate to either buy one or have one gifted to them.
Definition Cashmere Shawl: Extremely fine, soft, handwoven shawl. Two-ply yarn in warp, single yarn in filling. May be embroidered, with pattern appearing on both sides, or woven in one or more colors. French shawl is woven in multicolored designs on jacquard loom with designs showing only on one side. Presumably originating in Kashmir region of India and Pakistan.
1809 White Dress, French. Large striped shawl with pointed back and white hat tied with pink ribbon. Fashion Plate via Journal des Dames et des Modes, or Costume Parisien. I can picture Jane Austen and her female friends and family wearing a white Empire style dress and warm shawl, or cape, like this for shopping or paying visits. The essential cap is tied under the chin and trimmed with lace and ribbon.
1809 October A fine cambric or Indian muslin high-gown, with long sleeves and falling collar, ornamented at the feet and around the neck with appliquéd lace or needle work. Deep amber broach or gold filigree buckle, confining the dress at the throat and waist, with bracelets to match. Gold chain and opera glass. The woodland hat of fine plaited straw or chip, with ostrich feather falling on one side. A French cloak of bright purple sarsnet or velvet, lined with amber or rose, and trimmed entirely round with black lace and beading. Parasol, with deep amber awning. Shoes and gloves of buff kid. Fashion Plate via Rudolph Ackermann’s ‘The Repository of Arts’.
