~Regency Wednesday~ Hobby-Horse

I've never mentioned a hobby-horse in any of my books and I'm not sure I ever will. I'm not even sure I can recall the mention of such a contraption in the 1000+ Regency romances I've read over the years. Still, this gave me a chuckle when I stumbled across it in the 1819 edition of Ackermann's Repository. 

I'm not going to type out the description for this plate, but the clipping below should be readable. Interesting stuff. 

*To see this article in its natural setting, check out Ackermann's Repository, February 1819, p. 109. 

♥Happy reading, writing, and blogging!!♥

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♫♪ Matchbox 20 ~ 3AM

~Regency Wednesday~ Half-Mourning

Half-mourning was about halfway through the mourning period, the point when the one in mourning stopped wearing black and switched to gray or lavender with black trim or accents. Half-mourning was considered a transition to wearing colors again.

Again, this affected ladies more than gentlemen, simply because the gentlemen wore black much of the time anyway.

For details on wills, funerals, or mourning, you can check out two of my previous Regency Wednesday posts: Funerals and Wills; Mourning. Both include links to other sites for more details on these subjects.

For detailed descriptions of the fashions shown here, see the matching Google Books clipping below.

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*Images and description clipped from Ackermann's Repository, Jan 1819, p. 52. 

♥Happy reading, writing, and blogging!!♥

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♫♪ Daughtry ~ Breakdown

~Regency Wednesday~ 1819 Window Draperies

How's this for a special treat? While perusing Ackermann's Repository (Dec 1819) I stumbled across this charming plate for Regency window draperies.

FASHIONABLE FURNITURE.

PLATE 35.—THREE DESIGNS FOR WINDOW-CURTAINS.

  AN ingenious artist will communicate to the commonest theme an inexhaustible variety of design: in doing this he must, however, give liberty to his ideas, which, if well instructed in the first instance, will never take their flight beyond the limits prescribed by fitness and true taste. The imagination so controuled is properly distinguished from fancy, which wantonly oversteps all limitations, and trespasses alike on the most sacred and on the profanest grounds of theory and practice; and hence the distinction between the works of an artist and of an amateur, as well in the higher departments of art, as in that of mere upholstery.

  The annexed subject presents features of perfect novelty, without a departure from its guiding principles. The centre draperies, in two colours, are composed for a Venetian or Palladian window: they are supported by a bow-like ornament, and by pilasters, to which the curtains are connected; the sub-curtains are also festooned by the bow, and guarded by a lateral transom, that passes from pilaster to pilaster. 

  The designs on the right and left are light and elegant: they should be composed of silk, and the sub-curtains of transparent materials richly embroidered: so executed, the delicacy of their combinations makes them suitable to a cabinet or boudoir. 

  For these designs we are indebted to Mr. Stafford of Bath.

*Image and description clipped from Ackermann's Repository, Dec 1819, p. 365. Typed description is taken verbatim from the above magazine clipping. 

♥Happy reading, writing, and blogging!!♥

There's a jukebox in my head. It's currently playing
♫♪ FFXIII-2 ~ Endless Paradox

~Regency Wednesday~ Fashions for December 1819

♫ Now playing in Jaimey's mind: Sarah McLachlan ~ Fear ♫ 

Plate 36. —Walking Dress. 

  A pelisse composed of kerseymere: the colour is a peculiar shade of grey; it is lined with white sarsnet. The body is tight to the shape, the waist is rather long, and the sleeve is set in so as to just touch the point of the shoulder: the sleeve is wide and falls very much over the hand. The skirt is moderately full, meets before, and fastens down on the inside. The trimming is composed of ruby-coloured velvet; it is of a new pattern, and exceedingly rich and elegant; it goes round the bottom, and up each of the fronts. The epaulettes and cuffs correspond with the trim. High standing collar, trimmed in a similar manner. Head-dress, a bonnet composed of ruby velvet, intermixed with levantine: the crown is made of folds of these two materials, so disposed as to form a point in the centre, which has a light and novel effect: the brim is large, and of a singular but becoming shape; it is finished at the edge by a rich roll of ruby levantine, to which is attached a full fall of blond lace, set on narrow towards the ears, and broad in the middle of the brim: this style of trimming adds much softness to the countenance. A high plume of ostrich feathers, to correspond, is placed upright in front, and a rich ribbon ties it under the chin. Gloves to correspond with the pelisse. Half-boots, the lower part of black leather, the upper part grey levantine. 

*Taken verbatim from Ackermann's Repository, December 1819. 

~Regency Wednesday~ Landaulet 1819

Regency England teemed with carriages, especially during the daily promenade through Hyde Park. The carriage pictured here is a landaulet, a small version of a landau. 

A landau was a four-wheeled carriage with two passenger seats facing each other. The two-sectioned roof could be folded down or left up depending on the weather. 

The landaulet was just a smaller version of that with one seat and a retractable roof. The one pictured here was featured in Ackermann's Repository in March 1819 for the moveable axles it has. 

*Ackermann's Repository, 1819, page 125

~Regency Wednesday~ Fashions for May 1819

The book I'm currently writing, Temptation, takes place during the Season, 1819. To that end, here is a glimpse of the fashions for May.

ENGLISH. No. 1.--Walking Dress.
Pelisse of light fawn-coloured twilled sarsnet, or satin, elegantly ornamented with trimming of the same en languettes, each languette beautifully ornamented with a rich yet light trimming of pink and black, with ornamental buttons. Large promenade bonnet of light fawn-colour, trimmed to correspond with the pelisse, and worn over a cornette of fine lace. Fawn-coloured satin sandal boots, and Limerick gloves.*

*Taken from La Belle Assemblée, 1819