Period Curtains?

[Nigel Watts]

Its certainly tempting and I have always had the urge to put a tea cosy on my head. I'm not sure its in the Simplicty pattern book though.

Since we are on the subject of Regency dress I wonder if anyone can help me date this picture:

How I came to acquire it, get it restored then give it away is a story I wont bore you with. It was painted by James Lonsdale, a pupil of Romney, who died in 1839. The subject, the wife of a wealthy Rochdale wool merchant turned banker lived from 1788 to 1853. I am guessing that, as a member of a provincial newly rich family, she may have been trying a little too hard to be fashionable. This image was taken before the polyurethane varnish was removed and the picture cleaned.

 

[Ushy M]

Its certainly tempting and I have always had the urge to put a tea cosy on my head.

Quite right too. I think it was Billy Connolly who said "Never trust a man who, when left alone with a tea cosy, doesn't try it on." Mr M certainly does, every morning, whilst making a refreshing pot of Prince of Wales tea. Unfortunately he answered the door to the postlady some time ago, completely forgetting he was still wearing it. She still doubles up laughing every time she sees him around the village. :lol:

 

[JoceAndChris]

Since we are on the subject of Regency dress I wonder if anyone can help me date this picture:

Obvously I'm not a period costume expert. But, looking at those wide sleeves and the elaborate hat, I would say 1830s. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1830s_in_fashion#Hairstyles_and_Headgear That would also put your subject in her forties, which looks about right to me. (a degree of flattery expected from the artist in editing out lines and giving her a good colour). What a beautiful painting it is, you're lucky to have it.

 

[Nigel Watts]

Thanks for that. I agree she could be 40ish. I found the picture (an ancestor's sister in law) on e-bay but had to give it to my mother because my wife hated it. It's a long story which I might write up on my blog one day. Here is another, presumably later, portrait of her. This one, togther with one of her husband, used to hang in William's & Glynns bank in Rochdale but was removed to the vaults of the RBS archive, where a kind archivist took this pic for me. I dont know the artist. Would this be 1840s I wonder?

 

[JoceAndChris]

You should write the story up on your blog.

I think that picture is later than 1840s. In the 1850s, according to Wikipedia "The indoor cap became little more than a lace and ribbon frill worn on the back of the head." The sleeves are much less pronounced.

Your subject has lost a good deal of weight, and is in full mourning. I wonder who had died. I think she's 15-20 years older than in the previous portrait.

Of course all of that is just speculation, but how fascinating!

 

[Nigel Watts]

This is the other end of the room for which I have been making the curtains (currently set up as my workroom). The bookcases are in oak (solid and hand veneered) and are my magnum ops as far as furniture making goes. They took many years to complete and I never want to take on anything like this again. I will eventually give this window the same treatment as the one I have just finished.

I think the bookcases could look good if I added some busts on top. This was often done in 19thC libraries. They need to be at least five of them, in a similar style, perhaps a fraction over 12 inches tall - possibly with a black finish. I have been Googling but not found any UK supplier that I like yet. Any ideas?

 

[DaveBrigg]

I've googled 'black busts' and '12 inches' too, but none of the 6 million hits would seem to be appropriate for your bookcase.

 

[Moo]

Try googling "Classsical sculpture reproductions"

 

[Nigel Watts]

Which upholstery material for my chaise longue? The green in the middle is the wallpaper, the yellow above the curtain fabric and the tassle the curtain trimming. I am leaning towards the one on the top left (100% cotton from Gainsborough Silks). Grateful for any throughts.

 

[JoceAndChris]

They're all lovely and I'm sure would all add their own charm to the mix - but I agree top left!

The stripey is a bit too bold for me. (though could be cushions) The green on the bottom right is a bit too clashing with your wallpaper, it's less muted. The yellow on the bottom left looks a bit mustardy. The yellow in the middle of that bottom row is wonderful but for me the pattern is too much the same as your wallpaper - I think contrast looks better, which the geometric design of the top left gives.

In general I think most rooms can only get away with one large floral or foliate design, the other patterns should then be stripes, checks, small spot or tiny sprig - but I know that's a very conservative view and when I see a riot of colour and pattern elsewhere I always think I'm a bit straightjacketed in my taste!

 

[Nigel Watts]

Thanks to your good advice earlier I went for the yellow silk curtains rather than something else which I now realise would not have worked. Your observation about pattern is most helpful. My problem is that I dont pull my designs together enough, unlike yours which are beautifully coordinated. Curtains and upholstery fabrics are a big commitment so getting them right is key.

In terms of durability would a heavy cotton weave be better than a silk or a silk/cotton mix? I am guessing it would.

 

[JoceAndChris]

I think you get it pretty perfect all by yourself actually! But yes, always nice to run ideas by other people when it's a big purchase.

Heavy cotton weave is more durable than silk or silk and cotton, but if it's a little used piece, you don't have pets, and it's not sitting in full sun it shouldn't matter.

So glad to hear you're pleased with the colour of the curtains, such a lovely, happy colour!

 

[jocelyn plummer]

Joce, you really must take a peek at that house I told you about--- it beats all interior finishes!!

 

[JoceAndChris]

Doesn't it just! :shock:

 

[jocelyn plummer]

There has to be a story line there!

 

[Nigel Watts]

Ladies I need your help again!

I spent my lunchbreak yesterday having two strong young men in the Liberty's carpet department shift an entire pile of rugs for me to have good look at. My favorite was this one, Caucasian, c. 1930, about twelve feet by seven.

Its not a flattering photo, but it does contain some green and gold (the predominant colours in my room).
However will it go here?

It's not cheap so I dont want to get it wrong. I am now worried about the dark blue.

 

[Nigel Watts]

Slightly better pic in colour terms:

 

[Jill]

I'm not sure, if it were more green than blue then maybe yes. Is the design of the carpet supposed to be symetrical as the picture above looks odd, or is it the way it has been laid on the floor?

 

[JoceAndChris]

Noooooo don't buy it. It's beautiful, and would look great in a neutral scheme or in a room with walls composed entirely of book shelves, or dark wood panels, but in your room, it will be no more harmonious than your current system of rugs. The dominant colour is red.

Sorry, but I don't think these bright traditional rugs work except in their own right as the main feature. When you look at pics of them for sale on websites they're always in very plain rooms.

If it was my room, I'd get something in as plain a gold as you can find: http://www.johnlewis.com/10163/Product.aspx?SearchTerm=RecentlyViewedList is an example of what I mean, but I think you can do better than that.

 

[Moo]

Nigel - I've just done a bit of crude photoshopping on the pictures of your room and the rug, to give some idea of how the colours would look. Unfortunately I've not yet got to grips with posting pictures, so if you'd be good enough to pm me your e-mail address I'll be able to get it to you that way.

xx M