18th-century – 5-Minute History

16 Stunning Sofas from the 18th and 19th Centuries

October 9, 2016May 13, 2023 David James 18th-century, 19th century, furniture

Today, furniture fills our living and working spaces. It makes a statement about our taste for practicality and aesthetics. But it

The Georgian Era

Mr Darcy’s Shirt

September 29, 2016August 29, 2023 David James 18th-century, Jane Austen, Mr Darcy

This is the famous Regency period shirt that turned British actor Colin Firth into an international heartthrob virtually overnight. Affectionately

The Georgian Era

20 Enchanting Paintings of Regency England by Edmund Blair Leighton

September 28, 2016May 13, 2023 David James 18th-century, Georgian Era, paintings, Regency

Perhaps no painter captures the romance of the English Regency better than Edmund Blair Leighton. Just as we, today, are

The Georgian Era Victorian Era

10 Fascinating Facts About Chinoiserie

September 19, 2016May 13, 2023 David James 18th-century, 19th century, chonoiserie

1. Chinoiserie was once the most coveted fashion of the aristocracy During the 17th and 18th centuries, Europeans became fascinated with

The Georgian Era

The “Beau Monde” High Fashion of the 18th Century

August 20, 2016May 13, 2023 David James 18th-century, Dresses, Napoleon

On August 1, 1714, Queen Anne of Great Britain drew her last breath, and the first of a series of Georges

The Georgian Era

The Colorful Shoes of the 18th Century

July 9, 2016May 13, 2023 David James 18th-century, Fashion, shoes

Adorned with decadent decorative arts and steeped in affectation, it’s no surprise that the French Court led European preference for elaborate clothing

The Georgian Era Victorian Era

Portrait Miniatures: Intimate Expressions of Love

June 3, 2016May 13, 2023 David James 18th-century, Jane Austen, Portrait Miniatures, Quotes

Portrait miniatures were popular among 16th-century English and French aristocrats.Spreading across Europe in the 18th century, miniatures remained very popular

The Georgian Era

The Last of the Mohicans: A Sweeping Romance from the Seven Years’ War

May 18, 2016May 13, 2023 David James 18th-century, movies, Period Drama

The challenge with historical drama for Hollywood movie studios is to make it appealing to a mass audience. Too much

Victorian Era

The Magical Miniature World of Antique Dollhouses

May 9, 2016May 13, 2023 David James 18th-century, 19th century, Dollhouses

Welcome to the magical world of antique dollhouses. Early dollhouses were elaborate European cabinet-style “baby house” display cases. The 17th-century dollhouse