lunedì 10 ottobre 2016

~ VICTORIAN AGE CURIOSITIES IV ~






Da tempo non dedico un post a questo argomento che ha 

suscitato la vostra simpatia ed il vostro interesse nelle tre 

pubblicazioni precedenti, 
perciò vado certa nell'antologizzare per la quarta volta una 

raccolta di curiosità che risalgono all'epoca vittoriana ... 
buona lettura !



☞ Quando la fotografia iniziò a decollare catturò l'immaginazione del pubblico. Per tutta la metà del XIX°secolo una mania crescente si diffuse tra i borghesi, quella di farsi fare ritratti fotografici da trasformare in carte da visita conosciute con il nome di 'carte de visite' o 'pho'. Le persone scambiavano questi ritratti con la famiglia e con gli amici e conservavano le loro collezioni in album appositamente realizzati. 
Quando questo hobby crebbe in popolarità divenne di moda raccogliere stampe commerciali di personaggi famosi e influenti come artisti, attori, politici, e regali.


☞ When photography began to take off, it captured the public imagination. Throughout the mid-19th century a craze developed for people to have portrait photographs taken of themselves and made into visiting card-sized prints. Such a print was known as a carte de visite or ‘pho’. People exchanged these portraits with family and friends and displayed their collections in specially made albums. As this hobby increased in popularity it became fashionable to collect and trade prints of famous and influential people such as artists, actors, politicians, and royalty.



☞ La macchina per cucire tascabile Moldacot venne realizzata alla fine del 1880. Questa piccola e pratica macchina per cucire è stata creata per fare piccoli ritocchi agli abiti su misura, al tempo così in voga. Moldacot produsse fino a 60.000 di queste piccolissime macchine, ma il loro progetto non fu mai completamente portato a termine e quindi il loro successo fu decisamente scarso e non molte ne vennero vendute. 
Purtroppo l'azienda si trovò in ginocchio dopo soli due anni, con una perdita di £ 50.000 !


☞ The Moldacot pocket sewing machine made in the late 1880s. This sewing machine was developed for use during fitting sessions to made small adjustments to tailored clothing. Moldacot produced up to 60,000 of these machines, however their design was not fully developed and so their performance was poor and not many were sold. The company folded after only 2 years, with a loss of £50,000.





☞  'WITCH SWIMMING' era una delle numerose prove, in realtà erano sette, cui una persona sospetta di stregoneria era forzata a sottoporsi e la così detta "prova dell'acqua" era una pratica antica secondo la quale i criminali e gli stregoni, ossia coloro che erano creduti tali, venivano gettati in fiumi impetuosi per consentire ad un potere superiore di decidere della loro vita. 
Tale pratica fu vietata in molti paesi europei già nel Medioevo, per poi riemergere nel XVII° secolo come verifica di stregoneria, e persistette in alcuni luoghi per buona parte del XVIII° secolo. Ad esempio, nel 1710, venne utilizzata come prova contro una donna ungherese di nome Dorko Boda, che fu poi percossa e bruciata sul rogo come strega.

Il famigerato "test di nuoto" constava di quanto segue:
le 'streghe' venivano trascinate al corso d'acqua più prossimo, spogliate dei loro indumenti intimi, legate e poi gettate in acqua per vedere se affondavano o galleggiavano: dal momento che le streghe si credeva avessero respinto il sacramento del battesimo, si pensava che l'acqua avrebbe respinto il loro corpo e impedito loro di rimanere sommerse. Secondo questa logica, una persona innocente avrebbe dovuto affondare come una pietra ed una strega sarebbe dovuta galleggiare a pelo d'acqua. Pensate che la vittima aveva una corda legata intorno alla vita in modo che potesse essere estratta dall'acqua qualora affondasse, ma non era insolito che accadesse che taluni annegassero accidentalmente. 

L'ultima prova del genere che ebbe luogo in Inghilterra è datata 1863 e si tenne nel villaggio di Sible Hedingham nell'Essex. Un anziano vagabondo, sordo e muto, conosciuto solo come Dummy, che si procurava danaro  predicendo il futuro, fu accusato di lanciare incantesimi. La moglie del locandiere locale sosteneva che la sua influenza malvagia l'avesse soggiogata per ben 10 mesi. 

Quando rifiutò di rimuovere l'incantesimo dagli abitanti del villaggio, costoro, incoraggiati dal falegname locale, lo picchiarono e lo trascinarono fino al torrente locale, dove è stato più volte gettato in acqua. Fu quindi condotto alla capanna di fango che aveva usato come rifugio e dove poco dopo ebbe un collasso per polmonite e shock. La moglie del locandiere ed il falegname furono riconosciuti colpevoli della la sua morte e furono condannati ciascuno a sei mesi di prigione con lavori forzati.



A Visit to the Witch 1882, by Edward Frederick Brewtnall (1846 - 1902)


 Witch swimming derived from the “trial by water,” an ancient practice where suspected criminals and sorcerers were thrown into rushing rivers to allow a higher power to decide their fate. This custom was banned in many European counties in the Middle Ages, only to reemerge in the 17th century as a witch experiment, and it persisted in some locales well into the 18th century. For example, in 1710, the swimming test was used as evidence against a Hungarian woman named Dorko Boda, who was later beaten and burned at the stake as a witch.

As part of the infamous “swimming test,” accused witches were dragged to the nearest body of water, stripped to their undergarments, bound and then tossed in to to see if they would sink or float. Since witches were believed to have spurned the sacrament of baptism, it was thought that the water would reject their body and prevent them from submerging. According to this logic, an innocent person would sink like a stone, but a witch would simply bob on the surface. The victim typically had a rope tied around their waist so they could be pulled from the water if they sank, but it wasn’t unusual for accidental drowning deaths to occur.

The last trial by ‘swimming’ of a suspected witch in England took place in the Essex village of Sible Hedingham in 1863. An elderly deaf and mute tramp, known only as Dummy, who made money by telling fortunes, was accused of casting spells. The local innkeeper’s wife claimed his evil influence had made her ill for 10 months. When he supposedly refused to remove the spell the villagers, encouraged by the local carpenter, beat him and dragged him to the local brook where he was repeatedly thrown into the water. He was then taken back to the mud hut he had been using as a shelter. A short while later he died of pneumonia and shock. The innkeeper’s wife and the carpenter were found guilty of causing his death and were each sentenced to 6 months’ imprisonment with hard labour. 




☞ Nell'immagine sottostante potete vedere due asciugacapelli in gres porcellanato 'Thermicon' con manici in legno datati fine XIX° secolo. Come fossero bottiglie, tali 'asciugatori' venivano colmati di acqua riscaldata e richiusi con un tappo. A differenza di una bottiglia di acqua calda con essi venivano ripetutamente spazzolati i capelli bagnati che, secondo quanto reca scritto l'etichetta su di essi, si sarebbero asciugati in pochi minuti; essi rimasero in uso fino circa il 1920 quando furono gradualmente sostituiti da nuovi modelli elettrici.


☞ Two late 19th century ‘Thermicon’ glazed stoneware hairdryers with wooden handles. Like a hot water bottle, the dryer was filled with hot water and stoppered. Unlike a hot water bottle it was then repeatedly brushed through wet hair. According to its label this action dried the hair in minutes. Stoneware hairdryers were in use until the 1920s when they were gradually replaced by new electric models.




☞ Quando la rete ferroviaria iniziò a diffondersi nella campagna britannica intorno al 1830 il benessere dei residenti rurali (sia umani che animalifu oggetto di grande discussione e preoccupazione. I detrattori delle Ferrovie sostenevano che il trambusto causato dai treni avrebbe turbato le mucche procurando un calo nella produzione di latte e che il fumo di carbone emesso dalle locomotive facesse annerire il mantello lanoso delle pecore.



Julien Dupré (1851-1910), Laitières au pâturage - Milking Time


☞ When the railway network began to spread out into the British countryside in the 1830s the welfare of rural residents (both human and animal) was of great concern. Detractors of the railways said that the commotion caused by the trains would upset cows and cause a decline in milk production and that sheep would turn black from the smoke.





☞ Tra le tante curiosità che facevano mostra di sé alla Great Exibition di Londra, fortemente voluta nel 1851 dal Principe Consorte Albert, vi era il Tempest Prognosticator o Leech Barometer. Inventato dal Dr. George Merryweather era uno strumento progettato per prevedere le tempeste. All'interno di ciascuno dei 12 vasi in vetro messi alla base dello strumento vi era un pollice di acqua e una 'sanguisuga medicinale'; essendo le sanguisughe molto sensibili alle variazioni del tempo, quando una tempesta si sarebbe avvicinata istintivamente esse si sarebbero spinte verso l'alto attivando un innesco all'interno del loro vaso che avrebbe mosso una catena d'oro che faceva suonare il campanello posto in cima allo strumento allertando quindi per l'imminente pericolo. Quanto più la tempesta era prossima, tanto più le sanguisughe si agitavano ed il campanello collocato in cima allo strumento suonava.
Anche se geniale, questo strumento non riscosse alcun successo.


☞ The Tempest Prognosticator or Leech Barometer. Displayed at The Great Exhibition by Dr George Merryweather it was an instrument designed to predict storms. Inside each of the 12 glass jars at its base was an inch of water and a medicinal leech. Leeches are sensitive to changes in weather and when a storm approached they instinctively crawled upwards and activated a trigger inside their jar. This released a gold chain which then rang the bell at the top of the instrument and alerted an attendant to the danger. The closer the storm was the more agitated the leeches became and the more the bell would ring. Though ingenious, the device did not catch on.





☞ Già trattando del significato particolare che aveva la capigliatura nell'immaginario collettivo vi parlai di come i Victorians vivevano il lutto, ossia in modo decisamente differente da come lo viviamo noi oggi: si corredavano di monili fatti con oggetti dei defunti, li fotografavano in pose analoghe a quelle che avrebbero avuto da vivi, etc, insomma, va detto che da questo punto di vista sono cambiate moltissime cose ... forse dovremmo dire per fortuna ...
La fotografia sopra vi mostra un anello da lutto con la lunetta  a forma di teschio con 'occhi' in smalto rosso: la lettera 'M' che sembra fargli da naso ci porta a pensare che tale fosse l'iniziale del nome del defunto.



Ma quello di quest'altra foto reca, al posto della pietra, l'occhio di vetro del defunto ... ahimè, quanto sono cambiati i gusti da allora !


☞ It was dealing with the special meaning that the hair had in the collective imagination during the Victorian age that I already told you how the Victorians lived mourning, ie in very different way from how we live it today: they were used to wear jewelry made with the dead objects, photographing them in poses similar to those who would have had as if they were alive, etc, in short, it must be said that from this point of view so many things have changed ... we should say fortunately ...

The photo above shows a mourning ring with bezel-shaped skull with 'eyes' in red enamel: the letter 'M' that seems to be its nose leads us to think that this was the inizial of the name of the deceased.

But what this other photo bears, instead of the stone, is the deceased's eye of glass ... for sure, how tastes have changed since then !




☞ Durante il lungo viaggio intrapreso per mare da Roma a Pechino dove il marito aveva ottenuto un incarico diplomatico nel 1900, Lady Susan Townley notò la popolarità dei giochi di società - Parlour Games - a bordo della sua nave. Musical Chairs che potremmo tradurre come 'sedie musicali' era uno dei preferiti dai passeggeri, dati anche i movimenti improvvisi della nave che spesso inducevano le giovani donne a cadere in grembo a valorosi ufficiali. Lady Susan ebbe ad osservare, inoltre, che, per coincidenza, ci furono un numero sorprendente di fidanzamenti prima che il viaggio giungesse a termine.


 On her long sea voyage from Rome to her husband’s diplomatic posting in Peking (now Beijing) in 1900, Lady Susan Townley noted the popularity of parlour games onboard ship. Musical chairs was a particular favourite, as sudden movements of the vessel could be blamed for young ladies falling into the laps of the ship’s gallant officers. Lady Susan remarked that, coincidentally, there were a surprising number of engagements before the end of the journey.




☞ Borsa interamente realizzata con semi di melone. La borsa è a forma di cesto, con una maniglia tubolare e un lembo in alto. Il lembo è decorato con semi di melone che formano un anello di fiori. Il pulsante rotondo è fatto di semi di melone cuciti. I semi sono cuciti insieme con un filo pesante: un foro è stato fatto ad ogni estremità di ciascun seme affinché il filo vi possa passare attraverso. La maniglia ha al suo interno filo di seta avvolto con l'intento di mantenere la sua forma. La borsa non è foderata. Il bordo superiore sembra essere irrigidito con filo di seta avvolto in un involucro di tessuto ecru, probabilmente in seta.
Più di 1.000 semi di melone sono stati usati per comporre questa borsa così insolita. La borsa è stato donata alla Staten Island Historical Society nel 1953 dalla proprietà dell'avvocato Frank I. Smith, che ha vissuto con la sua famiglia in Jewett Avenue a Westerleigh, Staten Island.

Gli elenchi di oggettistica inseriti nelle mostre dal 1820 al 1850 includono numerosi esempi di borse fatte semi di melone, e alcuni esempi di cesti di semi di melone.

Immagini e testo in questo database sono di proprietà della Staten Island Historical Society, salvo diversa indicazione. I prodotti qui rappresentati sono dalle collezioni della Staten Island Historical Society. 





☞ Purse made of melon seeds. The purse is shaped like a basket, with a loop handle and a flap at top. The flap is decorated with melon seeds formed into flower-like loops. The round button is stitched from melon seeds. The seeds are sewn together with a heavy thread; a hole is pierced into each end of each seed for the thread to pass through. The handle has silk-wrapped wire inside to hold its shape. The purse is not lined. The top edge appears to be stiffened with silk-wrapped wire in a casing made of ecru fabric, probably silk. 
More than 1,000 melon seeds were used to make this unusual purse. The purse was donated to the Staten Island Historical Society in 1953 by the estate of attorney Frank I. Smith, who lived with his family on Jewett Avenue in Westerleigh, Staten Island.

Lists of fancy goods entered in exhibitions from the 1820s through the 1850s include numerous examples of melon seed bags, and a few examples of melon seed baskets.

Images and text in this database are copyrighted by the Staten Island Historical Society unless otherwise noted. Items represented here are from the collections of the Staten Island Historical Society. 




☞ La prima serie di semafori che la storia ci consegna fu inventata da John Peake Knight ed installata vicino al Palazzo di Westminster nel 1868 per consentire ai politici di attraversare in sicurezza la strada da percorrere per entrare in parlamento. Il semaforo era costituito da bracci che venivano sollevati al segnale di arresto per l'uso diurno e lampade a gas verde e rosso per l'uso notturno. Il dispositivo era azionato manualmente da un poliziotto e fu inizialmente di successo anche se profondamente impopolare presso gli assidui frequentatori della strada, in particolare i tassisti. Tuttavia, nel 1869 si verificarono una serie di fughe di gas che condussero ad un'esplosione che ferì il poliziotto addetto alle luci. Il dispositivo fu quindi rimosso in seguito a problemi di sicurezza.


☞ The world’s first set of traffic lights were developed by John Peake Knight and installed near to the Palace of Westminster in 1868 to allow politicians to safely cross the busy road to enter Parliament. The lights took the form of a set of semaphore arms (which would be raised to signal stop) for daytime use and green and red gas lamps for night-time use. The device was manually operated by a policeman and was initially successful (although deeply unpopular with road goers, particularly cab drivers). However, in 1869 there were a series of gas leaks that led to an explosion which injured the policeman operating the lights. The device was later removed due to safety concerns.




Immagine di una tazza da tè in porcellana incrinata e riparata con punti metallici. 
Prima dell'invenzione di affidabili colle forti, alla fine del XIX° e agli inizi del XX° secolo le riparazioni su ceramica venivano effettuate con rivetti metallici o graffette. Piccolissimi trapani a mano venivano attentamente utilizzati per compiere fori su entrambi i lati della fessura in porcellana; un fiocco o rivetto veniva quindi riscaldato e successivamente inserito nei fori. Una volta raffreddato il metallo si contraeva, tirando così i pezzi rotti e facendoli combaciare in una riparazione molto stabile. Eventuali rimanenti lacune venivano colmate con dello stucco.


☞ A cracked china teacup which has been repaired with staples. Before the invention of reliably strong glues in the 20th century ceramic repairs were carried out with metal rivets or staples. Tiny hand drills were carefully used to bore holes on either side of the crack in the porcelain. A staple or rivet was heated and then inserted into the holes. As the metal cooled it contracted, thereby pulling the broken pieces together and forming a very stable repair. Any remaining gaps would be filled in with plaster.



Chissà se anche questa volta sono riuscita a farvi trascorrere qualche momento in spensieratezza ... me lo auguro di cuore !
Vi lascio con un caloroso abbraccio,

a presto 💕




I wonder if also this time I made you spend some time in lightheartedness and leisure ... 
I hope so very much !

I'm  leaving you with my warmest hug,

see you soon 💕






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52 commenti:

  1. Dearest Daniela, I love all the photos and vintage items! The sewing machine and the teacup are amazing! It is fascinating how much we have progressed over the years. Some progress is good, some not so good. Thank you so much for sharing, my cherished friend. Much love and hugs to you.

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Linda
      you and the sweetness of your soul are such a blessing to me, I'm so very grateful for your faithful presence by my side, dearest friend !

      Hope your week is off to a lovely start,
      I'm thinking of you with much, so much love ಌ•❤•ಌ

      Elimina
  2. Riesci sempre a trovare notizie e immagini assolutamente interessanti, originali, anche impressionanti...sei una fonte inesauribile di notizie e curiosità!!!! ed è sempre un immenso piacere passare da te, un abbraccio grande e buona settimana mia dolce e cara amica . Lory

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Lory
      felicissima di riuscire sempre a catturare il tuo entusiasmo con quanto pubblico, contraccambio con tutto il cuore il tuo abbraccio, che ti accompagni per questa nuova settimana da trascorrere insieme, carissima, adorabile amica mia !

      ... ed un bacio grande a te ♡ஐ♡

      Elimina
  3. Ma si che ci sei riuscita carissima Daniela! E' tutto così....strepitoso. In particolare mi hanno colpito l'asciugacapelli e la borsina con i semi di melone.
    Ma che bel post, grazie.
    Un abbraccione e buon inizio di settimana
    Susanna

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Susanna
      mia dolce, anche tu sei sempre così fedelmente al mio fianco ... qualsiasi sia l'argomento di ciò che pubblico leggere la gioia che recano le tue parole mi riempie il cuore, te ne sono immensamente grata !

      E che la tua settimana sia prodiga di letizia e di serenità, te lo auguro con tanto affetto e riconoscenza ♥∗✿∗♥

      Elimina
  4. The history of witch accusations is sad in this country too, but we must remember the sad parts of history too. But except for that part, the rest of this post made me smile Out loud ))) . I've seen some of those mourning pieces and hair jewelry in museums.... yes, thank goodness times changed. That melon seed purse is really crazy! Can you imagine the work involved in that? And the sore fingers from those heavy needles? (I hate to sew and never do it. It is a good thing for me that I did not live in those times ;)).)

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Sallie
      dearest friend of mine, there are so many chapters in our history talking about the persecution of those poor women who were believed to be witches, alas ! What a sadness when superstition drives a man's hand !

      As for the little purse, I have to admit that I so love sewing, but I think I wouldn't be able to find the patience necessary for put together such a masterpiece, oh my world !

      Hope your week is off to a god start,
      I'm sending blessings of joy on your coming days,
      with so, so much thankfulness ❥

      Elimina
  5. Great historical post, I was fascinated by the Leech Barometern not only ingenious but even beautiful. The 'Milking Time'painting of Julien Dupré is great, should like to have it on a wall......
    Thank you Dany I always enjoy your history writings, images and music so much.
    Wish you a wonderful week full of writing inspiration.

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Janneke
      it is I who want to thank you, this morning, darling, for gracing my blog both with your lovely presence and with your words of enjoyment and appreciation, thank you !

      Sending my dearest love ❀≼♥≽❀

      Elimina
  6. What an interesting post! It was interesting to hear of these rather fascinating inventions that didn't quite make the popular vote, and some of them quite glad they didn't such as the eyeglass jewelry, oh my! Thank you for sharing the very interesting history, and also for including the English translation under each picture, as that makes it so much easier to read :) Hugs to you today dear Dany, praying all is well with you :)

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ SpicingUpIdaho
      it's such a deep joy to me to have captured your interest and to have amused you during these minutes, my wonderful friend, you've filled my heart to overflowing !

      May your week ahead be filled with much joy,
      sending love and hugs to you
      with utmost gratitude ♡❤♡

      Elimina
  7. Your blog is so special, and I like it a lot 🌸
    I send You my warmest hugs and wish You a joyful day.

    Lone

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Lone
      my dearest, you also are so very special, and I cherish you so much for this !

      ⊰♥⊱ Sending all my love to you ⊰♥⊱

      Elimina
  8. Dear Dany, some very interesting inventions indeed. Loved the small sewing machine! Wonder if the leech barometer actually worked, an amazing piece of art.
    Very sad what was done to so called witches in times past. People could and still can be very cruel.
    Not keen on displaying a deceased loved ones glass eye!
    Have a wonderful week :)x

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Prunella
      I have to admit that I also couldn't wear those rings, for sure, so many things have changed in our culture ... in this case I say fortunately !!!

      Sending hugs and ever much love to you ✿⊱╮

      Elimina
  9. Liebe Dany,
    was für Kurositäten! Ich würde einen solchen Haartrockner, den elektrischen Modellen sofort vorziehen.
    Und das Melonenkerntäschchen...eine Wucht. Ich habe als Kind daraus Ketten gebastelt.
    War wieder eine wundervolle Reise in die Vergangenheit.
    Drück dich ganz lieb und hab es fein,
    Manuela

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Manuela
      GELIBTE FREUNDIN
      what a joy to welcome you here today, your enthusiasm and your amusement put a smile on my face ... I'm so very grateful to you !

      Hope you're having a most wonderful Monday ever,
      I'm sending hugs and more hugs to you
      LIEBE GRÜßE ღ•❤•ღ

      Elimina
  10. Proprio un post curioso ... meriterebbe un posto d'onore tra le pagine della Settimana Enigmistica ! (c'è una rubrica dedicata a curiosità di questo genere)
    Sempre un piacere seguirti ,
    Franca

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Franca
      il piacere è il mio, carissima, averti qui è sempre una gioia immensa !

      Che la tua settimana sia prodiga di serenità,
      te lo auguro di vero cuore ༺♡❀♡༻

      Elimina
  11. A most interesting post, dear Dany !
    I knew about the witches ... oh my, horrible !
    Wishing you a wonderful week, my friend !
    Hugs,
    Sylvia

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Sylvia
      you said it, simply horrible, so many women and men died during this so called 'test', as you can imagine !

      Sending my dearest love on your new week, darling friend,
      it's always such a inner joy to welcome you here ⊰✽*✽⊱

      Elimina
  12. Querida Dany:
    fiquei muito contente em visitar seu blog e ler tantas curiosidades.
    fico imaginando quantas facilidades temos hoje , então podemos nos sentir mais agradecidos.
    achei muito interessante o secador de cabelos !!!
    a pequena máquina de costura também achei bem interessante..
    obrigada pelo post .
    grande abraço .
    grazie !!!

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Kr.Eliane
      GRAZIE A TE CARISSIMA AMICA !

      •♥•♥•♥• Com o meu coração eu abraçar seu apertado •♥•♥•♥•

      Elimina
  13. Absolutely fascinating, I kept reading bits out to my husband. Thank you for sharing xx

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Cheryl
      you're so heartily welcome and your words are such a honour to me, I sincerely thank you !

      Hope you're having a lovely day, today,
      I'm sending hugs and love on your days to come ಌ❀ಌ

      Elimina
  14. Wow, fascinating items! That hair dryer is a neat idea, but the glass eye is too weird! There were some cases of trial by water during the Salem Witch Trials, I believe.

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Linda
      thanks most sincerely for visiting and for being here always with your historic interest and enthusiasm, sweetest friend !
      As for the swimming test, you're right, till it was used to prove the 'nature' of a human being, many drowned, of course, indeed, most of those who were tested, alas !

      Sending blessings of joy on your week just begun,
      with utmost gratitude ❥

      Elimina
  15. Oh Dany what a delightful post! It is so full of interesting facts.

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Decor To Adore
      I'm overjoyed by your words, dearest Laura, they mean so, so much to me !

      I trust you're having a beautiful day and
      I'm sending my dearest love to you,
      may your days to come be filled with joy and wonder ✿⊱╮

      Elimina
  16. You always come up with the most remarkable and fascinating posts and this one is no exception. Gee, if I had a wee sewing machine like that for my table, I might actually sew! I thought the idea of musical chairs for a ship was interesting -- imagine playing that one in rough waters! All in all just the kind of post that makes me smile -- and teaches me something. How I love that!

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Jeanie
      and I love you, dearest, wonderful friend of mine, you're the joy itself, blessed be !

      May your week be as Beautiful as you, sweetie ♡❤♡

      Elimina
  17. Such an interesting post, my dear Dany! The leech barometer is quite attractive if you didn't know what was in the bottles! The melon seed purse is so intricate and I am amazed that it has lasted so long without getting eaten by some little creature along the way:) It is so sad about the persecution of the witches. Mankind seems to have a long history of persecutions leading up to this day.. It breaks my heart. I would love one of those little sewing devices - if only it worked! Did you know my daughter shares your name? - Heather Danielle. Sending hugs to you xo Karen

    RispondiElimina
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    1. @ Karen
      I also feel so charmed by the leech barometer, I wonder how lovely it would be on an ancient piece of forniture, but, of course, I haven't to think about the leeches it once contained, oh my !

      As for your daughter, I'm sincerely honoured to have her same name, indeed, hers is much more beautiful, her first name is Heather ... it is so lovely !

      Enjoy your new week, dearie,
      may it bring much joy to you ♥∗✿∗♥

      Elimina
  18. Assolutamente deliziata! Mi ha colpito tutto e sono rimasta particolarmente incantata dagli insoliti asciugacapelli. Grazie per aver proposto un post molto curioso.
    Bacioni Alessandra

    RispondiElimina
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    1. @ Alessandra
      che gioia leggere il tuo compiacimento ... che soddisfazione mi doni con le tue parole, carissima !

      Ti abbraccio con il cuore augurandoti una serata all'insegna della letizia più vera e profonda ... grazie ༺❀༻

      Elimina
  19. Dany dear, what a beautiful post! The Victorian era is so fascinating. As always, I have learned something from your post -- this is the first I've ever heard of repairing china with staples!

    RispondiElimina
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    1. @ Jean
      dearest, wonderful friend of mine, what a delight to read your so beautiful words, they mean so much to me and fill my heart with such a deep gladness, thank you !!!

      Hope you're having a most beautiful Monday ever,
      I'm sending blessings of joy on the remainder of your week *•♥*♥•*

      Elimina
  20. The barometer with leeches is amazing. I wonder how often they had to replace the leeches?
    So many interesting inventions. But I am happy we don't wear rings like those today.
    Sending hugs my friend.

    RispondiElimina
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    1. @ annie
      you made me laugh !
      I also love not to have to wear such rings, I really couldn't ツ !

      So very glad to have caught your interest once more and to have amused you, I'm sending hugs and ever much love to you ♡ஐ♡

      Elimina
  21. Dany, my dear, lovely friend, what a delight to read visit you on this beautiful autumn day. I so enjoyed this post simply because I find the Victorian era fascinating. I always learn something new for you and your wonderful posts.

    I trust you are well, sweetest friend. Have a blessed week. Love and hugs!

    RispondiElimina
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    1. @ Stephanie
      dearest one, a delight is to welcome you here today, you always grace my blog, sweetest friend of mine, always, for you bring the sunshine on this page, blessed be !

      Wishing you all my best for your Monday,
      I'm sending blessings across the many miles on your days to come ❥

      Elimina
  22. Once again my dear you have shared a very interesting post. That pocket sewing machine is so neat, too bad it didn't take off, it takes almost no room for storage :) Oh my the stories about the poor people accused of being a witch, we went to Salem and learned about the witch trials they had over here also, even attended a re enactment of a witch trial. The hairdryer is so interesting, so many talented inventors! Speaking of talented, wow that weather predictor is amazing, and so cool looking also!
    The purse is so creative and talented, great design ! I can't imagine being the policeman that had to stand and operate the first traffic lights, must have been a scary job, just hoping that it didn't have an accident. I had never heard of the stapling of tea cups either, wow it seems like they would be to delicate to use this procedure on them to fix a crack.
    I hope you are blessed with a wonderful and relaxing weekend to come!

    RispondiElimina
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    1. @ Conniecrafter
      here's my favorite artist !
      What a wonderful good morning to me, dearie, your inner joy always put me in such high spirits, it's contagious, thank you !

      With the deepest gratitude ever,
      I'm sending all my love to you,
      may your week be blessed with gladness ಌ•❤•ಌ

      Elimina
  23. My dear, precious friend! Oh, I feel SO bad that it has been SO very long since I have visited with you here! I think of you and intend to visit, but our world has sort of been turned upside down, and I have just failed to keep up with a lot of people this summer and fall. Please forgive me, and know that you are always in my heart. Thank you for another lovely post. I always enjoy my visits here and hope all is well with you, dear friend. :)

    RispondiElimina
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    1. @ Cheryl
      you haven't to be worried for this, dear, darling friend, I've always been thinking of you with much love, even if my Summer too was very busy and I had a break for more than a month during the 'hottest' period, and lately, this Fall of ours has begun quite sadly ... anyway, here I am, always feeling so blessed both by your presence and your so lovely words.

      With utmost gratitude I'm wishing you and your dear ones a most beautiful week, may it be filled with all the serenity you deserve, sweetest friend of mine ✿⊱╮

      Elimina
  24. Ciao Daniela, torno sempre volentieri al tuo blog per scoprire cose nuove e interessanti, mi ha impressionato (non poco) l'occhio di vetro del defunto... e ho trovato deliziosa la borsetta fatta con i semi di melone! Quanta pazienza.
    A presto.
    Anna Maria

    RispondiElimina
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    1. @ Anna Maria
      buongiorno carissima e benvenuta, sono sempre così lieta di accoglierti qui tra noi !

      Felice di avere catturato il tuo interesse, ti auguro una giornata colma di serenità, ringraziandoti come sempre ♡❤♡

      Elimina
  25. Deaerst Dany,

    BONSOIR!!! I just saw that you came by my blog....thank you so much for doing that. I know everyone is so busy these days, (I know I am!) but it's lovely to encounter our blog friends again. I hope you are well? How I love your music, your celebration of what once was, what has marked our society, and how beautiful it all is....Absolutely fascinating your world of Victorian sensibilities! BLessings to you dearest Dany! Anita

    RispondiElimina
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    1. @ Anita
      darling friend, thanks most sincerely both for visiting and for leaving such a lovely comment, you truly filled my heart !

      Hope you're having the best of weeks, I'm sending hugs and more hugs to you, may they reach you in spite of the many miles separating us ❀≼♥≽❀

      Elimina
  26. Bellissimo blog complimenti lo visito spesso e ne rimango estasiato.

    Un saluto assai cordiale
    Francesco3

    RispondiElimina
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    1. @ Francesco3
      ... le tue parole mi confondono, te ne sono infinitamente grata, è un vero piacere accoglierti!

      Contraccambio con tutto il cuore il tuo saluto,
      torna presto a trovarmi *ღ*

      Elimina

I THANK YOU WHOLEHEARTEDLY FOR YOUR THOUGHTS AND WORDS, SO PRECIOUS TO ME.