giovedì 6 aprile 2017

The 'Downstairs' side of Country House Life.



Gossip on the Stairs, Otto Erdmann (1834 - 1905)



Sapete ormai quanto ami il mondo che durante il periodo vittoriano ed edoardiano si muoveva 'Downstairs' ossia nei locali che erano collocati sotto le scale delle grandi, imponenti dimore situate nella campagna inglese ... forse perché mi è sempre apparso così gaio, vivace, sempre in fermento, ho sempre visto collaborazione e corporativismo tra i componenti la servitù, li ho sempre visti come se fossero, in fondo, componenti di una grande famiglia, poiché essendo tutti accomunati dall'essere lontano da casa era naturale che nascesse tra di loro un affetto particolare ... sì, mi sarebbe piaciuto, magari solo per qualche giorno, provare a vivere in una di quelle fastose dimore, ma magari come housekeeper - governante - o come cuoca, che, in ordine gerarchico, ad essa era immediatamente sottoposta, ma con davvero poche responsabilità in meno; la governante era il corrispettivo, tra i membri femminili, del butler - e non lo traduco con maggiordomo perché sarebbe riduttivo, non esiste la parola adeguata per me per descrivere in modo calzante le responsabilità ed i compiti amministrativi dell'intera casa che gravavano su di lui - analogamente al quale non aveva mansioni servili, bensì di ordine burocratico - gestionale ( a lei toccava dare gli stipendi ai dipendenti, ordinare le vettovaglie, sorvegliare su quanto veniva operato in cucina e nell'intera casa, dare ordini alla cuoca circa i voleri dei signori ).


La cuoca - cook - aveva la responsabilità di sostenere, con i piatti che preparava, la famiglia che le dava lavoro, senza far loro mancare nulla e senza chiedere denaro in più da spendere alla governante, doveva far fare a tutti i Signori che la mantenevano un figura decorosa in caso di feste o banchetti ed aveva 'sotto di sé' la plain cook, ossia colei che preparava piccoli pasti e spuntini per lo staff dei servi e la trained cook, ossia l'aiuto cuoca che le era di sostegno per i tocchi più sofisticati, magari esotici dei piatti da portare in tavola; le più giovani collaboratrici in cucina erano la kitchen maid e la scullery maid, poiché entrambe cominciavano a lavorare al compimento del quattordicesimo anno di età: la prima era addetta alla pulizia e alla mondatura delle verdure, oltre che alla pulizia dei locali tra la preparazione di un pasto ed un altro, mentre la seconda si occupava delle componenti meno impegnative delle portate da servire.

La cucina e le stanze ad essa collegate erano in fermento per tutte le ore della giornata, durante il periodo vittoriano ed edoardiano il costume voleva che fosse sempre il momento giusto per preparare pasti o spuntini ed il personale doveva sempre essere pronto e disponibile, ovviamente: 
Consumavano abbondanti colazioni costituite da numerosi piatti - kedgeree, uova e pancetta, e cacciagione cui avrebbero poi fatto seguito spuntini a metà mattinata costituiti da uova sode e toast. Il pranzo, un pasto molto più pesante di quanto ci si aspetterebbe oggi, vi avrebbe seguito nel giro di due ore o giù di lì, e il tè del pomeriggio sarebbe stato un pasto sostanzioso in sé, con panini e torte e marmellate che il cuoco aveva preparato. La cena sarebbe constata di quattro o cinque portate, e più tardi la sera ci sarebbe stati panini a disposizione per tutti coloro che avvertivano un certo languorino.

Ovviamente queste esagerate quantità di cibo giocavano a discapito della salute dei benestanti che vedevano accorciarsi enormemente le loro aspettative di vita, anche se periodicamente trascorrevano giorni di cura presso le 'spa' e le stazioni termali del tempo e, per converso, significavano un'enorme mole di lavoro per chi doveva cucinare... di certo in cucina non vi era chi si annoiava !

Anche se noi siamo soliti pensare alla servitù come ad una realtà misera, triste, deprivata o quanto meno afflitta, era questo in Gran Bretagna un mondo di tutto rispetto, che esistesse o meno confidenza tra Signori e personale di servizio, tanto che molto spesso le giovani, di umile estrazione sociale, questo sì, partivano come donne di fatica per raggiungere traguardi talora insperati ed impensabili, dato che non dovevano sostenere spesa alcuna per mantenersi, poiché anche se le loro paghe non erano elevate e talora dovevano inviare denaro alla famiglia, riuscivano negli anni a metter da parte un bel ... tesoretto !


Vi faccio l'esempio di Rosa Ovenden (1867 - 1952), conosciuta meglio con il cognome Lewis che assunse sopo il matrimonio.
Figlia di un imprenditore di pompe funebri nacque a Leyton, in Essex e lasciò la scuola all'età di 12 anni per divenire una 'ragazza di fatica'; dopo quattro anni il caso volle che fosse richiesta presso la dimore di reali esiliati e così venne a far parte dello staff del pretendente al Trono Francese, Philippe, Conte di Parigi, dove ebbe l'opportunità di imparare la lingua e la cucina che stava dilagando e divenendo al tempo così famosa per sostituirsi a quella così sostanziosa tipicamente vittoriana.
Stiamo parlando di una ragazza intraprendente per cui ben potete immaginare che presto ella divenne Head Kitchen Maid, ossia domestica a capo delle cucine, che non avrebbe dovuto cucinare, ma che lo faceva occasionalmente per gli ospiti di riguardo, non ultimo il Principe di Galles, futuro Re Edoardo VII che la volle conoscere e che entrò in confidenza con lei divenendone 'amico' .... ( ricordate quel post che pubblicai non molto tempo fa in cui vi rendevo note le sue numerose ... debolezze ... se volete potete trovarlo qui METTERE LINK ).
Rosa si stabilì quindi presso la dimora di un altro esule, il Duca d'Orleans, e da allora si spostava da una residenza aristocratica ad un'altra quando era richiesta in occasione di banchetti o parties divenendo ormai conosciuta come THE QUEEN OF COOKS, ossia LA REGINA DI TUTTE LE CUOCHE.


Rosa stava a poco a poco venendo in contatto con i membri più autorevoli dell'aristocrazia europea che alloggiavano a Londra e nel 1902 fu in grado di acquistare i locali del Cavendish Hotel in Jermyn Street del quale divenne conduttrice senza interrompere la sua carriera di cuoca sopraffine sopravvivendo alle due guerre mondiali e ad almeno un infarto.
Ecco, questa in poche righe la prodigiosa vita di colei che venne da tutti soprannominata The Duchess of Jermin Street e divenne famosa al punto che negli anni settanta la BBC dedicò a questo personaggio unico una fiction ( The Duchess of Duke Street ) tratto dal romanzo Vile Bodies di Evelyn Waugh (1930).


Rosa in età matura ritratta con il suo cagnolino Kippy



Tornando alla gerarchia che secondo regole ferree governava il mondo 'Downstairs', di livello inferiore sia alle governante che alla cuoca era la lady's maid, equivalente al femminile del gentleman's valet: costei, che potremmo definire la cameriera personale della signora, probabilmente di estrazione sociale medio-bassa, doveva avere dei requisiti che generalmente non erano richiesti per coloro che lavoravano in cucina, ossia doveva essere generalmente di bell'aspetto e saper parlare correttamente e fluentemente - meglio se oltre l'inglese conosceva anche il francese ( di solito le lady's maid erano di origine francese o svizzera ) - essendo colei che accompagnava per tutto il giorno ed in ogni circostanza la Lady, ed era vestita o di grigio o di nero in accordo alla sobrietà di cui si faceva portatrice, essendo di fatto parte dell'immagine che al pubblico la Lady offriva di sé; essa la abbigliava per qualsiasi evento, la sera le scaldava gli indumenti per la notte prima che li indossasse, compiva le cosìdette 'calls', ossia le visite di cortesia con lei, viaggiando spesso anche per lunghe distanze al suo fianco, insomma della sua Lady era quasi l'ombra.


World of Dreams, Lady Laura Theresa Alma-Tadema, 1876.



Doveva inoltre avere delle competenze specifiche che potessero far sì che fosse all'altezza del suo ruolo, quindi faceva dei corsi che la rendevano capace nel preparare composti cosmetici, abile nell'acconciare la lunga capigliatura che connotava la Lady vittoriana, aveva competenze anche in fatto di cucito - se per esempio durante un viaggio si fosse sdrucito in parte l'orlo della sottana della sua Lady, ella avrebbe dovuto essere in grado di intervenire con successo - ed avere una certa resistenza fisica e costanza, poiché il dover essere sempre al fianco della Lady, per esempio quando si recava ad un ballo dal quale rincasava il primo mattino, significava andare a dormire quando gli altri si alzavano, se prima doveva svestire, lavare, abbigliare per il riposo e mettere a letto la propria signora stanca della sua giornata, per poi finalmente accasciarsi sul proprio letto, spesso collocato nella stanza a fianco di quella della Lady ! 


Maid with Flagon, William Powell Frith, 1858.



Ecco perché generalmente le lady's maid erano chiamate 'Miss', perché sovente lo erano davvero, non si addiceva per certo l'avere una famiglia ad una ragazza impegnata in cotal guisa e e che doveva lavorare con una tale dedizione.

Ed infine rappresentavano, sempre da un punto di vista gerarchico, un caso a sé sia le parlourmaids che la chambermaids che stavano a metà, anche da un punto di vista strettamente pratico, tra il mondo 'Downstairs' e quello 'Upstairs', essendo le prime responsabili delle stanze 'pubbliche 'della casa - la morning room, il drawing room, il parlour, la library, di cui pulivano i tappeti, le inferiate e lucidavano i mobili ed erano responsabili dell'ordine che vi doveva regnare, 


The Secret, Wilhelm Amberg (1822 - 1899)




Femme de Chambre, Joseph Caraud, 1868.



mentre alle seconde competevano le camere da letto, dal momento in cui ne aprivano le imposte il mattino fino alla sera quando infine le riaccostavano: a loro spettava il compito di portare su il tè del mattino, la pulizia delle stanze ed il portare su per le scale acqua calda per lavare i padroni e gli eventuali ospiti.

Questo per quanto riguarda il mondo femminile, della servitù al maschile vi parlerò in una prossima occasione.




Vi giunga come sempre gradita la mia più sentita riconoscenza,
carissimi lettori ed amici,
e a voi che passate di qui per la prima volta
do il mio più caloroso benvenuto !



A presto 💕









FONTI BIBLIOGRAFICHE:

Judith Flanders, The Victorian HouseHarper Perennial, 2004;

Pamela HornThe Rise and Fall of the VICTORIAN SERVANT, Sutton Publishing LTD;

Pamela Horn, Life in the Victorian Country House, Shire Publisher, 2010;

Lee Jackson Daily Life in Victorian London: an Extraordinary Anthology, Kindle Edition, 2011;

Lee Jackson, A Dictionary of Victorian London: An A-Z of the Great Metropolis, Anthem Press, 2006; 

Trevor May, The Victorian Domestic Servant, Shire Publisher, 2008;
(qui ne trovate una breve anteprima)

Michael Paterson, PRIVATE LIFE IN BRITAIN'S STATELY HOMES - Masters and Servants in the Golden AgeConstable & Robinson Ltd., 2012;

Emily Augusta Patmore, THE SERVANT'S BEHAVIOUR BOOK or Hints on Manners and Dress for Maid Servants in Small Households by Mrs. Motherly, Bell and Daldy, London, 1859
- disponibile on-line al seguente indirizzo

https://archive.org/details/servantsbehavio00patmgoog

Pamela A. Sambrook, The Country House Servant, Sutton Publisher, 1999; 

Duties of Servants: A Practical Guide to the Routine of Domestic Service
by Member of the Aristocracy.



CITAZIONI:

1 - Michael Paterson, PRIVATE LIFE IN BRITAIN'S STATELY HOMES - Masters and Servants in the Golden AgeConstable & Robinson Ltd., 2012, pag. 2012.








- picture 1 - Gossip on the Stairs, Otto Erdmann (1834 - 1905)




You know how much I love the world that during the Victorian and Edwardian age lived 'Downstairs', that is in the environments that were placed under the stairs of the large, stately homes located in the English countryside ... maybe because I've always seen it so cheerful, lively, always in turmoil, I always saw corporatism and collaboration between the members of the servitude, I have always seen them as if they were, after all, members of a large family, since, being them all united from being away from home, it was natural that it were born a special affection among them ... yes, I would have liked, if only for a few days, to try living in one of those lavish homes, but perhaps as a housekeeper or as a cook, that, in hierarchical order, was immediately subjected to her, but with very few responsibilities in less; the housekeeper was the corresponding, amongst female members, of the the butler similar to what she had not menial jobs, but bureaucratic - managerial ones (she had to give salaries to the employees, to order supplies, to monitor of what was practiced in the kitchen and throughout the house and to give orders to the cook about the wishes of the masters).




- picture 2




The cook had the responsibility to support, with the dishes she prepared, the family who gave her her work, without letting her masters leave anything and without asking for more money to spend  for the meals at the housekeeper, she had to do everything that would maintained a dignified figure to her masters in the case of parties or banquets and had 'beneath her' the plain cook, that she was who had to prepare small meals and snacks for the staff of servants and the trained cook, ie the help cook who had to support her for more sophisticated touches in her preparations, maybe exotic dishes for special occasions; the younger helpers in the kitchen was the kitchen maid and the scullery maid, since both of them began to work at the age of  fourteen: the first was involved in the cleaning and peeling of vegetables, as well as the cleaning of the rooms around the kitchen between the preparation of a meal and another, while the second took care of the less demanding components of the courses to be served.




- picture 3 on the left - The kitchen and the rooms connected to it were abuzz all hours of the day long, during the Victorian and Edwardian era, the costume ever wanted it to be the right time to prepare meals or snacks and the staff always had to be ready and willing, of course: 

They ate very large breakfasts of numerous dishes - kedgeree, bacon and eggs, and game. There would then be mid-morning snzcks prepared for them, such as boiled eggs and toast. Luncheon, a much heavier repast than we would expect today,would followw within two hours or so, and afternoon tea would be a substantial meal in itself, with sandwiches and cakes and jams that the cook would have made. Dinner would be of four or five courses, and later in the evening there would be more sandwiches laid out for anyone who was feeling peckish. 1

Obviously these exaggerated quantities of food were playing at the expense of the health of the wealthy who saw their life expectancy greatly shorten, although regularly spent days of treatment at the spas of the time and, on the other hand, it meant an enormous amount of work for those who worked in the kitchen ... certainly there was not who he was bored there !
Although we usually think of servitude as such a miserable reality, sad, deprived or at least afflicted, this was in Britain a world of all respect, whether there were confidence or not between Masters and service personnel, so that very often young people, of humble social background, started their career as a 'fatigue girl' to achieve goals sometimes unexpected and unthinkable, given that they should not support any spending for living, because even if their wages were not high and sometimes had to send money to their family, with the passing of the times they could put aside a nice ... treasure!




- picture 4 on the right - Let me give you the example of Rosa Ovenden (1867 - 1952), better known with her surname Lewis which she assumed after her wedding.
Daughter of an undertaker Rosa was born in Leyton, Essex and left school at age 12 to become a maid of all works; after four years she happened to be required at the residences of royal exile from France and so she became part of the staff of the pretender to the French throne, Philippe, Count of Paris, where she had the opportunity to learn the language and the art of the 'cuisine' that was spreading and becoming at once so famous to replace, little by little that so nourishing typically Victorian.
We are talking about a resourceful girl so you can well imagine that soon she became Head Kitchen Maid, ie domestic head of the kitchens, that is that she should not have to cook, but she did it occasionally for important guests, not least the Prince of Wales, future King Edward VII, who wanted to know her, and who grew a so very close friend of hers to become on eof her lovers .... ( remember the post that I published not long ago in which I made you aware of his many 'weaknesses' ... if you want ... you can find it HERE - PUT LINK).

Rosa settled then at the home of another exile, the Duke of Orleans, and since then she moved from an aristocratic residence to another when she was required for banquets or parties now becoming known and named THE QUEEN OF ALL COOKS.




- picture 5




Rosa was gradually coming into contact with the most influential members of the European aristocracy who were staying in London and in 1902 she was able to buy the premises of the Cavendish Hotel in Jermyn Street which she managed without interrupting her career as a superfine cook surviving two world wars and at least one heart attack.
Here, in this few lines the prodigious life of the woman who was by all dubbed The Duchess of Jermin Street and became popular to the point that in the seventies the BBC devoted to this unique character a fiction (The Duchess of Duke Street) adapted from the novel Vile Bodies by Evelyn Waugh (1930).




- picture 6 - Rose in her mature age with her little dog Kippy




Coming back to the hierarchy which according to strict rules governed the world 'Downstairs', at the lower level of the housekeeper  and  the cook there was the lady's maid, equivalent of the gentleman's valet: she, probably coming from medium-low class, must had the requirements that generally weren't necessary for those working in the kitchen, given she had to be generally good-looking and know how to speak correctly and fluently - better if besides English also knew French (usually the lady's maid were of French or Swiss origin) - being the one who accompanied the Lady throughout the day and in all circumstances, and she was usually dressed in gray or black according to the sobriety of which she was bearer, being in fact part of the image that at the public the Lady offered of herself; she dressed her for any event, the evening warmed her clothing for the night before she wore them, with her she did the so called 'calls', ie courtesy visits with her, often travelling for long distances at her side, in short, she was almost her Lady's shadow.




- picture 7 - World of Dreams, Lady Laura Theresa Alma-Tadema, 1876.




She also had to have have specific skills that made her deserve her position, that's why she did some courses that made her capable of preparing cosmetic compounds, skilled with arranging the long hair that connoted the Victorian Ladies, and also had responsibilities in terms of sewing - if for example during a journeyher Lady had torn in part the hem of her skirt, she would have to be able to intervene with success - and have a certain physical strength and constancy, since she always had to be at the side of her Lady, for example, when she went to a ball from which she came back home early in the morning, it meant going to sleep when the others got up, since she first had to undress her mistress, to wash her, to dress herlady tired for her day and then finally collapse on her own bed, often placed in the room next to the Lady's.




- picture 8 - Maid with Flagon, William Powell Frith, 1858.




That's why usually the lady's maid was called 'Miss', because often they really were not married, given such a busy life didn't suit for sure to a woman who had a family.

And finally, always from a hierarchical point of view, a special case was represented by the parlourmaids and the chambermaids who were between, also from a strictly practical point of view, the world 'Downstairs' and that 'Upstairs', being the first responsible for the 'public' rooms of the house - the morning room, the drawing room, the parlor, the library, of which they cleaned carpets, grates and polished all the furniture, and were responsible for order that was to reign there,




- picture 9 - The Secret, Wilhelm Amberg (1822 - 1899)


- picture 10 - Femme de Chambre, Joseph Caraud, 1868.




while the latter competed bedrooms, from the moment they opened the shutters in the morning until the evening when finally the closed them: they had the task of bringing upside the morning tea, of cleaning the rooms and bring up the stairs hot water to wash the masters and possible guests.

So much for the feminine world of servitude, about male servants I'm going to deal with it in a future occasion.




May it reach you welcome, as usual, my most heartfelt gratitude,
dear Readers and Friends,
and as for you who are passing by here for the first time
I give you my warmest welcome !




See you soon 💕










BIBLIOGRAPHIC SOURCES:

Judith Flanders, The Victorian HouseHarper Perennial, 2004;

Pamela HornThe Rise and Fall of the VICTORIAN SERVANT, Sutton Publishing LTD;

Pamela Horn, Life in the Victorian Country House, Shire Publisher, 2010;

Lee Jackson Daily Life in Victorian London: an Extraordinary Anthology, Kindle Edition, 2011;

Lee Jackson, A Dictionary of Victorian London: An A-Z of the Great Metropolis, Anthem Press, 2006; 

Trevor May, The Victorian Domestic Servant, Shire Publisher, 2008;
(qui ne trovate una breve anteprima)

Michael Paterson, PRIVATE LIFE IN BRITAIN'S STATELY HOMES - Masters and Servants in the Golden AgeConstable & Robinson Ltd., 2012;

Emily Augusta Patmore, THE SERVANT'S BEHAVIOUR BOOK or Hints on Manners and Dress for Maid Servants in Small Households by Mrs. Motherly, Bell and Daldy, London, 1859
- disponibile on-line al seguente indirizzo

https://archive.org/details/servantsbehavio00patmgoog

Pamela A. Sambrook, The Country House Servant, Sutton Publisher, 1999; 

Duties of Servants: A Practical Guide to the Routine of Domestic Service
by Member of the Aristocracy.



QUOTATIONS:

1 - Michael Paterson, PRIVATE LIFE IN BRITAIN'S STATELY HOMES - Masters and Servants in the Golden AgeConstable & Robinson Ltd., 2012, p. 2012.






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58 commenti:

  1. Hello, interesting story on Rosa. She seemed to be very resourceful and skilled. I like the photo of Rosa and her dog Kippy. Great post and beautiful photos. Thanks for sharing. Happy Thursday, enjoy your day!

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ eileeninmd
      It's always such a delight to welcome you here !
      I'm so overjoyed to read your amusement, darling friend of mine, thank you for your so beautifulk words of appreciation !

      Wishing you a joyous day, today,
      and a so lovely end of your week ahead,
      may it be filled with love and wonder ❥

      Elimina
  2. I'm certain I must have been a cook in one those beautiful homes. I can't tell you how drawn I am to those kitchens! I can so easily imagine myself there.
    Have a beautiful day Daniela.
    Love and hugs to you,
    Andrea

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Andrea
      I'm also so in love with those so wide rooms filled with such a lot of tools, so different from ours, today, with such an abundance of supplies ... I'm truly enchanted with them !

      With sincere thankfulness,
      since when you come and meet me here you always make my day, Dearie,
      I'm sending blessings across the Ocean
      trusting that Spring has definitely arrived in your so wonderful, cherished corner of the world ♥∗✿*✿∗♥

      Elimina
  3. Daniela,

    Oh how lovely!
    Like a step back in time- I've always been fascinated by the way those grand country houses were run and the images are just beautiful as always

    Many Thanks
    Christina

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Christina
      it is I who wish to thank you for gracing my blog today, Sweetest One, you're such a lovely, gracious friend with a beautiful soul, filled with a rare sensitivity I do appreciate so, so much !

      You cannot imagine how your words of valuation, which mean so much to me, put me in high spirits, I'm heartily grateful to you for this !

      Sending blessings of joy to you to wish you a most lovely end of your week,
      thanking you again and again ಌ•❤•ಌ

      Elimina
  4. A different time with lots of work to make things happen. Still lots of work, but with so many more conveniences today then back then. Great post.

    Have a fabulous day. ☺

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Sandee
      my lovely lady
      I'm sure that they had to work much harder than us today, but I think that in general their lives were more gratifying than ours today ...

      May your day too be filled with gladness,
      thank you most sincerely, dearest friend, for commenting,
      I'm so glad you enjoyed this post of mine ༺♡❀♡༻

      Elimina
  5. I liked this very much Dani! We watched Downton Abbey and loved it ... the downstairs "family" was more interesting in many ways than the Lord and Lady.

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Sallie
      you're so right, darling friend, I do agree with you !

      Wishing you a most lovely new week
      I'm sending blessings on your day, today,
      and your days to come,
      with sincere thankfulness ♡❤♡

      Elimina
  6. Dany, I suppose I would have been the cook. But I'm not sure I'm physically sturdy enough for the job in a great house and the long hours! I would have required lots of help.

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Jean
      for sure you would have been the cook, you're such a keen cook - and in the kitchen you would have had a great help - your passion for cooking could have made of you a woman of such a success, maybe just like Rosa, why not !

      Sending blessings on your week just begun
      I'm thinking of you with so much love and admiration ✿⊱╮

      Elimina
  7. I am delighted to see on your side bar, the picture of the little wrens and Psalm 59, the very picture I have hanging in my kitchen! I will now forever think of you, dear Dany, when I look at it and pray that God's comforting hand is upon you! I enjoyed your post, as always, dear friend. Have a blessed day!

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ June
      and I'm so pleasantly surprised to have something you have in your home, I'll think of you watching at this picture on my blog, we have something more in common, my kindred soul !

      ⊰♥⊱ MUCH LOVE TO YOU ⊰♥⊱

      Elimina
  8. Il mondo femminile vittoriano mi ha sempre affascinato. Ti ringrazio per questo meraviglioso post che ho con molto interesse.
    Bacioni Alessandra

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Alessandra
      ringrazio te, mia carissima amica dal cuore gentile, e ti abbraccio con tutto il cuore augurandoti un sereno giorno di primavera ∗⊱༺♡❀♡༻⊰∗

      Elimina
  9. It is always so lovely to see things being done the old fashioned way! Much love and hugs to you, my cherished friend, your posts are always a joy and a breath of fresh air!

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Linda
      your words of heartfelt appreciation fill my heart to overflowing, I'm sending a big thank you from the bottom of my heart, precious friend of mine !

      ♥♡♥ BLESSED BE ♥♡♥

      Elimina
  10. You know when you were explaining Rosa, I thought to myself I think I saw a show about this lady on tv and it was the Duchess of Duke street, I wondered how true to life it was?
    I love watching shows and reading about this time in history, I always thought I might like to be a lady's maid, but after reading that they usually never married that no longer sounds appealing to me. It had to be a very hard life for them all really, I wonder how many people the big houses that are still around have working for them.
    Wishing you a fun and relaxing weekend ahead!

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Conniecrafter
      so you've watched the show depicting Rosa's life, lucky you !
      Yes, that story was far true, darling friend, even if it sounds like a fairy tale !

      And in the Victorian age you'd loved to be a lady's maid ... maybe it was the harder work amongst all in the house, and, as you wrote, they hadn't to marry ... oh, I so love to read your comments, always filled with interest and appreciation, they truly bless my heart with such a deep joy you cannot even imagine !

      Sending blessings on your day, today,
      and on your days to come,
      with the most heartfelt gratitude ⊰✽*✽⊱

      Elimina
  11. Those ladies worked hard from morning to night. Beautiful photos Dany. Thanks for sharing more of that beautiful Victorian and Edwardian age. I really enjoy all your posts. xo

    RispondiElimina
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    1. @ thel day
      what a blessings to have you here today, you bring such a gladness to this little corner on the web, dear, darling friend of mine, and your appreciation means so much to me !

      So grateful for your beautiful words,
      I'm sending my dearest love to you,
      may your coming days be filled with joy and peace ღ❀ღ

      Elimina
  12. Splendido post, cara Daniela, letto tutto d'un fiato e gustato con vero piacere. I dipinti sono eccezionali, così vividi e ricchi di preziosi dettagli. Ma quel "gossip fugace sulle scale" è di una bellezza... così come i particolari della cucina che "pulsa" per i preparativi. La giovane donna che si abbandona al riposo, dopo aver lavorato evidentemente e quell'altra che mentre spolvera, si incipria furtivamente alla toletta della sua signora.
    Grazie Dany, è sempre così piacevole venire a trovarti
    Buon fine settimana
    Susanna

    RispondiElimina
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    1. @ Susanna
      quanto entusiasmo pulsa nelle tue bellissime parole, mi colmi il cuore di una tale gioia, mia cara, dolcissima amica, come può la mia passione non trarne 'nutrimento' ツ ?!?

      Ti invio un abbraccio dal profondo del cuore,
      augurandoti una serena giornata ed una gioiosa S.Pasqua,
      anche se con un po'di anticipo •♥•♥•♥•

      Elimina
  13. e imparo e imparo...passo da te e imparo tante cose...grazie per tutto questo! Un abbraccio immenso e ti auguro un sereno fine settimana di festa Lory

    RispondiElimina
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    1. @ lory
      dolce amica dal cuore gentile, quanto ti sono grata per la gioia che mi doni con la sola tua presenza !

      Contraccambio il tuo abbraccio con il cuore colmo di letizia,
      grazie di cuore per essere così speciale ❀≼♥≽❀

      Elimina
  14. affascinante come sempre hai ricreato un ambientazione corredata di piccoli particolari che fanno grande una narrazione...
    è curioso come la vita nel downstair abbia un peso cosi importante e spesso sottovalutato dalla storia...
    brava dany come sempre mi hai regalato momenti di evasione pura..
    ti auguro un buon weekend di primavera
    daniela

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    1. @ daniela
      mia cara, le tue parole di approvazione e di plauso significano molto per me, te ne sono immensamente grata, mi sembra di sentire il cuore esultare dalla gioia !

      Che la tua giornata sia illuminata dal sole della gioia
      e che la serenità cammini sempre al tuo fianco,
      te lo auguro di vero cuore ❥

      Elimina
  15. complimenti per i tuoi post sempre così belli e interessanti!
    un abbraccio simona

    RispondiElimina
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    1. @ simona
      adorabile amica, ricambio con tanta, tanta gioia il tuo abbraccio, sei sempre talmente cara !

      Possa tu godere di giorni sereni e spensierati,
      e lascia che, anche se un po'prematuramente,
      ti invii i miei più sentiti auguri di Buona Pasqua ♡❤♡

      Elimina
  16. Hello Dany, I enjoyed this post and I am very happy you have linked up the story on Rosa. I loved the photo of her with the cute dog. Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Happy Saturday, have a great weekend!

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    1. @ eileeninmd
      it's my pleasure and delight, darling friend, you're such a treasure to me !

      Wishing you a beautiful week,
      thinking of you with so much love and thankfulness *•♥♥•*

      Elimina
  17. Beautiful post. Like reading a story book. Gone back in time. Sending lots of Love to you Daniela:)

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    1. @ Crystal Grandeur
      I have to admit that your words of praise have a special meaning to me, dear friend, actually you make me feel full of the joys of Spring, I esteem you so much !

      Hope you're having the best of weeks,
      I'm sending my dearest love to you,
      with utmost gratitide,
      to welcome you here is such a delight to my heart •♥•*Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ*•♥•

      Elimina
  18. olá Danny:
    eu amo cozinhar e imagino cozinhar num lugar tão lindo destes !!
    parece ser tão sereno e romântico...
    imagino cozinhar para reis e duquesas..
    bom, eu cozinho para meu príncipe aqui em casa, e ele gosta muito , o que para mim é muito importante..
    sempre passeio em seu blog e sonho um bocado..
    grande abraço e bom fim de semana !!
    Eliane
    :o)

    RispondiElimina
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    1. @ Kr.Eliane
      Mesmo que eu estou no amor com um príncipe que ama a minha cozinha, eu adoro passar horas e horas ao lado do fogões, eu estou tão feliz ao ler que para voce é a mesma coisa !

      Muito obrigada pela visita tão carinhosa,
      boa semana e tudo de bom
      *♥* BEIJOS *♥*

      Elimina
  19. Cara Dany, oltre alle sempre belle immersioni nel periodo vittoriano, le immagini di questi quadri mi rapiscono😍 Grazie! Ti auguro un sereno fine settimana 💕🤗

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    1. @ WOODY
      grazie a te, mia cara, te lo dico con tutto il cuore, le tue parole allietano questa mia giornata di primavera, qui già così calda !

      Ti abbraccio forte come non mai augurandoti tanta serenità
      ed una Felice S.Pasqua ❀≼♥≽❀

      Elimina
  20. all the food sounds delicious but i am sure it was hard work to serve these large households. beautiful images you've shared as always. hoping you are well and happy! xo michele

    RispondiElimina
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    1. @ Michele
      you're so heartily welcome, I hug you with much gladness !

      Thanking you for your words of enjoyment,
      I'm thinking of you with love, merit and regard ♡ஐ♡

      Elimina
  21. Rosa certainly had an interesting life, my dear Dany! Lovely paintings - I especially love the one of the maid powdering her face :) A sweet little painting with the little dog, Kippy. We all love our little companions! Hope you have a wonderful weekend! Sending hugs xo Karen

    RispondiElimina
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    1. @ Karen
      I'm always feeling so blessed by your presence here, you're so precious to me, my Dearest One, your enjoyment put me in such high spirits and makes my heart sing !

      Wishing you much gladness for your coming days,
      sending hugs and ever much love to you ❥

      Elimina
  22. Beautiful wallpaper and music on your site. :

    RispondiElimina
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    1. @ Gentle Joy
      I welcome you with such a joy, your words of praise put a smile on my heart, thank you !

      I'm coming and visit you right now to express my gratitude,
      sending blessings on your week ✿⊱╮

      Elimina
  23. Learning how others live now, or how people of past generations lived, is always good in that it makes me thankful for what i have now!

    RispondiElimina
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    1. @ messymimi
      well, History is useful for this too, darling friend, thanks most sincerely for visiting and for leaving your lovely comment !

      Trusting you're enjoying the best of weeks,
      I'm sending hugs & love to you ♥♡♥

      Elimina
  24. Life was certainly different long ago. Thanks for this glimpse into the past. Thanks for linking to Blue Monday.

    RispondiElimina
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    1. @ Magical Mystical Teacher
      it is I who want to thank you, dearest friend, and I do it wholeheartedly and with much joy !

      Trusting your week is off to a good start,
      I'm sendinhugs and more hugs to you ⊰✽*✽⊱

      Elimina
  25. Risposte
    1. @ Kathe
      thank you Dearie, these painters were truly outstanding, weren't they ?!

      •♥• Sending much love to you •♥•

      Elimina
  26. What an interesting piece of history! You always share the most fascinating facets of Victorian history. I'm so thankful that we don't have those kinds of expectations today for cooks and housekeepers, lol! Hope you are enjoying spring in your part of the world my friend :)

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    1. @ Marilyn
      dearest, wonderful friend of mine, yes, Spring has arrived so suddenly, it is in full bloom now and we have so much work outside all at once, alas !!!

      With the deepest gratitude for your words of enjoyment and praise,
      I'm sending blessings on your days to come,
      may your Easter ahead be Joyful and Peaceful,
      with sincere friendship and esteem ✿*✿

      Elimina
  27. Carissima Dany, è un post davvero interessante! Mi è venuta una gran voglia di vedere la serie Tv di cui scrivi! Ho letto il libro di Judith Flanders: è pieno di informazioni a riguardo. Negli ultimi anni Downton Abbey ha suscitato un grande interesse sull'argomento ma è inutile dire che ha mostrato solo l'aspetto più romantico e poco vero rispetto alle vere condizioni di vita della servitù.
    Con l'occasione ti invio affettuosi auguri di una Serena e Santa Pasqua. Un bacio

    RispondiElimina
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    1. @ Valeria
      mia carissima amica, la passione che anche io nutro per questo mondo data talmente tanti anni fa !
      Pensa che ricordo, ero davvero molto, molto piccola quando alla fine degli anni '70 trasmettevano una serie TV che sicuramente conosci, UPSTAIRS and DOWNSTAIRS, che ha davvero conquistato il mio cuore !
      Da allora il mondo della servitù vittoriana ed edoardiana non smette di incantarmi !
      Bellissimo il libro di Judith Flanders, anche io lo trovo davvero ricco di particolari che affascinano chi ama questa realtà, mentre devo dire che le ultime serie di Dowton Abbey mi hanno un po' delusa, tanto quanto mi avevano entusiasmato le prime, questa serie ha finito con il divenire un teleromanzo rosa, anche secondo me ...

      Ti ringrazio con tutto il cuore per queste tue bellissime parole, mi fa davvero molto piacere aver catturato il tuo entusiasmo con questo mio post, così come ti sono infinitamente grata per gli auguri che contraccambio di vero cuore.

      Ti invio un forte abbraccio,
      tutto per te ∗⊱༺♡❀♡༻⊰∗

      Elimina
  28. There is so much to love in this post I don't know where to begin! As one who planned her life on Upstairs/Downstairs and Downton Abbey, I've always been fascinated with the role of servants in the Edwardian period. (And before and after but that is one of my favorites.) Those series brought the characters to life and your post really illuminates the skills required to serve in those roles.

    As you might expect, one of my favorite television series' long ago was "The Duchess of Duke Street." I read the "Jermyn Street" book but didn't know "Vile Bodies" was the basis. Another book to add to the list.

    Thanks for a wonderful post, Dany! Sending beautiful Easter wishes your way.

    RispondiElimina
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    1. @ Jeanie
      honestly I'm feeling breathless, you've touched my heart and moved me, dearie, your words of amusement and appreciation left me with no words !

      I'ved never seen the series " The Duchess of Duke Street", but I truly have to look for it and watch it, like you I so love this charming world !

      Wishing you and your loved ones a blesed Easter,
      with sincere gratitude and esteem ❥

      Elimina
  29. As always, beautifully researched and written. I always love your posts. They transport me to another place and time. Thank you for sharing.

    This post is being featured on my Pink Saturday post this week as "the one with the most clicks".♥

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    1. @ Beverly
      I cannot express by words how important to me your phrases are, to read them put me in such high spirits and bless this evening of mine !

      And to read that this post is featured as the most clicked of this week's Pink Saturday, well, it makes me feel so thrilled, I'm sincerely so grateful to you !

      Sending blessings on your Easter,
      may it be Joy-and-Peace-filled,
      ⊰♥⊱ dear, treasured friend ⊰♥⊱

      Elimina

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