July 5, 2012 by Vic
This beautiful marquetry table transforms into a desk with a turn of a key. This short animated film shows you how it operates and how an elegant French lady in the 18th century would have used it. Enjoy.
Exquisite marquetry of this French mechanical table.
Read about metamorphic furniture (which is different from mechanical furniture) at this link.
Black London by Gretchen Gerzina
Free E-Book: Gerzina has written a fascinating account of London blacks, focusing on the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Because of a paucity of sources from blacks themselves, Gerzina had to rely primarily on glimpses through white eyes, especially those of antislavery advocate Granville Sharp. Gerzina is quite adept at culling evidence of a rich, complex black life, with significant interaction (and intermarriage) with the white community. Although subjected to much discrimination, London blacks never suffered as much as their American counterparts. The author rightly concludes that blacks have played an important role in the life of London for much of its history.
Click on this link to Dartmouth.edu.
And
Perfect for Easter: Rachel Dodge's The Little Women Devotional, published March 2022.
This book has a devotional entry for every chapter of Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. You can read a chapter of Little Women and then read the corresponding devotional entry, going through the book one chapter at a time.
Note: Rachel Dodge is a monthly contributor to this blog.
Highly Recommended a New Book! Bath -An Adumbration in Rhyme
Edited by Ben Wiebracht. Read the review of the book at this link. Click to order the book on Amazon US or Amazon UK
The neglected tombstone found in an overgrown burial ground.
Rear Admiral Charles Austen CB
Died off Prome, the 7th October 1852, while in command of the Naval Expedition on the river Irrawady against the Burmese Forces, aged 73 years.”
The grave after restoration
Read the full article in The Sunday Times. June 27, 2021.
Click on image to read the story.
Gentle readers: Please feel free to post your comments and continue the conversation! Due to SPAM, we will no longer accept comments on posts after 30 days of publication. In some instances, links will be removed from comments as well.
Regent’s Canal Walk (Little Venice to Kings Cross): Tony Grant
Take a walk along a portion of Regent’s Canal with Tony Grant and friend. His superb photos and commentary make you feel as if you’ve tagged along.
Click on this link to stroll along with Tony & Guy. (Images: Barges along Regent’s Canal; John Masefield’s House. Copyright: Tony Grant)
Also recommended:
The following Audible book/Kindle book:
A Visitor’s Guide to Jane Austen’s England by Sue Wilkes. Read a preview of the book on Amazon. I’ve enjoyed listening to this informative and entertaining book on long rides and reading it while waiting at the doctor’s, or dentist’s, or when dining alone at restaurants.
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Katherine Cowley’s second mystery in her Mary Bennet mystery series, The True Confessions of a London Spy, will be available in stores everywhere on March 1, 2022.
Available March 1, 2022.
Digital:
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I wish Jane Austen could have owned one of those, though she did pretty well on her portable writing desk.
I love that table.
I agree, Nancy. She deserved something that pretty, practical and portable!
This is so cool. What a neat little desk. I’d like one. Thanks for sharing the video with us.
I want one! So beautiful and so useful!
My surname is Bryans -sorry my computer corrected it!
Such an interesting post Vic! Thanks for sharing!
Adriana
How nifty! Do you know if they still make desks like this? I’d love to have one.
What a beautiful and cool desk! Thanks for sharing!
That was an absolutely gorgeous desk. I’d love the privacy and secret compartments. The colors are amazing. The designs so detailed. I can add to the above – I wish I had one.
This is the table where you can safely store your love letters.
Muito linda!Eu quero uma… :)
Adorei o post Vic!
Thank you for introducing me to the Getty’s education site and the videos.
You’re welcome. I enjoyed the sound effects that accompanied the narration as I learned how this fascinating table was put together.
Reblogged this on Bustling along bookshelves . . . and commented:
A wondrous mechanism…just what I want on my Wishlist….
How clever was the designer of this!!! It’s gorgeous, and I want one too. :-)
How charming! What an exquisite little piece of work. Jane would not have been able to afford it, but her cousin Eliza would, and perhaps saw one like this when she lived in France.
I love the idea of what this writing desk concealed for the writer. I suppose the writer kept the key on her chattelaine (sp? so as to not lose it.
So many uses for one single article. They did make use of space!
Reblogged this on Ippokampos Afroulis Recounting… and commented:
awesome!!!!
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