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| Victorian Hair Craft |
Tracy L. Ward is the
creator of the Peter Ainsley Mystery series, chronicling the adventures of a
morgue surgeon in Victorian England. The third book in the series, The Dead Among Us, is set for release in
May. Tracy joins us today to talk about how Victorian women decorated their
homes. To learn more about Tracy and her books visit her website.
It’s no secret the Victorians loved their homes. An English
homemaker, otherwise known as “Mistress of the House”,
had no shortage of choices when it came to decorating her home. Able to draw
influences from a number of eras, Victorian architecture and decorations
encompassed everything from Greek Revival to English Renaissance, often
including hints of Asian art and even a marked fascination with Egyptian
novelties. There are a number of decorating trends that give Victorians a
certain amount of distinction when it comes to the character of a home.
Green
Textiles
Never before in history had textile workers been able to
create a true green hue with their fibers. Although used for centuries for its
medicinal properties, arsenic was found to have the ability to generate a lush
green colour in textile dyes. It was this discovery that spurred on the rapid
production of green drapery, upholstery and fabric. Women began wearing green
skirts, bonnets and gowns with marked fervor. In fact the presence of arsenic in so many common household
items has since been connected to unintentional poisonings, especially in
households that displayed green wallpaper. It was the wallpaper’s dye in
connection with mold and mildew that made for a deadly combination.
Knick-Knacks
Well-to-do Victorians were very “House Proud.” An urban
dwelling often served a dual purpose. Firstly, as a refuge from the hustle and
bustle of city life but more importantly, the Victorian home served as a symbol
of status and wealth. From the moment a Victorian couple tied the knot, they
were expected to begin the fast accumulation of things to display. The more
knick-knacks on a mantel, the more side tables flanking the furniture meant the
more wealth a couple possessed. Doilies, china vases, and gilded picture
frames…oh my!
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| Floral Wreath made from the hair of fifteen different people Photo Credit: Tom Cooper, more information can be found at http://www.hairworksociety.org/wreath/wreath.htm |
One of the most fascinating pieces of Victorian decorating
that I have come across during my research is Victorian Hair Work. Often
harvesting hair from a beloved (and deceased) relative, Victorian women could
fashion a broach or jewellery piece but the most common craft the hair was used
for was a wall hanging in which a household could add to overtime as more and
more family members passed away. The resulting artwork was a testament to
painstakingly intricate work that survives to this day, often in museums and
galleries all over the world. One such piece was displayed in the home where my
father grew up on Bell Island, Newfoundland, garnering many spun yarns
speculating as to its origins. Given the macabre nature of these crafts, many
of those stories revolve around the dead and their wandering spectres.
In Modern
Times
Interior decorators have been recreating the grandeur of the
Victorian era in homes for the last century, drawing inspiration from antiques
and other elements of the 19th century. Period inspired style
experienced a strong resurgence in the 1980s and once again in modern day homes,
though not as strongly evident as it was thirty years ago. Some modern
homebuyers, however, are favouring the classic look of the two-story Victorian
home, with front porches, gabled roofs and perhaps a small turret.
Even though the Victorians copied from a myriad of decorating styles, their unique take on old mainstays is what makes their time period so alluring, and it’s my guess as to why we enjoy the Victorian look even to this day.
Dead
Silent
Book Two of the Peter Ainsley Mystery series
Peter Ainsley's mother, Lady Charlotte Marshall,
hasn't been seen or heard from in three days. Even though Inspector Simms of
Scotland Yard is 'unofficially' investigating her disappearance, Ainsley and
his sister, Margaret, are loathed to reveal knowledge of their mother's affair,
despite it being their best lead to her whereabouts.
When Simms brings a body to St. Thomas
Hospital's morgue, Ainsley is forced to admit his double life as morgue surgeon
and second heir to the Montcliff earldom. With a newfound ally in the police
force, Ainsley gains access to information about his mother's disappearance and
a new mystery regarding a murdered woman with childhood ties to his future
sister-in-law, Evelyn Weatherall.
Scandal threatening two sides of Ainsley's
family, the young surgeon uncovers an intricately woven tapestry of deceit,
lust and a crime that forces him to decide whether family loyalty supersedes
the letter of the law.
3 comments:
I get very attached to my knick knacks. Sometimes I look at them with an objective eye. That's when I notice if they're worn or too dusty, and need to be gone!
Dead Silent sounds like a great mystery.
Thank you Angela. It sure was a lot of fun to write.
Morgan, I am also discovering that I like knick knacks... we are preparing to sell our house and having to de-clutter for showings is putting a spotlight on my trinkets. I guess I am like the Victorians that way. :)
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