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Art · Monarchies · Observations
The golden sceptre of Empress Charlotte of Mexico, daughter of the King of the Belgians, sold for €120,000
The golden sceptre of Empress Charlotte of Mexico, Princess of Belgium, has been sold for €120,000. Plus the auction house's commission, naturally, which is usually some 20 to 30 per cent of the sale price. In my view, this was a thoroughly successful sale and an excellent
Books · People · Saint Petersburg · Humour
Denis Davydov's verses of 1818 on his plans for the evening and a journey to Saint Petersburg
A Decisive Evening. This evening I shall see you, This evening my lot will be decided, This evening I shall receive what I desire, Or an abschied into retirement! And tomorrow, the devil take it, I shall get tight as a tick, I shall fly like an arrow in a
Observations · Society · Humour
Alternative history of Lenin as an African and Genghis Khan as the Anglo-Saxon George Kent
Lenin was a black man sent out of Africa, but he fell ill on the way and lost the darkness of his skin. And Genghis Khan was a white Anglo-Saxon Christian, one George Kent, who spread Christianity across his boundless empire. Which alternative history do you prefer? Personally, I
Society · People · Pop Culture
Nadine Bulycheva frees enslaved women at her Rio de Janeiro benefit on 10 August 1886
The name of Nadezhda Vasilyevna Bulycheva (1858-1921), an Italian opera singer of Russian origin, is inscribed for ever in letters of gold on the pages of the world history of the struggle to abolish slavery. On 10 August 1886 the Russian prima donna Nadine Bulycheva was singing the part
Archive · Books · Mores · Education
The Student and the Landlord's Daughter in 19th-Century Novels and the Risk to His Career
Students are forbidden to marry for the whole time of their residence at the university: so runs paragraph 17 of the section "Rules for Students of the University During the Course of Study" in the "Rules for Students and Non-Matriculated Auditors… If one takes this fact
Books · People · Humour
Chekhov on children who followed their father's advice but grew up unhappy
"Chew properly," Father used to say. And they chewed well, and walked for two hours a day, and washed in cold water, and all the same they turned out wretched, talentless people. Chekhov
NB!
Gold filigree cylindrical case topped with a crown, pearls and leaves
Aristocracy · Archive · Art · Monarchies · People
Golden sceptre of Empress Charlotte of Mexico being sold by the Goffinet heirs
Golden sceptre of Empress Charlotte of Mexico goes under the hammer in Monte Carlo, estimated at €100,000 to €200,000. This 34-centimetre symbol of imperial power, of 22-carat gold and weighing more than 400 grams, is adorned with diamonds of exceptional spectrum, rubies, emeralds, pearls, perforation, filigree
NB! · Archive · Books
The First Version of the Title of *Pride and Prejudice*
Art · Observations
Thomas Benjamin Kennington’s “The Ace of Hearts” of 1882 and the man seen in the mirror
The Ace of Hearts, 1882. Thomas Benjamin Kennington (1856–1916). Note that the heroine of the painting is looking not at the viewer but at the man standing directly in front of her, whom we can see in the mirror's reflection. Does it remind you of Van Eyck&
Faith · Art · People
Claude Mellan made the engraving “The Sudarium of Saint Veronica” with one spiral line in 1649
The Face of Christ in a Single Spiralling Line. The Veil of Saint Veronica, copperplate engraving, 1649. By the French painter and engraver Claude Mellan (1598-1688)