Visit the Mughals of India and the Queens of Belgium in November, and the Duchess of Devonshire’s Ball and discover a Sparkling Christmas Wish List in December.
Doors open 11am – the Talk starts 11.30am
£42.00 per person
Tea and Coffee on arrival
Complimentary Glass of Fizz and sandwich lunch after the talk
November
Saturday 9th, Friday 15th or Wednesday 20th
Magical Mughal Jewellery
To coincide with the ‘The Great Mughals: Art, Architecture and Opulence’ Exhibition opening at The V&A in November, this talk will look at the sumptuous world of jewellery during the Mughal period. We will consider where the jewels are now and how important they were to their owners. A world of colour, splendour and magic await.
November
Friday 8th, Thursday 14th or Saturday 16th
Beautiful Belgium
The Queens of Belgium have brought beauty and beautiful jewellery for us to enjoy. From Charlotte of Belgium who married Maximilian, Emperor of Mexico in 1857 and was seen as ‘mad’ and locked away on numerous occasions, to Lilian (Lilian Baels) of Belgium who married the King in secret in 1941, they have brought intriguing stories and mysteries. Their jewels are of course exceptional. A talk of intrigue and sparkle, what more could we wish for?
Party Time at The Gallery! Two Talks to celebrate the festive period.
December
Thursday 5th, Saturday 7th or Friday 20th
The Duchess of Devonshire’s Ball
The 8th Duke of Devonshire and his Duchess held a ball on 2nd July 1897, to celebrate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee. In this talk we will look at the spectacular costumes and jewellery that were worn at the event by the grandest of society of the day. This was a fancy dress ball that included Margot Asquith wearing a costume of an Oriental snake charmer, the Countess of Westmorland as Hebe and the Duchess of Devonshire as Zenobia, Queen of Palmyra. But, as you pop the Christmas Tree lights on you won’t forget Mrs Ronalds, an American hostess, who had electric lights woven into her hair….! Fun and frivolity for all.
December
Friday 6th, Wednesday 18th or Thursday 19th
The Ultimate Christmas Wish List
Susan will look at beautiful jewels associated with nine important Houses, Estates or Castles in Great Britain inspired by the letters forming the word ‘Christmas’, * to form a Christmas list full of sparkling splendour. From Medieval Jewels to the jewels of Cartier, Fabergé and Hancock of London, this will be a list of jewels of pure beauty.
*Chatsworth House; Harewood House; Raby Castle; Inverary Castle; Sutton Hoo; The Tower of London; Mount Stewart; Alnwick Castle and Sandringham.
Lectures are individually priced at £42* and include tea or coffee on arrival
and a complimentary glass of fizz and sandwich lunch after the Talk.
The Gallery doors will open between 11am and 11.15am and the Talk will commence at 11.30am