Renaissance · 27 October 2025
The early 1600s were a time of social, political and cultural change. These circumstances are reflected in dress, and we can read these especially well when comparing the portraits of Anne of Denmark from c. 1600 and from 1614.
19th Century · 16 June 2025
During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, an era named 'Gilded Age' by Mark Twain, scores of daughters of new money US American families were sent across the Atlantic to the UK, not merely for educational purposes but for a more permanent establishment: to marry into the British aristocracy. Referred to as the 'Dollar Princesses', these women were heiresses of newly-minted American industrial-era fortunes, often made in railroads, steel, or oil.
18th Century · 07 June 2025
The late Joseon dynasty (1392–1897) witnessed not only political and cultural upheaval, but also the rise of extraordinary individuals whose lives stood in stark contrast to the social norms of their time. One such figure is Gim Man-deok (김만덕; 1739–1812), a woman whose name endures in Korean historical consciousness as a philanthropist whose acts of compassion and integrity redefined virtue within Joseon society.
18th Century · 19 May 2025
Elizabeth Caslon lived from 1730 until 1795 and was a typefounder, businesswoman and mentor to another successful female entrepreneur.
Textile Crafts · 25 March 2025
After Sachio Yoshioka took over the family business, which was working with synthetic dyes at the time, he switched completely to dyeing with natural plants - because he found their variety of colours so wonderful.
Books · 24 March 2025
Undertaking a doctorate degree, especially a PhD in the humanities, generally means years of being text-bound. Reading papers and books, taking notes, and writing. Rinse and repeat, every day for three to six years. During these years, I lost all pleasure in reading for fun. But it is possible to find that love for reading again!
18th Century · 09 March 2025
When we think of art of the Italian Baroque – which paintings and artists come to mind? Most of what makes the Italian Baroque in our viewing habits and popular imagination is by male artists. There were many female painters of the Italian Baroque era and they are being gradually rediscovered though shifting focus in scholarship and restoration funding. Here I present a selection of lesser known women artists of the late 17th, 18th and 19th centuries.
18th Century · 05 March 2025
This is the story of Jean-Baptiste Réveillon (1725–1811). In 18th-century France, this wallpaper manufacturer became connected to hot-air ballooning, celebrity endorsement and ultimately the outbreak of the French Revolution.
Textile Crafts · 09 February 2025
In October of 2023 I went on holiday to Indonesia and there in Yogjakarta, in what is commonly considered the artisan and crafts capital of the nation, I studied the art of batik. Batik is an ancient tradition in Indonesia, created by blocking out parts of a cloth with wax to dye over the unblocked parts and craft intricate patterns.