A few pictures from the 18th century erotic calendar

You may remember that Gustafs Skål produced a calendar for 2013 and both I and J were involved. The theme was erotic, but the 18^th century way, with a raised hemline there and a stolen kiss there. 2013 is long since over, so I thought I should show you a few of the pictures. They were all based of period paintings and pictures, but we did not set out to copy the pictures.

The photographer is Staffan Huss, you can find his web page here. All the models were, at the time, members of Gustafs Skål and none of us are professionals. All the clothes and some of the props belonged to us. All the pictures were taken at Kristinehovsmalmgård, an 18^th century manor house in Stockholm.

A stolen kiss, originally depicted by Nicolas Lafrensen.

Models: Barbro Hellmin, Natalie Hulsin and Henry Wölling

The original is called The Indiscrete Wife and I don't know who originally created it.

Models: Agneta Stehager, Carina Rosén and Henry Rosén

This is one of the best photos. You wouldn't believe what a mess the attic was, but it turned out amazing!

Model: Caroline Eklund

 

Le Lever de Fanchon by Nicolas Bernard Lépicié, 1773

 

 

I was a bit shocked when we looked through the pictures and I realized that our picture was the raciest of them all! The painting, Jean-Honoré Fragonard, can be found in several version and the one we used is called The Beautiful Servant Girl. Other versions, however, are called The Useless Resistance... My first model experience, so the stiffness isn't only due to the stays.

Models: Elisa Edgren and Jan Schmidt

Take a peek at Anna's shoe. She is a shoemaker and have made it herself!

Models: Anna Lindqvist and Henry Rosén

Elégante à sa toilette by Michel Garnier, 1796

 

The title of the original painting is Mme. de Bouvillon Tempts Fate by Asking Ragotin to Search for a Flea. We tried to find a way to incorprorate a dog and a cat because of the great symbolic value, the dog stands for fidelity and the cat for female sexuality (note the cat on the attic painting above), but unfortunately we couldn't.

 

Models: Martin Lejon and Marianne Berndt

Jean-Baptiste Pater

Come to an 18th century party in Sweden



Svartsjö Palace. The main building was started in 1734.

On May 9 Gustafs Skål is holding their grand party to celebrate that the society is turning 20 this year. The party will take place at Svartsjö Palace in Stockholm and will start at noon and end one hour after midnight. Much amusements and good food have been promised!

The cost is 675 SKr for members of Gustafs Skål, Wästgiöta Gustavianer, Carlscrona Rediviva, Forum för historisk dans & music and Helsingfors goda borgare. For everyone else, the price is 775 SKr.

 

The amusements will include a walk in the park with music and something for the body as well as for the mind. Dowager-queen Lovisa Ulrika will invite you for something that has to do with beauty (yes that might include my participation…). Dancing, of course as well as perhaps a bit more naughty amusements as well. A dinner, a play and a number of surprises are also included.

 

If you are interested, mail: elisabeth.goldstein (at ) telia.com

 

A feast to mark that the hay is cut outside Svartsjö Palace by Pehr Hilleström, ca 1780

Personally I think it will be an absolutely fantastic party!

More info (in Swedish) can be found here.

Soon to come- the 18th century erotic calendar

Dinner for two by Nicolas Lafrensen the Younger

I mentioned that Gustafs Skål is working on a calendar for 2013 and it is beginning to take shape. We still need to set the price- we want it to cover the costs, but still be as low as possible. However, some of you have expressed an interest in purchasing it and I can now give you some more information about that.

You will be able to buy it through me for the same price that all non-members of Gustafs Skål will be able to buy it for + shipping cost. (If you are a member, then you will get it for the member's price, of course.)

The calendar will be in colour, one picture per month as well as one on the cover. It will be in Swedish with weeks beginning with Monday. Despite being a calendar with an erotic theme, there are no nudity in it, though several stocking-clad legs and a few ladies without their stays! There are also some suggestive posing, but that depends largely in how naughty your minds are...

All the photos are made after an 18th century painting/etching, but are not exact copies. The models are all members of Gustafs Skål who very kindly have lent themselves, their time and their costumes in making this calendar. So have our photographer. All the photos have been snapped at Kristinehovs malmgård in Stockholm, an 18th century house that have been beautifully restored to its former glory.

As soon as possible I will get back to you with price and shipping costs.

A day in the 18th century

I'm back home after spending two weeks at the summerhouse, but I have two weeks left of my vacation. Today spent in the 18th century at Skansen. We mingled around as part of the tourist attraction, were models in a lecture on clothes, danced and ate well, all while people were taking pictures of us. I enkoyed myself nevertheless. No new clothes, but it was the first time for the straw hat I decorated last summer. I really like the look of it, but it was quite heave and pulled my wig more and more down on one side. It looked fine, but I could feel it sliding- a very unsecure feeling. I'm not used to wearing wigs and need to learn to fix it better in place. J wore Gustaf III's national suit and looked great as usual.

An 18th century birthday party

As I told you yesterday I went to an 18th century birthday party last Saturday. I had great fun, there were plenty of sweets, cakes and wine as well as dancing and games. I forgot my camera, but my friend Caroline kindly let me borrow some of her pictures.

Here she is in brown, with the equally lovely Nathalie in blue. Caroline's French gown is actually quite ingenious- here it is shortened to fit over pocket hoops, but can also be worn over a grand panier.



Anna, the beautiful birthday child, in a brand new gown to honour the occasion, and her husband.





Me and my darling. I'm in the unhappy position right now that almost all of my 18th century clothes won't fit me. Not that I don't like my pierrot, but it isn't particulary festive.



And I had mislaid my false rump...



A better view on my darling in his national suit.



Dancing and the back view of Anna S in her French gown, the one I told you are one of the most beautiful 18th century gowns I have ever seen.



You can see a glimpse of the front in this picture.



Playing "Domaredansen" ("The Judge Dance") a game probably invented to give people an opportunity to hug each other.



You play it in forming two rings, the inner has all the men, the outer all the women and one woman is the stand in the middle. You can change so all the men is in the outer ring, but you must play in with equal numer of men and women + an extra woman, or man, to stand in the middle. One rings walks clockwise and the other counter clockwise, while singing a special song, but when the music stops then everyone in the outer ring is to grab a person from the inner one. As do the one in the middle. The person who doesn't manage to hug someone is the one who has to stand in the middle the next round.

12th Night costume

Yesterday Gustafs Skål held their 12th Night Masked ball. Thank you all for all the advice and suggestions regarding my costume! I went as a deer, well, perhaps doe and I was really pleased with my costume and got a lot of compliments.



As you can see I wore my green gown. I have gained weight, so I dug up my old stays from Laila Duran, which also solved the stomacher problem. Gorgeous fabric, isn't it? They proved to be a bit big, though, so they chafed a little.

The antler hat started off as a round metal structure with the antlers integrated. Then I covered the antlers with paper clay that I painted gold and the base was covered with the same fur as the gown. I tied it at the back of my neck, and then pinned on the organza veil. I was a bit worried that it would fall off, but it stay put all evening. I did powder my hair, though you can't see much of it.

Unfortunately my camera misbehaved, so after MetalMarianne kindly took these photos, I couldn't use it anymore. Which is a pity, because there was a lot of lovely costumes around!

Sometimes I resemble an ice-cream cone...

An 18th century day in Uppsala

Sunday we spent in the garden of Linné in Uppsala. They have a market there and Gustafs Skål was invited to be beautiful for the enjoyment of the visitor’s. After there was a very good meal to be had in the orangery and also a guided tour of Linné’s town house. It was a very pleasant day, mostly cloudy, but warm. We strolled, had coffee, talked with people, had ice-cream and generally enjoyed ourselves.

Janne worked, though. If I have understood it correctly there is a series of educational movies made about historical events. No dialogue to speak of, but a speaker voice over. They were filming in the garden and Janne had been enrolled to play Gustaf III. All in all a very nice day, apart from the fact that the filming didn’t end when they were supposed to (what a surprise…) so we were much later in leaving than we had planned. As I had to get up at 4.30 the next day, I was not happy with that!

Though most of my clothes are late 18th century, I do have some earlier gowns and its fun to wear them too. The pet-en-l’air has an earlier cut, winged cuffs, no seam at the waist and the pleats in the back are not sewn down. It may not be the most flattering gown on me, and even if it’s an old gown, from 2003, I still love it. To vary it a little I tucked it up into the slits of the black petticoat, an effect I rather liked.

I think I shall be much better in powdering my hair from now on. I’ve always liked it, but while talcum powder looks fine, on me it makes my scalp itch like crazy for days after. Here I have used Ageless Artifice’s hair powder which has starch as main ingredients and my scalp didn’t say a peep. I also think it stays on MUCH better than talcum powder. I suspect that the reason is that it’s not as finally milled and doesn’t disappear into my hair but stays on it. I sprayed with hairspray, brushed on the powder with a large brush and then sprayed very lightly with spray again. I was in my sixth hour of wearing it and you can see that it still looks good.

I love hollyhocks and the colours on these were amazing- almost black!



A boob shot, just for the fun of it.

Lithia Black

Not really smoking, but holding the pipe for her boyfriend.

Annali and her adorable mini-me.

Anckarström, on his way to shoot the king.

The king.

Janne resting his shoulder between shots.

Back again

Hello, hello. I’m back from my vacation and a very nice vacation it has been too. I haven’t sewn as much as I had planned, but as I hadn’t any deadline, that’s fine. I’ve tinkered with my cotton-candy jacket- right now I’m setting the sleeves. I’ve made a pattern for an early 18th century jacket and I worked quite a bit on my embroidered linen gown.

We did have occasion to dress up though, as the out of door museum Skansen had their annual 18th century weeks. We spent all weekend in 18th century clothes.

Janne on the staircase of the 18th century city house belonging to the family Tottie. Unfortunately it wasn’t open.

Outside the manor house of Skogaholm.

And in the garden.



Two gentlemen in the rose garden.

Anna and the rose.

Smoking a clay pipe.

Peeking into the gazebo of Emmanuel Swedenborg. No spirits in sight, though.

In the hall of Skogaholm’s manor house, waiting for a concert.

Isis the crocodile…

It was a lovely concert! Mostly Bellman with cembalo and lute and singing.



When not looking corny, Janne quite look like Gustaf III in 18th century clothes.