Dear Member, You are invited to attend Buckingham Palace for a Private View of the major new exhibition of Georgian works of art and fashion from the Royal Collection, some of which have never before been on public view. This will be an exceptional event. For details, and for more of Members' current favourite things, including travel, wine and jewels, please read on . . . |
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We are delighted to announce that as a Member of CountryClubuk you are exclusively invited to attend Buckingham Palace for the Private View of the Royal Collection’s forthcoming exhibition 'Style & Society: Dressing the Georgians' in this, the final countdown to the Coronation of King Charles III. The date is Thursday, April 27. The time is 6.30pm.
The Georgian period saw Britain establish itself as an international powerhouse at the centre of an expanding empire—and this major exhibition reveals the full panoply of Georgian life through the art and fashions of the day. It brings together more than 200 works from the Royal Collection owned by HM The King, including paintings and drawings by Gainsborough, Zoffany and Hogarth, cartoons by Rowlandson, and rare examples of clothing, jewellery and accessories. Some of these works have never before been on public view.
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Rarely seen Gainsborough portrait of Queen Charlotte in Court attire. |
The exhibition builds a layer-by-layer picture of the Georgians' lives—from the glittering gowns worn at court to the practical dress of a laundry maid—and charts the transformation of society from the accession of George I in 1714 to the death of George IV in 1830. These are among the most fascinating of treasures in the Royal Collection.
We shall be among the first to see this Royal Exhibition in Buckingham Palace, and we shall have the pleasure of viewing it in private during a two-hour evening Private View, without the crowds that will throng the Queen's Gallery to see this fabulous Exhibition by day. We shall have the guidance of a specialist authority on the Collection, appointed by the Palace for the purpose, and the event will be followed by a glass of wine to toast the occasion—English sparkling, of course!
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In the style of Queen Charlotte, a silk dress worn at Court in the 1760s. |
The Royal Collection is rich in works from the Georgian period and the Private View gives a wonderful chance to see them up close. At the heart of the display will be a rarely seen full-length portrait of Queen Charlotte by Thomas Gainsborough (c1781). Painted by candlelight, it depicts the Queen in a beautiful gown, worn over a wide hoop and covered with gold spangles and tassels. It will be shown alongside a preserved gown of a similar style, worn at Queen Charlotte’s Court.
Court dress provided a brilliant spectacle, yet on the streets of Georgian Britain new forums for fashionable display emerged, including pleasure gardens, coffee houses and theatres. The painting 'St James’s Park and the Mall' (c1745) brings to life London’s most fashionable meeting place and provides a fascinating insight into Georgian society. This royal park was a favourite resort for all society, the Mall in particular being a place to be seen in the 18th-century London style of passeggiata.
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Rich tapestry of Georgian life 'St James's Park and The Mall' (detail). |
According to a French visitor: ‘Society comes to walk here on fine, warm days, from seven to ten in the evening, and in winter from one to three o’clock . . . the park is so crowded at times that you cannot help touching your neighbour. Some people come to see, some to be seen, and others to seek their fortunes; for many priestesses of Venus are abroad . . . all on the look out for adventures.’ Accounts tell of cows and deer in fields around the park, while a visitor in 1765 especially appreciated the availability of udder-fresh cow’s milk ‘served with all the cleanliness peculiar to the English, in little mugs at a penny a mug’.
This is people-watching par excellence: the Mall is given over to the beau monde, dressed in the height of fashion and saluting each other with elaborate grace and courtesy. The clearly-identifiable figure of Frederick, Prince of Wales, speaking to a fellow Garter Knight, stands in front of the gate leading to the Prince’s garden at Carlton House, so he is literally on his own doorstep. Royalty had mingled with the public in this setting since at least the time of Charles II. Around the Prince, the extraordinary variety of the London crowd is pictured: a woman pulling up her stocking and a suckling mother; soldiers from three different regiments; a sailor, talking to a friend while a well-dressed black woman walks ahead; two priests and a middle-eastern elder instructing a younger man. It's a revealing tapestry of Georgian life.
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Gainsborough's Fischer (c1760s) in traditional knee breeches.
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Lord Byron, an early adopter of the latest fashions, wore trousers. |
The Exhibition reveals how much of a social change was afoot. Fashionable society was looking to the lower classes for style inspiration, adopting working-class garments such as aprons and trousers. Gentlemen had worn knee breeches for most of the 18th century, as depicted in Gainsborough’s portrait of the musician, Johann Christian Fischer, on show beside a remarkable likeness in a red silk-velvet court suit from the 1760s. By the end of the Georgian period, upper-class men had adopted trousers for the first time. The future George IV and Lord Byron were early adopters of the new style, as shown in a portrait of Lord Byron by George Sanders. |
Rowlandson's 'New Invented Elastic Breeches', a public first. |
The exaggerated fashions and politics of the period were a gift for caricaturists, coinciding with what became the golden age of the satirical print. A wealth of these enjoyably revealing prints are part of the Royal Collection. In the Exhibition we shall see the never-before-displayed 'New Invented Elastic Breeches' (1784) by Thomas Rowlandson, depicting a large man being unceremoniously manhandled into a small pair of leather breeches by a pair of zealously optimistic tailors. |
Among the important jewels: Queen Charlotte's ring; charm bracelet. |
The jewellery of the era also speaks volumes. Important pieces in the Exhibition include Queen Charlotte's ring, featuring a miniature of her husband, George III, visible beneath a large portrait-cut diamond, encircled by smaller diamonds. It was given to the Queen on her wedding day, and she wore it on the little finger of her right hand, refusing to wear any other rings on that finger, no matter the fashion.
Such sentimentality is a hallmark of Georgian jewellery, seen again in a love token which Queen Charlotte wore in a portrait by Zoffany. The Queen is wearing pearl bracelets: one clasp holds a diamond-encircled miniature of her husband, painted on ivory by Jeremiah Meyer. The other clasp contained the King’s hair and cipher. Another exhibit, a silver gilt, enamel, diamond, pearl and ivory charm bracelet, was made up of nine separate lockets, six of which hold strands of hair.
The Georgians were also masters of recycling of jewels and fabrics. Both were more valuable than labour, and restyling jewellery and clothing was popular, even among nobles and Royalty.
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Madame de Pompadour wearing hand-painted Chinese silks. |
Britain dramatically expanded its global reach during the 18th century via trade, travel and empire. Styles and fabrics from the Ottoman Empire, India and China were incorporated into everyday dress. In a portrait of Madame de Pompadour, Louis XV’s famously stylish mistress wears a floral gown, possibly made of painted silk imported from China. The portrait will be shown alongside a roll of Chinese hand-painted silk from the 1760s, covered with an almost identical pattern, on loan from The Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle.
Among the accessories on display are beautiful English and French fans, which reached their fashionable zenith during this period—some representing topical events such as the first hot-air balloon flight—and jewel-encrusted snuffboxes, reflecting the craze among both men and women for taking snuff throughout the 18th century.
Advancements in haircare, cosmetics, eyewear and dentistry are also explored. Immensely tall and wide hairstyles became fashionable for women in the latter half of the century, resulting in the development of an entirely new trade: the hairdresser. Quirky items on display include a set of miniature bellows and a sprinkler used for applying hair powder.
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George IV and travelling service: essential kit for Georgian gentlemen. |
Meanwhile George IV’s lavish travelling service reveals all we ever wanted to know about the necessities of grooming for a fashionable Georgian gentleman. The luxurious mahogany box is lined with leather, and the contents—more than 100 items—are packed around an elegant silver-gilt basin with layered trays. The obvious razors, shaving brush, nail clippers, tweezers, scent bottles, combs and dental kit are there, plus boot hooks for pulling up the fashionably tight-fitting boots, a winder for a pocket watch, and tools for making repairs, such as a mother of pearl needle case and a bradawl for making holes in belts. There are glass bottles for cologne and hair powders, but also drinking utensils including a spirit lamp for making tea and hot chocolate (grooming was a lengthy process, during which refreshments were sorely needed).
As our Private View comes to a close it will be time for our own refreshments: a glass of English sparkling wine, served with the added attraction of the offer of a 20% discount at the Royal Collection shop!
We are thrilled that our Members are invited to this exclusive Private View at Buckingham Palace, guaranteeing the best views of this exciting new Exhibition (which the public will see, 400 people at a time). We much hope you will join us, and enjoy this special evening to the full.
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BOOK YOUR PLACES NOW FOR THE EXCLUSIVE PRIVATE VIEW OF THE NEW EXHIBITION AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE
The Private View is strictly limited in numbers, so if you do wish to join us, please don't delay! The cost is £67 per person.
For immediate acceptance of this exclusive CountryClubuk invitation to attend the Private View at Buckingham Palace on Thursday, April 27, starting at 6.30pm (arrival from 6.15pm) please click here.
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The Michelin-starred Ritz, where our Champagne Dinner awaits. |
To extend the pleasure of the event you may wish to go on for dinner at The Ritz, where you will be welcomed with a chilled glass of Champagne before a three-course dinner created for us by the Michelin Star Ritz Chef. This will be a fitting finale to our Private View at Buckingham Palace, but again, places are limited.
To attend the Private View with Champagne Dinner at The Ritz at £207 per person, including taxi from Buckingham Palace, please click here.
To make reservations by phone and to extend the pleasure by staying the night in London at exclusive Club rates, or to book hotels and restaurants for different dates, please call the Member Services team on 020 7399 2960 or click here to email hotel requests.
For Members' latest favourite things from the past week, including travel, wine, jewels and gentlemen's grooming kit, please read on!
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SOME OF OUR MEMBERS' FAVOURITE THINGS |
Top 3 destinations for Members booking London hotels at Club rates:
Our Members are saving hundreds of pounds a night
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Top 3 destinations for Members booking UK city hotels outside London:
1 Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh The Caledonian: details
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Top 3 destinations for Members booking international hotels:
1 Reid's Palace, Madeira, a Belmond hotel: details
3 La Residencia, Deia, Mallorca: details
¶ See all the recommended Club hotels and international resorts at exclusive web-beating rates, please click here.
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Top 3 destinations for Members booking UK country hotels: |
1 Calcot Manor & Spa, Cotswolds: details
2 Le Manoir Aux Quat'Saisons, Oxfordshire: details
3 Lindeth Howe, Lake Windermere: details
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Members' Top Six Favourite Wines from the Award Winners ordered this week at exclusive Club prices |
Domaine Eleni & Edouard Vocoret 'Le Bas de Chapelot 2020: a special Chablis f rom one of the leading artisanal producers in Burgundy: details.
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Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2022: t he world's favourite Sauvignon Blanc, this new vintage is a cracker: details.
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Le Cantine Murgo Etna Blanco 2021: the Baron's prized dry Sicilian white from the slopes of the volcano: details.
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Château Macquin from Saint-George-Saint-Emilion: ‘As good as Sain t-Emilion Grand Crus!’ but without the hefty price-tag: Excellent 2019: details.
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This, the best rosé in the world according to critics, is deemed ‘the perfect Provençal rosé’ by the leading rosé connoisseur at Berry Bros & Rudd. It's a Club favourite! Case of 12 bottles. Click for details. Magnum, 150cl. Click for details.
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One of the most exclusive prestige Champagne cuvées in the world: Piper-Heidsieck’s Rare Champagne, created for Marie-Antoinette, with a bottle by Fab ergé: single bottle of the multi-award-winning 2008 in presentation case. So delicious and so exclusive, it's Members' favourite gift! Click for details.
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The King Charles III Coronation Spoon: a stylish heritage collectors’ piece to commemorate the State Occasion by old established cutlers and silversmiths Arthur Price of England |
To celebrate the Coronation of King Charles III on May 6, the old established, family-owned cutlers and silversmiths Arthur Price of England have created a beautifully crafted, highly polished Coronation Spoon, decorated with the King Charles III cypher and portrait. A collectors' item, it makes a wonderful Christening gift.
The Coronation Spoon has an important, ongoing ceremonial role in the Coronations of the Kings and Queens of England. Arthur Price, established in 1902, have a tradition of producing commemorative spoons for Royal occasions.
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Classically beautiful three-stone natural Ceylon sapphire, white diamond and 18ct white gold ring from London’s Hatton Garden |
This fabulous three-stone sapphire and diamond ring from Hatton Garden is a classic fine piece, and one of Members' favourites: it's beautiful, classical, and easy to wear. It features a stunning natural Royal blue sapphire centre stone, round brilliant cut, and two glittering natural white diamonds, a stunning pairing.
Both the sapphire and the diamonds are claw set using 18ct white gold claws. The sapphire is a beautiful high quality Royal blue, half a carat in weight. The diamonds, also round brilliant cut, total .50 carats and are highquality, F/G in colour, therefore very white, and VS in clarity, so they are flawless to the eye.
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The famous Taylor of Old Bond Street Aftershave Lotion for gentlemen: three fragrances, Sandalwood, Eton College and Mr Taylor’s |
The famous Taylor of Old Bond Street sumptuous grooming products, fragrances and lotions have been all-time gentlemen’s favourites over the generations since 1854—and our Members’ favourites.
Based on formulae passed down through generations in the Taylor tradition, they are all discreetly fragranced.
And here are Members’ favourites: the classic Sandalwood, Eton College and Mr Taylor’s. They make a discerning gift. All 100ml.
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DON'T MISS ALL THE NEW ARRIVALS AT THE CLUB! |
Or call the Member Services team on 020 7399 2960.
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