It’s a truism that 18th century commerce was male dominated, yet hundreds of women were registered as silversmiths in 17th and 18th century England. Like most, Hester Bateman was a widow who inherited her husband’s business. Like some, she was also an entrepreneur in her own right.
A 6th-century cloak clasp in silver and garnets, a masterwork of Merovingian goldsmithing with exceptional provenance.
Beyond being a beautifully crafted artifact with a rich story nearly 350 years old, this badge offers a glimpse into the unchanging tensions of social welfare.
Designed by Daisy Makeig-Jones for Wedgwood as part of the Fairyland Lustre series.
This historically significant portrait captures a remarkable moment in 19th-century First Nations diplomacy and intercultural exchange, vividly embodied in the figure of Edward Seguin. This is not a stage costume, but a vivid record of diplomatic honor. The subject—a renowned opera singer—is depicted wearing the authentic regalia of a Huron-Wendat honorary chief, a title bestowed during a smoke-filled ceremony in Quebec. The painting offers a rare, riveting glimpse into cross-cultural history, straddling the line between spectacle and sincerity.
