Indholdsfortegnelse for October 2019 i Victoria

A passage in Gift from the Sea, our previous Victoria Classics Book Club selection, has lingered in my thoughts. Anne Morrow Lindbergh writes, “This is what one thirsts for, I realize, after the smallness of the day, of work, of details, of intimacy—even of communication, one thirsts for the magnitude and universality of a night full of stars, pouring into one like a fresh tide.” There is something so peaceful about being outdoors, relaxing amid the sounds of nature as daylight fades to darkness, and then settling in with a cozy blanket to take in the wonders of a vast inky sky sprinkled with diamonds. It is this image of tranquility that inspires the alfresco fête in Cooking and Entertaining on page 43. As the weather turns delightfully cool and…

I was fourteen when I purchased my very first Victoria magazine. As I turned each page, I was struck with the thought, this is me. I kept every issue and totally immersed myself in each feature, dreaming that one day I would live in the neighborhood adjacent to my childhood home and create a Victoria world of my very own. Last year, I finally purchased a house in that area and threw myself into renovation and decorating. Recently, as I sat with a cup of coffee, wondering why I had been so driven, I realized that thirty-eight years later, I have created that Victoria world I had always imagined, where each piece honors beloved people and experiences. The living room walls are the color of Great-Aunt Mary’s home. Interiors showcase…

The Venetian textile industry traces its origins to the thirteenth century—perhaps even earlier—when skilled artisans began weaving silk, cotton, and wool into exquisite cloth, often incorporating gold and silver threads in the process. The pieces were used not only for garments and ecclesiastical vestments but also for tapestries and draperies—an especially welcome adornment to walls that were often cold and damp. During the 1600s and 1700s, Venice was considered the center for European fashion, with a plethora of firms making their mark in the trade. The roots of one such enterprise, Bevilacqua, go back to 1499, when a list of noblemen who commissioned a painting by Italian artist Giovanni Mansueti included the name “Giacomo Bevilacqua, weaver.” In 1875, his descendent Luigi Bevilacqua formally established the company that thrives today, turning…

Myriad shades of earthenware seem to perfectly mirror the red and orange hues dotting treetops in the late weeks of this cooler season. Darker clays and vibrant yellow glazes remind one of the breathtaking landscape, but even the paler varieties have seen hundreds of colorful autumns since their creation. A staple of European trade between the sixteenth and nineteenth centuries, these hefty terra-cotta basins were used to house both wet and dry food goods while being shipped throughout the region. Several styles exist, created by manufacturers from Spain to Turkey. One iconic type is the Biot jar, named after the small town in southeastern France where hundreds of thousands of vessels were produced and exported as far as America and the coast of India. Still known today as Potter’s Village,…

WRITER-IN-RESIDENCE Pages 15–16: Carol Rizzoli, an essayist, memoirist, and journalist, is the author of several books. To sample more of Carol’s work, visit her website at carolrizzoli.org. ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE Pages 17–18: To explore artisan Stephanie Monahan’s range of papers, craft supplies, and other wares, visit her website at monahanpapers.com. A CHANGING PATINA Page 19: Bodrum Linens: Palm Napkin Ring, $45/set of 4; 212-524-2505, bodrumlinens.com. Leeber Limited: Elegance Golden Vine Gilt Leaf Serving Tray, call for pricing and availability; from Bromberg’s, 205-871-3276, brombergs.com. Pages 19–20: Ashanti: Atlantide 5-Piece Place Setting, call for pricing and availability; from Bromberg’s, 205-871-3276, brombergs.com. Bodrum Linens: Corte Napkin in Gold, $162/ set of 6; 212-524-2505, bodrumlinens.com. Julie Wear: Gold Oak Salad Plate in Red, $64, Gold Oak Cup & Saucer in Red, $89; 859-873-0138, juliewear.com. Pages 19…

Against the backdrop of the Blue Ridge Mountains, usher in the Christmas season with the magazine you love. Join Editor-in-Chief Phyllis Hoffman DePiano and the editorial team for an inspiring getaway. EVENT HIGHLIGHTS: Afternoon tea and a holiday tour of the BILTMORE A fabulous stay at the 4-star luxury OMNI GROVE PARK INN Keynote Speakers APRIL CORNELL, KATHRYN GREELEY, and JAN KARON SPACES ARE LIMITED! Visit victoriamag.com for more information.…

In the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch Country, Amish families in horse-drawn buggies still wend their way along the rural byways as they have for centuries, though they now share these quiet two-lane roads with modern-day conveyances. Pickup trucks, beds brimming with fall fruits and vegetables, rumble along to the Central Market in Lancaster, where growers have shared their wares since it was founded in 1730. More than a simple produce stand, it’s a gathering place for locals and visitors alike who peruse a wide array of goods, from ethnic foods and homemade candies to art glass and handstitched quilts. Just down the road, cached in a two-story stone house and its restored barn, an eclectic selection of home furnishings and accessories awaits at Olde Mill House Shoppes. Located less than…

“NATURE ALONE IS ANTIQUE, AND THE OLDEST ART A MUSHROOM.”—Thomas Carlyle…

Wickford Village in Rhode Island is one of those idyllic places in New England nestled on the Atlantic coast, unspoiled by the modernworld. It looks much as it did two hundred years ago, when it was a vibrant fishing village. As I walk down Main Street, I marvel at the two-story clapboard homes, many having been built in the eighteenth or nineteenth century. One white picket fence is herding in some wayward lilac trees, their branches strewn about, heavy with fragrant purple and white blossoms. “ The house is warm with laughter and the special feeling one gets when inspired by talent. ” I amble down Pleasant Street to the Yacht Club, where I hear a rooster crow twice. I take a left down to Ocean Avenue, which is on…

Take a closer look at some of our favorite October features: A Victoria Autumn Find a wealth of inspiration for decorating with foraged finds and seasonal treasures, including a downloadable alphabet for our elegantly carved pumpkin. Layers of Loveliness View the classic interiors of a former governor’s family home, where personal collections and prized mementos keep company with cherished antiques. Peaceful Sojourns Discover idyllic surroundings in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and sample tempting recipes for brunch specialties served at the Swiss Woods Bed & Breakfast. As Evening Falls Using our festive menu as a guide for entertaining, invite friends to gather for a relaxed alfresco soirée that begins with golden sunlight and gives way to an unforgettable night under twinkling stars. We love your ideas! Do you have any suggestions about…

While living in England, Artist-in-Residence Stephanie Monahan became captivated by centuries-old heraldic emblems and the implements that pressed their intricate designs into small puddles of melted wax. Personalized insignias were used to establish a document’s official nature, verify the sender’s identity, and ensure private correspondence. Stephanie’s foray into collecting these relics began with livery buttons—trimmings that distinguished the uniforms of all male servants in a particular household—but soon developed into a quest for pieces more rare. Among her most valuable finds are an Italian signet ring bearing a stately cameo and two French stamps that once belonged to royalty. Within the yellowed pages of an antique book, she discovered a cache of wax seals from as far back as the 1700s, preserved long ago by some kindred spirit. The artisan…

“Her pleasure in the walk must arise from the exercise and the day,” penned Jane Austen in her novel Persuasion, “from the view of the last smiles of the year upon the tawny leaves and withered hedges, and from repeating to herself some few of the thousand poetical descriptions extant of autumn—that season of peculiar and inexhaustible influence on the mind of taste and tenderness—that season which has drawn from every poet worthy of being read some attempt at description, or some lines of feeling.” “WE HAVE HAD OUR SUMMER EVENINGS, NOW FOR OCTOBER EVES!”—Humbert Wolfe The beloved British author understood the universal appeal of this wondrous time of year. As summer melts away and green turns to gold, nature draws cardigan-clad revelers outdoors to bask in the annual jubilee.…