Innehållsförteckning för Holiday Bliss 2022 från Victoria

Dear Friends The trimming of the tree is perhaps the most beloved Yuletide tradition in my home. Bare branches seem to extend an invitation to welcome our family’s most cherished ornaments—solemnly promising to shelter not only these prized keepsakes but also the accompanying memories. Whether I decorate in solitude or with the help of other eager hands, each bauble is placed upon the bough with care. Gazing upon the fully adorned evergreen, entwined with ribbons and aglow with glimmering lights, I find myself most enchanted by our cache of silver bells, reflecting on the stories behind them. Each one holds a sentimental link to a special person, trip, or occasion. Collections shine brightest at Christmas, and this Victoria Classics issue brims with festive finds, from my own sterling gems to…

It was a Sunday afternoon in 1992 when interior designer Jan Cash and her husband, Stan, found their most beloved objet d’art. The pair had just arrived in Munich for a tour of Germany and, eager to become oriented, set out to walk the quiet streets. Without a map to guide them or an itinerary to limit their wanderings, the outing took on a dreamlike quality as the pair became immersed in the ancient city’s beauty. As they passed an antiques shop, an exquisite angel displayed in the window took Jan’s breath away. She wanted to purchase it, but the store was closed, and she doubted they would ever stumble upon the location again. To her relief, Stan led her back the next morning, and a kindly shopkeeper explained that…

“TO FIRESIDE HAPPINESS, TO HOURS OF EASE BLEST WITH THAT CHARM, THE CERTAINTY TO PLEASE.”—Samuel Rogers “THERE IS NO PLACE MORE DELIGHTFUL THAN ONE’S OWN FIRESIDE.”—Cicero Pomegranate-Glazed Rack of Lamb p.87 Makes 4 servings ½ cup orange juice¼ cup pomegranate juice2 tablespoons honey2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil2 cloves garlic, minced½ teaspoon kosher salt¼ teaspoon ground black pepper1 (8-bone) rack of lamb, frenchedPistachio Pesto (recipe follows)Garnish: mandarin oranges, pomegranate arils, fresh herbs 1. In a small saucepan, combine orange juice, pomegranate juice, honey, and balsamic vinegar; bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat and simmer until mixture is reduced to ⅓ cup. 2. Preheat oven to 450°. 3. In a small bowl, stir together olive oil, garlic, salt, and pepper. Rub mixture over lamb and let…

FRANKLIN, TENNESSEE British accents take on a decidedly Southern drawl in Franklin’s annual Dickens of a Christmas, a community event that began in 1985. With the town’s historic district as the enchanting setting, favorite characters featured in A Christmas Carol, from the adorable Tiny Tim to the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge, join musicians and dancers for a seasonal street party brimming with Victorian charm. In keeping with that era, Father and Mother Christmas hand out treats to delighted children, ensuring that everyone in attendance is, as the enlightened Mr. Scrooge said, “as merry as a schoolboy.” SEASIDE, FLORIDA From the magnificent glittering tree in the center of the Seaside Amphitheater and the twinkle light–draped Coleman Pavilion to the tiny post office wrapped in garlands and bows, this coastal enclave dresses in…

Two days before the Christmas of 1848, The Illustrated London News featured an engraving of Queen Victoria, husband Prince Albert, and five of their children standing around a tabletop tree bedecked in sweets, candles, and decorations from the prince’s native Germany. Upon seeing this picture-perfect holiday celebration, the English-speaking world embraced the tradition of dotting their branches with glass globes. The original kugels, a German word meaning “sphere,” were invented in the town of Lauscha, known for its glassmaking since the late sixteenth century. Here, smiths used a metal pipe and various moulds to blow the material into round balls and eventually hollow figures. To create a lustrous finish, the inside was silvered by a special liquid coating. At first, mercury was tried, but it did not adhere well, so…

The classic Queen Anne Victorian façade of Carol Haigler’s residence gives way to interiors that are essentially French Country. A rich gold palette runs throughout the rooms, where the antiques she and her husband, Larry, have so lovingly curated through the years have a certain presence found only in things that have grown more beautiful with age. In the living room, a massive Louis XV–style fireplace, reaching two stories to the ceiling, dates to the mid-1700s, and it has done more than its fair share of traveling. The piece originally came over by boat from France, making its way to Memphis by way of New Orleans, and eventually finding a forever home with the Haiglers. Whether to incorporate such a distinctive focal point “was a big decision to make,” says…

“A VOICE, A CHIME, A CHANT SUBLIME OF PEACE ON EARTH, GOOD-WILL TO MEN!”—Henry Wadsworth Longfellow…

CREDITS CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS ART MERIPOL: page 59 KATE SEARS: pages 41–48 MARCY BLACK SIMPSON: pages 31, 49–56, and 81–82 CONTRIBUTING RECIPE DEVELOPERS AND FOOD STYLISTS MEGAN LANKFORD: pages 91–96 REBECCA TREADWELL: pages 85–90 WHERE TO SHOP & BUY Below is a listing of products and companies featured in this issue. Items not listed are privately owned and are not for sale. Cover and pages 33, 36, and 38–39: Preservation Resource Center ofNew Orleans Holiday Home Tour, The Leeds-Davis Building, 923 Tchoupitoulas Street, New Orleans, LA, 504-581-7032, prcno.org. Pages 2, 4, 63, and 71–80: Special thanks to interior designer Jan Cash, Birmingham, AL. Pages 3, 9, and 17–24: The Brittany House at Oak Hill, 5931 AL-21, Oak Hill, AL, 256-975-7616, thebrittanyhouseantiquesatoakhill.com. Pages 4 and 40: Bienville House, 320 Decatur Street, New…