The First Important Woman Jeweller

(Boivin sapphire necklace at Kaboodle.com)

The great designer, Poiret, wasn't the only talented member of his family. His sisters also became important designers. One, Jeanne Poiret, became the first important woman jeweller.

Jeanne married the jeweller, Jules Rene Boivin, in 1893. Boivin, an expert engraver and jeweler, had founded his first jewellery workshop in Paris in 1890. He acquired more workshops after he married Jeanne, a talented designer who worked with him.

Jeanne actually took over the business when Boivin died in 1917 and continued the company's work and kept talented designers, such as Suzanne Belperron and Juliette Montard. The Boivin company's clients included artists such as Degas, socialites, and stars. They appreciated the Art Deco-style jewellery for which Boivin was famous and flocked to the prestigious shop on the Avenue de l'Opera. Rene Boivin loved flowers, especially orchids, so the jewellery included pieces with floral motifs. Marine life and mythical creatures also inspired the Boivins.

The Art Deco large, mechanistic bracelets are especially famous. Although the jewellery was never signed, it is apparently easy to recognise.

The Boivin's daughter took over the company after Jeanne died. It was sold to Asprey in 1991 and it is still a prestigious jewellery company.

Find A Good Online Education

The Online Universities website by Find Your Education has a wide variety of online degree programs for students to choose from. These include Art History, IT, and Business courses. Universities include the University of Phoenix and Strayer University. Many students, especially those who are at work, like to study online because they can study in their own time. Students can study during the night, for example. They also don't have to commute so they save money. Also, students who study online can often choose from a wider variety of courses.

Studying online is an especially good idea for mothers with children and the disabled. Mothers can choose when to study if they study online and they can also watch their children while they are studying. The disabled don’t have to commute and they will find it helpful to study at their own pace.

This is a very helpful site which students can easily use to search for suitable courses. For example, students can find a list of Online Degree Programs in Art History. It also includes articles about such subjects, as choosing the right online degree, military education benefits, and finding your niche.

http://www.fafsa.ed.gov

Another Edwardian Invention

Think of Edwardian women next time you do the vacuuming. They were so thankful for this new invention that vacuum cleaner parties became very popular!

The first power-driven vacuum cleaner was invented by H.Cecil Booth, a British engineer in 1901. It was so large that it had to be mounted on horse-drawn carts. Using it involved extending the 100-foot hose through the windows! Before the invention of this modern new convenience, cleaning machines blew or brushed the dirt away. The new machine was used for all sorts of strange jobs, such as cleaning the dusty girders of the Crystal Palace. Booth formed his own company, specialising in industrial vacuum cleaners.

Murray Spangler invented the first electric vacuum cleaner in Ohio. William Henry Hoover's wife was so impressed with it that she showed it to her husband. He bought the patent rights and he also formed his own company. In fact, his name practically became synonymous with the vacuum cleaner.

Unfortunately, I couldn't watch this video. Some of you will be able to, however.

Edwardian Farm - The Vacuum Cleaner

One of New Zealand's Favourite Opera Singers

A tribute was being held for the great conductor, Toscanini. A ghost in the audience watched as the conductor held his concert. Flowers sent to her were placed in a darkened hotel room in Venice.

The ghost was the famous opera singer, Frances Alda.

More about Melba

Dr. Louise Mahler has a wonderfully interesting post on her blog about Dame Nellie Melba's business tactics.

Sarah Bernhardt's Two Princes

Sarah Bernhardt wasn't always 'The Divine Sarah'. She despaired at 18 of ever becoming an actress, let alone a great one. Her mother told her that her acting was ridiculous and the distraught girl resigned from The Gymnase. This was a theatre which showed light comedies.

Bernhardt decided to go on a trip. She may have gone to Spain. She fell in love with the Belgian Prince Henri de Lignes, the great love of her life. He wanted to marry her but his family persuaded her that he would lose his inheritance and be looked down upon by society if she accepted. She gave him up.

She did have his son, however. Bernhardt called him Maurice. When Maurice was much older the prince officially recognised him and offered him his name and a large fortune. He decided to remain 'Bernhardt'.

There is a legend that Maurice and his father were catching a train but they'd lost the tickets. The ticket officer told the prince that he'd never heard of him. However, he knew the name 'Bernhardt' so they got on the train!

The Prince of Wales

Did 'the Divine Sarah' and Edward, Prince of Wales have an affair? Her granddaughter said that they were the best of friends. We will probably never know.
However, his first acknowledged mistress, Lily Langtry, certainly got quite jealous of the frizzy-haired, beautiful Frenchwoman.

The prince and the young actress often dined together in Paris. He also showered her with expensive jewellery and loved to go to her performances. When she went to London in 1879 the air was buzzing with gossip about the couple.

Lady Cavendish complained that Bernhardt was 'shameless' yet she was invited everywhere. She probably wasn't very happy about the speculation that Bernhardt and the prince were involved!

The only evidence of an affair seems to be that they spent many hours together and Bernhardt told her theatre manager that she was late because she was with the prince until the early hours of the morning.

Syria Lamonte, An Australian Opera Singer

A young barmaid working at Rules Restaurant in London was invited to make the first recording on flat disc for His Master's Voice. She had an excellent and large soprano voice. The year was 1898 and the song was 'Coming Through The Rye'. Her name was Syria Lamonte and she was an Australian opera singer. (Please see Tony Locantro's note).

This is the myth. Syria Lamonte worked as a singer at the restaurant, not a barmaid. She is probably turning in her grave at the very thought!

Born in Sydney, Lamonte was trained in opera by two highly skilled teachers, Madame Chambers and Signor Checi. They also taught Nellie Melba. The young and beautiful soprano soon started getting musical engagements. She sang at the Tivoli in Sydney at the beginning of her career. The Sydney Morning Herald described Lamonte as having 'a fine soprano voice.'

Lamonte sang in various opera companies in Australia and visited many capitals and country towns. According to The Brisbane Courier, she made 'a very favourable impression' in the opera 'In Town' and 'her vivacious singing of 'The Gay Parisian' was warmly applauded.'

The young opera singer decided to try her luck in London. She sang at music-halls there as well as the restaurant. She was also engaged for the opera 'Lohengrin' in Berlin. Lamonte sang in many countries, including Russia and America. Eventually she came back to Melbourne where she retired.

(The Tivoli, Sydney from The Dictionary of Sydney.org)