To Bathe or Not to Bathe in the 18th Century

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Ah, the 18th century: a time of powdered wigs, elegance, perfumes, and… questionable personal hygiene? It’s easy for us modern folk—with our rain showers, scented soaps, and expensive bath bombs—to scoff at the idea of physical cleanliness back then. But was personal hygiene in the late 18th century really as dreadful as it seems? Let’s take a look at the changing ideas about taking a bath, the related technical progress, and how one might soak in style during Jane Austen’s day.

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Shades of Blue: Discovering new colours in the 18th Century

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The 18th century sees an increase in scientific knowledge and practical research. Many findings have a direct impact on everyday life, craft and commerce. New technics allows, e.g., to create new colours. Find out here what Napoleon’s Campaign in Egypt, the Prussians and an apothecary have to do with the various blue pigments created in the long 18th century.

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Could Heroines of Regency Novels Have Enjoyed the Fragrance of Wisterias?

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The purple-blue blossoms of the wisteria delight the eye, and their sweet fragrance enchants the soul. Today, this beautiful plant adorns gardens, cottages and manor houses across Britain. The popular Regency-era series Bridgerton shows Bridgerton House with wisteria in full bloom climbing up the facade. But is this historically accurate? Did wisterias bloom in gardens during the Regency period? And would Jane Austen have enjoyed the blossoms, too? Let’s find out.

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Fashion Meets Scientific Progress: The “Spy Fan”

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Fans are so much more than fashionable accessories: They are useful for flirting, can cool heated cheeks or hide an unladylike emotion. In the wake of the Napoleonic War, their usefulness was boosted beyond the known limit when fans were made for spying, i.e. discretely observing the surrounding or other persons. I found some examples of these extraordinary devices when I visited the exhibition “Waterloo: Life & Times” of the Fan Museum in Greenwich, UK.

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Coffee Crimes

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Coffee was a popular hot beverage in 18th century Britain. Coffee houses spread across cities, and grocers sold both coffee beans and ground coffee to private consumers. As demand rose, coffee became the subject of fraudulent practices. How could customers be protected from adulterated products? And what other crimes were related to coffee?

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Read like it’s 1805

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In 1805, Britain stands under constant threat of a French invasion. Napoleon has assembled his invasion force – Armée d’Angleterre – at Boulogne-sur-Mer in Northern France, ready to strike. Additionally, the French and Spanish fleets combine to take control of the English Channel. In Britain, about 252,000 men are part of the regular and voluntary military forces. The numbers employed by the Royal Navy expands from 36,000 in 1793 to 120,000 in 1805. After a flurry of British diplomatic missions Austria and Russia join Britain against France. The victory at the Battle of Trafalgar in October gives Britain fresh hope, though the country loses its greatest naval hero. What can you read to distract the mind in a period of tension and uncertainty?

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Dolls as toys and as mirror of fashion

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Dolls have always been around. As a marketable toy for children, they became more and more elaborate in the 18th century. Dolls for the wealthy were elegantly dressed, including ruffles, panniers, rich lace and tiny shoes with buckles. True ambassadors of fashion were the so-called Pandora dolls, early mini-mannequins used by dressmakers to send their designs to customers.

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Transcript of 1777 Travel Diary in Search of a Historian or Author!

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Are you a historian, author, or student interested in an 18th-century project? The transcript of a diary chronicling a sea voyage from Copenhagen to Tranquebar (Tharangambadi) in 1777 might be just the project for you. The trancsript is written in German, and available for free. For more information, application and further procedure, please read on.

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