I love sweets! Imagine a Baked Alaska – and instead of just ice cream inside, you find nuts and fondant and candied ginger and all the goodies you love – well, that is the Wallace Collection. A feast for the senses.
We walked over – just about a mile due west, crossing Regent Street, Hardy Street, passing the Radiant Building, from which radiant heaters were sold. These replaced coal in many fireplaces. At The Cock and Lion (hardly an even match) Pub, we turned north and there was Hertford House (the London home of the Wallace family), home of the Wallace Collection.
The Wallace Collection is a national museum which displays the wonderful works of art collected in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries by the first four Marquesses of Hertford and Sir Richard Wallace, the son of the 4th Marquess. Sir Richard’s widow, Lady Wallace, bequeathed it to the British nation in 1897.
The Wallace Collection presents its outstanding collections in a sumptuous but approachable manner which is an essential part of its charm. Yes, you can practically stand on top of Franz Hals, “The Laughing Cavalier”.
The Wallace’s were omnivores. They bought in bulk, at estate auction of the rich, famous and now penniless. Their world renowned collections of arms and armor came not from thoughtful acquisition, but the purchase of entire collections assembled by others. What we see today is only a smattering of their “goodies”, but it captivated us for hours. Objet d’art we did not know existed – like wax miniatures from the Middle Ages; pieces of glass that should have been shattered centuries ago. Mallorca ware, something I considered rather tacky, of such beauty that I searched the gift shop unsuccessfully for a reproduction. The photos will give you a small sense of the awe we felt – and the restaurant was great!
After five hours with the Wallaces, we walked south to Oxford Street, so I could make a quick sox and underwear stop at Marks & Spencer’s. My only shopping so far has been Tesco and Oxfam. So even though Ed had to park in the Tea Shoppe for 45 minutes, I snagged just what I was seeking – five knit shirts on the 70% off rack. Darn, sometimes I wish I enjoyed full-price retail as much as rag-picking for bargains. As you can see from the photo, Oxford Street on Saturday afternoon is not for the faint of heart. Home, glass of wine, and it’s Saturday night, so the big two hour “Strictly Come Dancing” show is on. Joy!
The Radiant Building and The Cock and Lion sign. The walk was full of interesting buildings.
Whoa, Nellie! Knights and horses outfitted for battle and jousting.
Knight's jousting armor. They could really see nothing. Savage daggers.
Yes, it is Louis XIV. We always thought Grandpa had a nice roll-top desk.
Miniatures in wax! Fragile glassware! How did they survive?
This guy, The Laughing Cavalier by Frans Hals, just greets you as you wander through a gallery. Look at the brush work in this lace cuff. Ah, the Dutch painters of the Golden Age!
Then there is this Dutch painting by Van der Halst of the Avan Aras Family. A dead rabbit in her hands, really? And is he looking intently at her or the rabbit?
Oxford Street Saturday afternoon.