Lady Ailsa's Boudoir

[anteros_lmc]

Finally got round to taking some scans from the gorgeous National Trust book on Culzean Castle and the Kennedys. I'll post the portraits later in the week but here in the meantime is Lady Ailsa's Boudoir.


Isn't it lovely? And look at the little boat shaped cradles! Aren't they just gorgeous?

"In the 1777 rebuilding of Culzean this room was intended to be the principal or "Best Bedroom" coming at the end of the suite of formal reception rooms with its dressing room next door. Adam's frieze here appropriately depicts poppy seed heads, emblematic of sleep. After the new north front to the Castle was completed, new State Apartments were built on the other side of the house. The 1st Marquess (Archibald Kennedy) and Marchioness of Ailsa seem to have used these rooms as family rooms with the bedroom becoming Lady Ailsa's Boudoir."

National Trust for Scotland, 2006, Culzean Castle, p 52.

Of course esmerelda_t thinks Bartholomew sleeps in the little boats. That of course is nonsense. Bartholomew sleeps on the bed. Why else would the bed warmer be there?

Note: The icon is a picture of Ailsa Craig, the rock the Marquess took his title from. It was taken returning from a rather lovely day trip to Culzean several years ago. And its not filtered, those really were the colours :)

Comments

[kittycallum.livejournal.com]

Eee, that's fun to see. Thanks for posting. I love the little boats. (And of course Bartholomew sleeps on the bed! The boats are for ... er ... kittens!)

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

Aren't the boats divine?

Kittens eh? Think I might have to run a challenge to find out what these boats are _really_ for ;)

[kittycallum.livejournal.com]

Excellent idea! :D I'd love to see what people suggest.

[esmerelda-t.livejournal.com]

What's interesting is that sort of decor would have been fashionable right up to the 1950's, and of course would be again now as vintage.

I am still insistent the little boats were intended for Bartholomew, whether he slept in them or promptly climbed out and got into the bed is another matter. :P

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

It's lovely decor isn't it? You could actually imagine sleeping there without being overwhelmed by the grandeur, very restful.

Although whether anyone could sleep with a spaniel in the middle of the bed is a moot point. Perhaps if the bed warmer had been in the little boat Bartholomew might have been more inclined to stay there?

[esmerelda-t.livejournal.com]

Oh yes, I can see that being the decor in a posh B&B.

I used to sleep with our spaniel like dog in the bed when I was a kid! We were both very small though so we both fit. :P

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

Oh yes, I can see that being the decor in a posh B&B.
A posh B&B?! You're starting to sound like Horatio - must cost a fortune to heat and it looks like a posh guesthouse ;) Incidentally one of the later Marchionesses did complain about the cost of heating Culzean. Kennedy pragmatism again!

[esmerelda-t.livejournal.com]

If it doesn't have a whirl pool in the bathroom it's merely a B&B. :P

Incidentally one of the later Marchionesses did complain about the cost of heating Culzean.

I believe Haggis fur burns well and they of course have to be shorn in the spring. :P

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

If it doesn't have a whirl pool in the bathroom it's merely a B&B. :P
Oo, get you! I vaguely remember from visiting that Culzean has an amazing shower contraption thingy but sadly no whirl pool bath ;)

of course have to be shorn in the spring
Och, that's just nonsense! Everyone knows that haggis are to be shorn in late summer.

[esmerelda-t.livejournal.com]

an amazing shower contraption thingy

okay, thay's fic that begs to be written, only I think with the younger, firmer, versions of H&A. ;)

Balderdash! They'd be cold in the autumn and too warm in the summer! :P

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

okay, thay's fic that begs to be written
It was an incredible stand up needle shower type thing with pipes everywhere. I'm sure it was in Culzean, but tbh it could have been some other random castle!

only I think with the younger, firmer, versions of H&A. ;)
Erm....yes....

Balderdash! They'd be cold in the autumn and too warm in the summer! :P
You're havering lassie! Summer? Summer?! How are they supposed to keep warm in the freezing cold Highland summer if you shear them in spring? Everyone knows that any warm weather comes in autumn. Sometimes even for two or three days!

[esmerelda-t.livejournal.com]

How are they supposed to keep warm in the freezing cold Highland summer if you shear them in spring?

But these are lowland Aryshire Haggis and nothing is worse than the smell of a damp haggis during a muggy, wet, lowland, summer. *nods*

I should probably find something constructive to do for the rest of the morning before lunch and work.

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

nothing is worse than the smell of a damp haggis during a muggy, wet, lowland, summer. *nods*
True, very true. *nods in agreement*

I should probably find something constructive to do for the rest of the morning before lunch and work.
Y'reckon? ;) Later.

[shezzawatto.livejournal.com]

ROTFL
Great banter! We're just about to organise shearing of our little flock (a bit late admittedly). Oh. Sheep that is. No haggis seem to have been transported to our climes.
Beautiful restful boudoir. Delightful little cradles. Bartholemew can sleep on a blanket on the floor can't he?
By the way, we have sea haar and to spare at present. Practically windless and what there is is on shore with warm weather conditions. Humidity up to billy-oh, visibility down to billy-oh, and doesn't burn off until mid morning.Couldn't help thinking of you.

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

No haggis seem to have been transported to our climes.
We could send some over post haste if you like? Btw I used to have to help my dad shear sheep when I was a kid. What a job!

Bartholemew can sleep on a blanket on the floor can't he?
You'd have to ask esmerelda_t, but I suspect Bartholemew would take a rather dim view of sleeping on the floor.

Couldn't help thinking of you.
Hmm not sure how I feel about being associated with damp fog! ;)

[shezzawatto.livejournal.com]

I used to have to help my dad shear sheep when I was a kid. What a job!
Indeed! Fortunately we can get someone in and hubby acts as rouse-about. Is / was your father into doing things the old fashioned way with hand shears, or had he succumbed to 'lectric ones? Either way, he deserves admiration!

Hmm not sure how I feel about being associated with damp fog! ;)
Oh dear! Sorry about that. LOL. Now *that* phrase made me think of "big damp foggy island Nor' nor' east of Ushant" - must do some work and not get distracted by Pellew speak. *sigh*

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

It's a long time ago, 30 years at least, so it was hand shears all the way. Had to sharpen them after every fleece. And he always seemed to have crap sheep dogs so my sister and I had to do the job instead! Those were the days :}

big damp foggy island Nor' nor' east of Ushant
"I trust you can find it? Hmn?"

Anyone would think you've got a bit of a thing for the good captain m'dear!

[eglantine-br.livejournal.com]

Sheep always seem so pitiful at shearing time. I myself have never done it. We had goats. You do their hooves and milk them-- but you never have to pick them up and throw them around like for shearing. And they don't weep.

I can milk, trim hooves, dehorn, all that. Also tried to be there for debut of most of our kids. (My parents let me sleep in the barn so I would get to see,)

I wish there was a way to give my kids some of that life-- but no. They ride the subaway instead.

(Also, what is a haggis? I thought it was food. **covers pink face in shame of ignorance**)

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

Are you reading back through all my Clan Kennedy posts? *grin* Glad they're still proving to be entertaining!

And they don't weep.
Neither did the sheep we had. They were Scottish Blackface and they are the most stoical creatures on the face of the earth. They can endure anything. Except midgies, which drive them mad!

I wouldn't know how to milk anything! I don't know much about goats they weren't many on the island when I was a kid (no pun intended ;)

Our children will have very different lives from us I guess, but I suppose that's the nature of things. I guess we just have to try and share as much of our own experiences with them as we can.

Also, what is a haggis? I thought it was food.
Rofl! It is food :Desmerelda_t and I were just being silly. Hard to believe I know...Haggis is sheep's stomach stuffed with minced meat, offal, oatmeal and spices. However tourists are often told that the haggis is a small hairy animal that lives on remote Scottish hillsides. Like Welsh sheep, they are said to have legs that are shorter on one side than the other, so they can run round the side of hills without falling off! XD