Book "The Evolution of the Cape Cod House, An Architectural History", Arthur Richmond

Arthur P. Richmond, Schiffer Publishing. Ltd.

I purchased this book for the Sturgis Public Charter School's annual silent auction and now I am compelled to go buy another for myself!  This book chronicles the history of the Cape Cod style home from its origins in England to the shores of southern New England.  It is crammed with information, plans of original layouts, architectural drawings of facades, early photographs as well as recent photos.  

I particularly enjoyed the detail drawings of architectural features like exterior doorways and windows. The photos are remarkable and the research is detailed.  I have many books on Cape Cod style architecture and this is my new favorite!

Women's Worlds, the Art and Life of Mary Ellen Best 1809-1891 by Caroline Davidson

Self portrait of the artist

I stumbled upon this book when I was searching for representations of early 19th century interiors in art.  If your home was built in the first half of the 19th century, this book is a gold mine!  Mary Ellen Best was an English artist who lived from 1809-1891.  This book shows 140 full color pictures of her paintings of domestic interiors and streetscapes.  Many of the interiors are middle to upper class homes, while some have more humble origins.

Note the slipcovers and pillows on the sofa

         

Ms. Best slavishly copies the details of the wallpaper, carpets, artwork, drapery and even china in the houses of her friends and relatives or of the hotels that she stayed at when traveling.  Some of my favorite paintings showed the kitchens, from homey English ones to the squeaky clean kitchens of the Netherlands.  No detail escapes her notice - right down to the table settings and crumb cloths.

The author, Caroline Davidson, follows Ms. Best chronologically through her life and many travels. She enriches the illustrations with commentary about the artist's life as well as the details that are to be found in the watercolors.

Women's Worlds, The Art and Life of Mary Ellen Best 1809-1891, Caroline Davidson, Crown Publishers, Inc., New York c. 1985

Our Own Snug Fireside by Jane C. Nylander

Have you ever wanted to be a fly on the wall in an early 19th century kitchen?  What are the women cooking?  What are they chatting about?  And what time is dinner anyway?  Nylander helps us to delve into domestic life of the time period between 1760 to 1860.  Through period journals, letters, family account books, advertisements, paintings and illustrations, she tells us a story of a way of life that is all but forgotten.  But leave the rose colored glasses behind.  This book looks at the joys but also the harsh realities of the time.

Accounts of the drudgery of laundry as well as the pleasures of a quilting party give us an intimate glimpse of the day to day life of our foremothers.   This work is enriched with 162 period illustrations showing everything from elegant dinner parties, to pro temperance advertisements.  Its the next best thing to a time machine.