An envisioning. January, 1967. Four in the afternoon staring out at the trees crashing to the ground in mid ‘noreaster somewhere in Brookline Massachusetts.

Oh to be here.

Supposed to be sunny according to the weatherman, but it’s not exactly working out like that. Snuggled up and safe halfway up an extended living apartment tower with roast beef and Yorkshire pudding for dinner with gravy drowned in either port or madeira depending on what the bartenders from the wedding hall next door have left over from their receptions that the Brahmin bankers with their darling accents always knock off a few bottles of something at.

The rest is at this link: https://sarahbguestperry.substack.com/p/january-1967-four-in-the-afternoon

Costume sketches from mid 19th century productions of the opéra bouffe “La belle Hélène,” which has music by Jacques Offenbach and words by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy. Collections of the Bibliothèque nationale de France.

*“Hélène” (Anna Judic). La Belle Hélène (Variétés 1876).* Costume sketch for an 1876 Théâtre des Variétés production of the opéra bouffe “*La belle Hélène*.” with the role of Hélène played by Anna Judic. French. Drawing with watercolor. Jules Renard Draner (1833-1926), costume designer and artist. Collections of the gallica.bnf.fr/Bibliothèque nationale de France. Artwork itself in the public domain due to age. via https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b64021775?rk=42918;4

“Achille” (Alexandre Guyon). *La Belle Hélène (Variétés 1864).* Costume sketch for an 1864 Théâtre des Variétés production of the opéra bouffe “*La belle Hélène*.” with the role of Achille played by Alexandre Guyon. French. Drawing with watercolor. Jules Renard Draner (1833-1926), costume designer and artist. Collections of the gallica.bnf.fr/Bibliothèque nationale de France. Artwork itself in the public domain due to age. https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b64022444?rk=64378;0

“Pâris” (José Dupuis) *La Belle Hélène (Variétés 1864).* Costume sketch for an 1864 Théâtre des Variétés production of the opéra bouffe “*La belle Hélène*.” with the role of Pâris played by José Dupuis. French. Drawing with watercolor. Jules Renard Draner (1833-1926), costume designer and artist. Collections of the gallica.bnf.fr/Bibliothèque nationale de France. Artwork itself in the public domain due to age.https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b64019714?rk=85837;2

*“Ajax I” (Edouard Hamburger). La Belle Hélène (Variétés 1864).* Costume sketch for an 1864 Théâtre des Variétés production of the opéra bouffe “*La belle Hélène*.” with the role of Ajax I played by Edouard Hamburger.. French. Drawing with watercolor. Jules Renard Draner (1833-1926), costume designer and artist. Collections of the gallica.bnf.fr/Bibliothèque nationale de France. Artwork itself in the public domain due to age. https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b55003451r/f1.item.zoom

*“Ménélas” (Jean Laurent Kopp). La Belle Hélène (Variétés 1864).* Costume sketch for an 1864 Théâtre des Variétés production of the opéra bouffe “*La belle Hélène*.” with the role of Ménélas played by Jean Laurent Kopp. French. Drawing with watercolor. Jules Renard Draner (1833-1926), costume designer and artist. Collections of the gallica.bnf.fr/Bibliothèque nationale de France. Artwork itself in the public domain due to age. https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b6402245j?rk=128756;0#

*“Agamemnon” (Henri Couder). La Belle Hélène (Variétés 1864).* Costume sketch for an 1864 Théâtre des Variétés production of the opéra bouffe “*La belle Hélène*.” with the role of Agamemnon played by Henri Couder. French. Drawing with watercolor. Jules Renard Draner (1833-1926), costume designer and artist. Collections of the gallica.bnf.fr/Bibliothèque nationale de France. Artwork itself in the public domain due to age. https://gallica.bnf.fr/services/engine/search/sru?operation=searchRetrieve&version=1.2&query=%28dc.title%20all%20%22La%20belle%20H%C3%A9l%C3%A8ne%2C%20op%C3%A9ra-bouffe%20de%20Meilhac%22%29&keywords=La%20belle%20H%C3%A9l%C3%A8ne,%20op%C3%A9ra-bouffe%20de%20Meilhac&suggest=3

*“Calchas” (Pierre-Eugène Grenier). La Belle Hélène (Variétés 1864).* Costume sketch for an 1864 Théâtre des Variétés production of the opéra bouffe “*La belle Hélène*.” with the role of Calchas played by Pierre-Eugène Grenier. French. Drawing with watercolor. Jules Renard Draner (1833-1926), costume designer and artist. Collections of the gallica.bnf.fr/Bibliothèque nationale de France. Artwork itself in the public domain due to age. https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b550034810/f1.item.zoom

And I thank whoever put the article about the premiere of La Belle Hélène on Wikipedia as that is where I found the full names of most of the actors.

Imagery of goldfish in living color from “Histoire naturelle des dorades de la Chine”, published in France in 1780. Written by Louis-Edme Billardon de Sauvigny, but based on a roll of paintings and notes sent to Louis XV’s court minister, Henri-Léonard Bertin, by two Chinese priests with whom he was in close contact.

*Kin-yu: 1. Le Souci – 2. La Capucine. Dessiné en Chin. François-Nicolas Martinet, engraver.* Hand colored engraving. Page 44 of Louis-Edme Billardon de Sauvigny’s *Histoire naturelle des dorades de la Chine.* Published in 1780. Harvard University, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Ernst Mayer Library Collections. In the public domain due to age. https://archive.org/details/histoirenaturell00bill/page/n44/mode/1up

*Kin-Yu: 1. La Mouche – 2. Le Marbré. Dessiné en Chin. François-Nicolas Martinet, engraver.* Hand colored engraving. Page 46 of Louis-Edme Billardon de Sauvigny’s *Histoire naturelle des dorades de la Chine.* Published in 1780. Harvard University, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Ernst Mayer Library Collections. In the public domain due to age. https://archive.org/details/histoirenaturell00bill/page/n46/mode/1up

*Kin-yu: Le Mauricot.* *Dessiné en Chin. François-Nicolas Martinet, engraver.* Hand colored engraving. Page 56 of Louis-Edme Billardon de Sauvigny’s *Histoire naturelle des dorades de la Chine.* Published in 1780. Harvard University, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Ernst Mayer Library Collections. In the public domain due to age. https://archive.org/details/histoirenaturell00bill/page/n56/mode/1up

*Ouen-Yu: 1. La Jujube – 2. Le Baté.* *Dessiné en Chin. François-Nicolas Martinet, engraver.* Hand colored engraving. Page 60 of Louis-Edme Billardon de Sauvigny’s *Histoire naturelle des dorades de la Chine.* Published in 1780. Harvard University, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Ernst Mayer Library Collections. In the public domain due to age. https://archive.org/details/histoirenaturell00bill/page/n60/mode/1up

*Ya-Tan-Yu ou Oeufs de Canne: 1. Le Ferrugineux – 2. Le Tettard – 3. Le Frangirouge. Dessiné en Chin. François-Nicolas Martinet, engraver.* Hand colored engraving. Page 72 of Louis-Edme Billardon de Sauvigny’s *Histoire naturelle des dorades de la Chine.* Published in 1780. Harvard University, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Ernst Mayer Library Collections. In the public domain due to age. https://archive.org/details/histoirenaturell00bill/page/n72/mode/1up

*Kin-Yu: 1. Le Mauri-jaune – 2. l’Ensanglanté – 3. le Tout-Chair. Dessiné en Chin. François-Nicolas Martinet, engraver.* Hand colored engraving. Page 82 of Louis-Edme Billardon de Sauvigny’s *Histoire naturelle des dorades de la Chine.* Published in 1780. Harvard University, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Ernst Mayer Library Collections. In the public domain due to age. https://archive.org/details/histoirenaturell00bill/page/n82/mode/1up

*Kun-Yu: Le Vermillon. Dessiné en Chin. François-Nicolas Martinet, engraver.* Hand colored engraving. Page 93 of Louis-Edme Billardon de Sauvigny’s *Histoire naturelle des dorades de la Chine.* Published in 1780. Harvard University, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Ernst Mayer Library Collections. In the public domain due to age. https://archive.org/details/histoirenaturell00bill/page/n93/mode/1up

*Kin-Yu: 1. le Souffré – 2. le Petit-Gris. Dessiné en Chin. François-Nicolas Martinet, engraver.* Hand colored engraving. Page 111 of Louis-Edme Billardon de Sauvigny’s *Histoire naturelle des dorades de la Chine.* Published in 1780. Harvard University, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Ernst Mayer Library Collections. In the public domain due to age. https://archive.org/details/histoirenaturell00bill/page/n111/mode/1up

*Choui-Yu ou Dormeurs: 1. l’Emirube – 2. Le Palimembres – 3. Le Jaunitaché.* *Dessiné en Chin. François-Nicolas Martinet, engraver.* Hand colored engraving. Page 119 of Louis-Edme Billardon de Sauvigny’s *Histoire naturelle des dorades de la Chine.* Published in 1780. Harvard University, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Ernst Mayer Library Collections. In the public domain due to age. https://archive.org/details/histoirenaturell00bill/page/n119/mode/1up

I didn’t come across this rare book in an auction catalog. I found an article about it in an email from Public Domain Review here. The article has much fascinating information both about goldfish and the author and engraver. https://publicdomainreview.org/collection/chinese-fishes/?utm_source=newsletter

Dollhouses and other Miniature Worlds, for a stormy May 22nd in the 2025 spring show.

prancing on air on the tip of a baby unicorn’s tail as she bounces up and down until she feels dizzy as somewhere in Mexico City in a fashion designer’s atelier . . . quinceanera season nearly and a set of ancient fashion dolls and their doll escorts in each frock . . . well not the same frocks but saved anyway . . . little once and summer afternoons whiled away crafting ball dresses out of crepe paper from mother’s piñata shop with tiaras made from sequins . . . just as much fun now but with no customers back then and able to do whatever you want, not just want the clients mothers say . . .

my spring series post for today over on my Substack. It includes this fun travel trailer miniature that I found a while back over on Etsy.

https://sarahbguestperry.substack.com/p/dollhouses-and-other-miniature-worlds-221

Dollhouses and other Miniature Worlds for May 21st in the MMXXV spring show. . .

whispering on air as somewhere in a far away jungle and a long forgotten airstrip the ghosts of airplanes past take to the air . . . few to see but maybe to hear . . . . soaring across the sea they are on the winds of hope . . . just listen long enough and you will hear them . . . a faint rustling that sounds like a zephyr blowing through the palms but with something else behind it . . .

my spring series post at the link over on my Substack if you’d like to see it. . .

It includes this

Flotilla, from the series Exodus. 2020. French. Hand cut and stacked paper. Zim & Zou, artists. zimandzou.fr. via thisiscolossal.com. @zimandzou on Instagram.

https://sarahbguestperry.substack.com/p/dollhouses-and-other-miniature-worlds-ca6

Visions of a Japan that isn’t coming back, at least not as it was in 1823. Imagery from Philipp Franz von Siebold’s work “Nippon: Archiv zur beschreibung von Japan und dessen neben- und schutzländern Jezo mit den südlichen Kurilen, Sachalin, Korea und den Liukiu-inseln.” Published by L. Woerl in Wurzburg and Leipzig, Germany.

Figure 12. Kostüme des Adels am Hofe des Mikado. Page 160 of Philipp Franz von Siebold’s work “*Nippon: Archiv zur beschreibung von Japan und dessen neben- und schutzländern Jezo mit den südlichen Kurilen, Sachalin, Korea und den Liukiu-inseln.* Published in 1897 by the author’s sons. Wellcome Library Collections. Available under the Creative Commons Public Domain mark. https://archive.org/details/b29352411_0001/page/160/mode/1up

Figure *13. Damen am Hofe des Mikado.* Page 161 of Philipp Franz von Siebold’s work “*Nippon: Archiv zur beschreibung von Japan und dessen neben- und schutzländern Jezo mit den südlichen Kurilen, Sachalin, Korea und den Liukiu-inseln.* Published in 1897 by the author’s sons. Wellcome Library Collections. Available under the Creative Commons Public Domain mark. https://archive.org/details/b29352411_0001/page/161/mode/1up

*Figure 19. Porträt der Gemahlin des Sjōgun (left) – Figure 20. Porträt des Sjōgun (right).* Page 192 of Philipp Franz von Siebold’s work “*Nippon: Archiv zur beschreibung von Japan und dessen neben- und schutzländern Jezo mit den südlichen Kurilen, Sachalin, Korea und den Liukiu-inseln.* Published in 1897 by the author’s sons. Wellcome Library Collections. Available under the Creative Commons Public Domain mark. https://archive.org/details/b29352411_0001/page/192/mode/1up

*Figure 36. Die Kaiserin Zingo Kogo und ihr Feldherr Takenoutsi.* Page 317 of Philipp Franz von Siebold’s work “*Nippon: Archiv zur beschreibung von Japan und dessen neben- und schutzländern Jezo mit den südlichen Kurilen, Sachalin, Korea und den Liukiu-inseln.* Published in 1897 by the author’s sons. Wellcome Library Collections. Available under the Creative Commons Public Domain mark. https://archive.org/details/b29352411_0001/page/317/mode/1up

Philipp Franz von Siebold was born in Würzburg in Bavaria (now part of Germany) in 1796 into a family of physicians. He became a physician himself. In 1822, he entered the service of the Dutch East Indies Army as chief medical officer stationed in Batavia. The next year the governor-general for Batavia sent him on an expedition to Japan so these are from life though how many years there were between when he went and when the drawings were done I am not sure. He traveled with apothecary Heinrich Bürger and the skilled painter C.H. de Villeneuve so presumably Villeneuve did the drawings. He traveled to Japan on at least one more occasion, the last time being in 1859.

Learn more about him here https://www.sieboldhuis.org/en/about/siebold/

I didn’t find this book by myself. I found a copy up for sale on the website of rare book seller Antiquariaat Schierenberg schierenberg.nl who were vendors at the rare book fair here last fall.

Dollhouses and other Miniature Worlds for Monday May 19th in the 2025 spring show .

effervescing in air on the tip of a sunbeam rising at dawn as in the children’s zoo in a great city the two legged ones keep scrubbing everything while at the concession stand the helpers open up the packages of hot dog buns and the mother of the prairie dog family that lives next to the donkeys smiles and then frowns . . . one more day and then open . . . that fun but the little ones getting sick from the candy that the other little ones that ride in strollers toss in . . . but one can hope . . . a carrot stick here and there . . . hopefully more of those . . . no rest for the weary with a child who has a tummy ache all night but that the zoo keepers don’t think of . . .

My spring series post for today over on my Substack at the link. Enjoy!

https://sarahbguestperry.substack.com/p/dollhouses-and-other-miniature-worlds-ca3

Dollhouses and other miniature Worlds for May 14th in the 2025 spring show . . .

simpering on air on the toes of a diver as she reaches for the water as in the Meissen porcelain factory a bit of noise and then a dance . . . back in the archives it is where they keep all the old ones . . . Meissen has been around a very long time . . . porcelain ladies in crinolines and modern day ladies in leggings with escorts with motorcycle helmets on their heads . . . a bit of everything and all mixed up . . . the only way that’s fun, don’t you think . . . time’s a-wasting and the boring stuff . . . well that just has to go.

My spring series post for today over on my Substack at the link. Please keep scrolling to the end to see them all. Far more images than will work as email length because these were originally posted to my Facebook and yes people are still sending me links that I can’t help but use.

https://sarahbguestperry.substack.com/p/dollhouses-and-other-miniature-worlds-c14

Decoration zu der oper Olimpia. Stage design for different acts in Gaspare Spontini’s opera “Olimpie.” Two for Act I and one each for Act II and Act III. Karl Friedrich Schinkel, designer (1781-1841). Johann Friedrich Jügel, printer (1772-1833). Collections of @gallica.bnf, the Bibliothèque nationale de France.

*Decorations zu der oper Olimpia Act. 1. Berlin.bei L. W. Wittich. Jügel, printer.* 1821. German. Engraving. Set design for Act I of Gaspare Spontini’s opera “Olimpie.” Karl Friedrich Schinkel, designer (1781-1841). Johann Friedrich Jügel, printer (1772-1833). Ludwig Wilhelm (L. W.) Wittich, publisher. Bibliothèque nationale de France, département Bibliothèque-musée de l’opéra. In the public domain due to age. https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b531170006.item or here https://www.instagram.com/architecture_on_paper/p/DJecjBuzIXL/?hl=en

*Decorations zu der oper Olimpia Act. II. Berlin.bei L. W. Wittich. Jügel, printer.* 1821. German. Engraving. Set design for Act I of Gaspare Spontini’s opera “Olimpie.” Karl Friedrich Schinkel, designer (1781-1841). Johann Friedrich Jügel, printer (1772-1833). Ludwig Wilhelm (L. W.) Wittich, publisher. Bibliothèque nationale de France, département Bibliothèque-musée de l’opéra. In the public domain due to age. https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b53117001n/f1.item.r=Decoration%20zu%20der%20oper%20Olimpia.zoom#

*Decorations zu der oper Olimpia Act. III. Berlin.bei L. W. Wittich. Jügel, printer.* 1821. German. Engraving. Set design for Act I of Gaspare Spontini’s opera “Olimpie.” Karl Friedrich Schinkel, designer (1781-1841). Johann Friedrich Jügel, printer (1772-1833). Ludwig Wilhelm (L. W.) Wittich, publisher. Bibliothèque nationale de France, département Bibliothèque-musée de l’opéra. In the public domain due to age. https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b531170006.item

These must have been hand colored as the technology to do it by machine came along much later.

CLARISSA, VERONICA, BEATRICE AND VIOLET:

Wandering into a life of adventure, wrapped in a sewing ladies’ swansdown swaddle to keep you safe.

my new coming of age piece just published on my Substack. It is around 44 pages long in the writing and then there are around 14 pictures. I hope you like it!

https://sarahbguestperry.substack.com/p/clarissa-veronica-beatrice-and-violet