Peek inside the jewel collection of J. P. Morgan, at least in your mind. Plates from the privately published “Catalogue of the collection of jewels and precious works of art the property of J. Pierpont Morgan; compiled at his request by G.C. Williamson, LITT. D.” Published in London in 1910 by the Chiswick Press.

*Golden chain of honour for what is known as the Order of Grace of Christian II of Saxony.* Number 1. Plate I, page 45. Hallett Hyatt, engraver. Collections of the GIA (Gemological Institute of America) Library. Artwork in the public domain due to age. via https://archive.org/details/CatalogueOfTheCollectionOfJewelsAndPreciousWorksOfArtThePropertyOf/williamson-g-catalogue-1910-BK001723-LowRes/page/n44/mode/1up

*Badge of the order of the Annunziata of Savoy, in enameled gold. Number 2; Pendent (sic) Jewel of wrought gold enamelled.* Number 6. Plate II, page 51. Hallett Hyatt, engraver. Collections of the GIA (Gemological Institute of America) Library. Artwork in the public domain due to age. via https://archive.org/details/CatalogueOfTheCollectionOfJewelsAndPreciousWorksOfArtThePropertyOf/williamson-g-catalogue-1910-BK001723-LowRes/page/n50/mode/1up

*Pendent Jewel composed of wrought gold, enamel, and ambergris. Number 7; Pendent Jewel composed of two blocks of crystal mounted in enamelled Gold.* Number 8. Plate IV, page 67. Hallett Hyatt, engraver. Collections of the GIA (Gemological Institute of America) Library. Artwork in the public domain due to age. via https://archive.org/details/CatalogueOfTheCollectionOfJewelsAndPreciousWorksOfArtThePropertyOf/williamson-g-catalogue-1910-BK001723-LowRes/page/n50/mode/1up

Jewish Betrothal ring of gold. Number 20; Small Bust of Henri IV. Number 19; Gold Medal of the Archduke Maximillian, mounted in rich enamelled scrolls of gold-work, and ornamented with a pearl. Number 10. Plate VI. Page 77, Hallett Hyatt, engraver. Collections of the GIA (Gemological Institute of America) Library. Artwork in the public domain due to age. via https://archive.org/details/CatalogueOfTheCollectionOfJewelsAndPreciousWorksOfArtThePropertyOf/williamson-g-catalogue-1910-BK001723-LowRes/page/n77/mode/1up

*Fine onyx rosary with enamel-work inside the larger beads represented open, showing the enamel-work in the interior of the beads. Number 13.* Plate IX. Page 97, Hallett Hyatt, engraver. Collections of the GIA (Gemological Institute of America) Library. Artwork in the public domain due to age. via https://archive.org/details/CatalogueOfTheCollectionOfJewelsAndPreciousWorksOfArtThePropertyOf/williamson-g-catalogue-1910-BK001723-LowRes/page/n96/mode/1up

*Pendant jewel composed of a gem set in an open framework. Number 14*. Plate X. Page 103. Hallett Hyatt, engraver. Collections of the GIA (Gemological Institute of America) Library. Artwork in the public domain due to age. via https://archive.org/details/CatalogueOfTheCollectionOfJewelsAndPreciousWorksOfArtThePropertyOf/williamson-g-catalogue-1910-BK001723-LowRes/page/n102/mode/1up

Two links from a gold necklace or two buttons. Numbers 15 and 16; Pendant of enameled gold, forming a large flower, set upon rich scroll-work matching the two buttons. Number 17; Enameled gold pendant in the form of a swan. Number 22. Plate XI. Page 109. Hallett Hyatt, engraver. Collections of the GIA (Gemological Institute of America) Library. Artwork in the public domain due to age. via https://archive.org/details/CatalogueOfTheCollectionOfJewelsAndPreciousWorksOfArtThePropertyOf/williamson-g-catalogue-1910-BK001723-LowRes/page/n108/mode/1up

*Circular medallion of gold. Number 18. Medallion of mother-of-pearl mounted in silver-gilt oval frame. Number 23.* Plate XII. Page 115. Hallett Hyatt, engraver. Collections of the GIA (Gemological Institute of America) Library. Artwork in the public domain due to age. via https://archive.org/details/CatalogueOfTheCollectionOfJewelsAndPreciousWorksOfArtThePropertyOf/williamson-g-catalogue-1910-BK001723-LowRes/page/n114/mode/1up

Plates from J. P. Morgan’s privately printed up “Catalogue des Porcelaines Françaises de m. J. Pierpont Morgan.” From 1910. Something to look through on trips when he was away from his collection, no doubt.

cataloguedesporc00morg_0321 — “Deux vases de Forme Ovoïde, fond bleu lapis, en porcelaine de Sèvres.” (one shown). Page 124. Collections of and digitalized by the Getty Research Institute. In the public domain. via https://archive.org/details/cataloguedesporc00morg/page/124/mode/2up

cataloguedesporc00morg_0327 — “Boîte à thé et Couvercle blanc et bleu céleste, en porcelaine de Sèvres.” Page 235. Collections of and digitalized by the Getty Research Institute. In the public domain. via https://archive.org/details/cataloguedesporc00morg/page/n234/mode/2up

cataloguedesporc00morg_0343 — “Cabaret solitaire cinq pièces, fond blanc, en porcelaine de Sèvres.” Page 134. Collections of and digitalized by the Getty Research Institute. In the public domain. via https://archive.org/details/cataloguedesporc00morg/page/134/mode/2up

cataloguedesporc00morg_0353 — “Pendule fond Blanc, en porcelaine de Sèvres.” Page 140. Collections of and digitalized by the Getty Research Institute. In the public domain. via https://archive.org/details/cataloguedesporc00morg/page/140/mode/2up

Why not privately publish your own bedtime reading if it looks like this. J. P. Morgan did. Plates from his 1910 “Catalogue des porcelaines françaises de m. J. Pierpont Morgan.” All Sèvres.

"Grande ecuelle, en porcelain de Vincennes, a fond blanc." Page 66. — “Grande ecuelle, en porcelain de Vincennes, a fond blanc.” Page 66. Collection of the Getty Research Institute. In the public domain. via https://archive.org/details/cataloguedesporc00morg/page/66

Pot pourri vase. Page 90. Collection of the Getty Research Institute. In the public domain. via https://archive.org/details/cataloguedesporc00morg/page/90

Vase. Page 112. Collection of the Getty Research Institute. In the public domain. Via https://archive.org/details/cataloguedesporc00morg/page/112

Pieces from a service that belonged to the Comtesse du Barry. Page 114.Collection of the Getty Research Institute. In the public domain. via https://archive.org/details/cataloguedesporc00morg/page/114

Rectangular plaque. Page 120. Collection of the Getty Research Institute. In the public domain. via https://archive.org/details/cataloguedesporc00morg/page/120

Porcelain to dream of of a Edwardian sort. Plates from “Catalogue des porcelaines françaises de m. J. Pierpont Morgan”. Privately published in Paris in 1910. J. P.’s bedtime reading, no doubt.

"Vase Duplessis, fond vert, en porcelain de Vincennes." 1745-1753. — “Vase Duplessis, fond vert, en porcelain de Vincennes.” 1745-1753. Collection of and digitalized by the Getty Research Institute. In the public domain in the United States because the maker has been dead over 70 years. via https://archive.org/details/cataloguedesporc00morg/page/n116

"Figurine en porcelaine blanche émaillée de Vincennes." — “Figurine en porcelaine blanche émaillée de Vincennes.” 1747. French. Fournier, maker. Collection of and digitalized by the Getty Research Institute. In the public domain in the United States because the maker has been dead over 70 years. via https://archive.org/details/cataloguedesporc00morg/page/n76

"Deux petit caisses, fond vert, en porcelaine de Vincennes." 1753. — “Deux petit caisses, fond vert, en porcelaine de Vincennes.” 1753. Sevres, maker. Collection of and digitalized by the Getty Research Institute. In the public domain in the United States because the maker has been dead over 70 years. via https://archive.org/details/cataloguedesporc00morg/page/n104

An envisioning. . . 1895, Bar Harbor and auntie’s house in fall with the fog setting in.

Oh to be here.

Maine and a visit with the boy cousins. August into September and then October but no matter. A governess and not having to take the train back to Richmond for school.

School last year and the year before but Mama with a rich new husband. Governesses now and boarding school later.

Flower petals strewn at the chapel in West Virginia in July where everyone summers. Bathing suits bought and Cape May for a week.

Maine. Mama off on her wedding trip. Warmer in Virginia but having to wait until they come.

The weather a bore but the ghost stories around the big fireplace downstairs. Cider, doughnuts, and apples. Wind whistling around and hikes through the mist.

Another month and maybe. Auntie wanting to get home before the snow starts, whenever that is up near Canada.

But Uncle having to come first. Somewhere with J. P. Morgan about his bank. Hard to remember. At the house party at the beginning of August. Who everyone had wanted to meet. Tall with dark curly hair like the little cousin in Maryland. Everyone lined up to be introduced like a receiving line at one of Mama’s New Year receptions.

But fun. A spot for a child on each side and a horehound candy dropping into one’s hand from his pockets with each person met. . . . enough candy money for all the world someone said . . . . .what else is money for . . .

Photograph of three girls. 1890's. — Photograph of three girls, the younger two in sailor dresses. 1890’s. via bricksandbrass.co.uk. Photograph in the public domain.