Waddesdon Curators

All aboard! The Grand Festive Tour launched last night @WaddesdonManor for the Christmas season. Don’t miss the train!

After yesterday's rain, thunder and hail, this morning's sunshine is a welcome sight for @ClivedenConserv. The team are carrying out important conservation work on @WaddesdonManor's South Fountain.

...and also commenting on the Treaty of Paris, which was signed a day after this letter and by which Britain recognised the independence of America. This letter can be seen among others in ‘Significant Signatures’ until 2nd November.

On this day in 1783, American statesman Benjamin Franklin wrote to his friend, fellow scientist Dr Jan Ingenhousz. The letter shows Franklins interests in both science and politics, explaining the newly invented gas-filed balloons being demonstrated in Paris....

The Red Book provides a vital record of the manor and has been essential in understanding its history. Explore more of the Red Book here: waddesdon.org.uk/digital-ferdin…

On #worldphotographyday we wanted to share Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild’s 'Red Book'. Commissioned in 1897 the album includes photographs of @WaddesdonManor's interior, gardens and art collection. In this image Ferdinand reclines in what is now known as the Baron’s Room.

On #worldbeeday we take a closer look at this remarkable jewelled pineapple. Made in the mid-18th century, the fruit is set with garnets and the leaves formed of serpentine marble and jade. Half way up the pineapple is a bee, carved from rock crystal, with outstretched wings.

This photograph shows the preparations for the 'Baron's Treat', an annual garden party held at Waddesdon for the village and some 1300 local school children. There were marquees, performances, fairground rides and dancing into the evening.

Behind every photograph is a process. Hélène Binet captures the architecture of Waddesdon and other Jewish country houses through time honoured techniques, chromogenic printing for rich tones and gelatin silver printing to create her timeless black and white photographs.

CONSERVATION IN ACTION our conservation team are working up high to deep clean the Breakfast Room, a rare chance to see work which normally is done during the closed period in the winter.

In the eighteenth century, pink was worn by boys, girls, men and women, and it was only in the 20th century that ideas about pink clothing became so definitively feminine.

Gainsborough born #onthisday in 1727 painted one of Waddesdon's most popular works: 'The Pink Boy'. It acquired its nickname in the 19th century, in the wake of the fame of the 'Blue Boy', now @TheHuntington

There is a growing collection of modern and contemporary art that can be seen across the Waddesdon Estate. Angus Fairhurst's gorilla contemplates his reflection in front of our Archives Building, Windmill Hill. 🦍Angus Fairhurst, The birth of consistency, 2004

One of the highlights our Significant Signatures exhibition must be this autograph of Mozart, signed on a piece of music. You can explore the exhibition from anywhere via our app - struggling to read the handwriting, don't worry our archives team have transcribed all the letters.

Louis (Carrogis) de Carmontelle, Henri-Louis cain, called Lekain (1726-1778), in the role of Nero, c 1773

Jean Michel Moreau the Younger, La petite loge (The opera box), 1777

You might not know that Waddesdon houses an impressive drawings collection, with over 1500 works. Rarely displayed, because light exposure and changes in relative humidity can damage works on paper, we are delighted to be able to show these three theatrical works.

Significant Signatures: Autograph Letters from the Waddesdon Archive is one of two new exhibitions that have opened this week inside the Manor. On display are a number of letters from historical giants such as Elizabeth I, Benjamin Franklin, Lord Byron and Mozart