Bottger's teapot that struck gold! A close encounter at the Frick Museum (aka "rock star status for red stoneware")

The moment had arrived! Seeing Bottger's highlighted teapot (far left, second shelf) was golden!

During the height of quarantine in 2020, the Frick Museum launched a weekly video series titled Cocktails with the Curator, where a museum expert would present a curated object—be it a painting, clock, or ceramic—paired with a themed drink. My favorite episode, which I replayed like a Casey Kasem chart-topper, was Böttger’s Teapot, a riveting dive into Europe’s first successful attempts to replicate Chinese porcelain. As tea, coffee, and chocolate swept into western Europe in the 17th century, so, too, did the desire for elegant serving ware among the royals and aristocracy.

In our BTS blog, Böttger’s Teapot, Cocktails, Mocktails and the History of European Porcelain from the Frick Museum (February 2021), we shared the remarkable story of Johann Friedrich Böttger. Born in Germany in 1682, Böttger began in his family’s trade of coin minting before spinning tales that he was an alchemist capable of transforming base metals into gold—a claim that piqued the interest of European royals, starting with Frederick of Prussia. When the illusion couldn’t hold, Böttger fled to Dresden, only to be captured by Augustus the Strong, who also hoped to cash in on Böttger’s miraculous promises.

Cocktails with Curator, much watched episode, Bottger's Teapot

A fellow prisoner, Ehrenfried Walter von Tschirnhaus, was already experimenting with replicating Chinese porcelain, and it was here that Böttger pivoted—abandoning alchemy and embracing the chemistry of ceramics. After many trials using kaolin, red clay, and feldspar, Böttger produced stoneware—close, but not quite porcelain. A few years later, he finally struck the right combination for white porcelain.

As noted in our May BTS blog, Treasures from Holland: Windmills, Delft and Wooden Shoes, the Dutch had long admired Chinese porcelain and attempted their own interpretations in Delft. However, without kaolin, their ceramics were less durable and of lower quality. Once kaolin deposits were discovered in England and other parts of Europe, demand for Delftware declined.

Portico Gallery includes many ceramics

. . . and other fancy servingware

Still, Böttger’s red stoneware stood out for its beauty. It could be polished or left matte, and many of his works combine both finishes. Several pieces are now housed in the Frick’s collection—including that dazzling 2020 centerpiece, Böttger’s Teapot.

BTS were quick to purchase tickets.

The Frick reopened April, 2025 after renovations.

This April, good fortune came to us as Frick reopened its doors after an almost five-year renovation, and our BTS crew were quick to book tickets for our New York visit. Last week, I stood face-to-face—or more accurately, face-to-pottery—with Böttger’s teapot. It felt like attending an all-star concert of one of America’s Top 40: all the fanfare, none of the noise.

Bottger's teapot, rock star status for red stoneware!

Located in the portico gallery just off the Frick's library, Böttger’s porcelain is part of a hallway lined with exquisite ceramics and serving ware. Seeing this diminutive teapot in person—and its stoneware companions—was nothing short of a golden opportunity.

Angelina's Tea Time: Paris, 2008 - New York, 2025!

Angelina's with the family in New York City

Seventeen years ago, my husband, Chris, and I spent a memorable week in Paris celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary. Alongside the must-see landmarks every tourist checks off—the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, and the Louvre—our well-traveled friends insisted we visit Angelina's for tea. We did, and we especially fell for their blend of Earl Grey (which those same friends eagerly requested we bring back some for them, too).

Recently, we discovered that afternoon tea at Angelina’s is now possible a little closer to home. Our favorite New York couple, Matt and Jenna—who also fondly recall their own delightful experience at the original Paris location—had told us a few years ago that a new Angelina's tearoom had opened in Manhattan and that the offerings were just as delicious.

At Angelina's in Paris, 2008, celebrating 25th wedding anniversary!

Last week, while in New York, our family made a nostalgic pilgrimage to Angelina’s in Bryant Park. We were thrilled to once again be surrounded by the rich décor and delectable tea treats that had enchanted us in Paris all those years ago.

Back in Paris, I had been captivated by Angelina’s ambiance: large murals, cream-colored walls and elegant moldings, and wood tables with marbleized tops. Yet what lingered most in my memory was the charm of the space and the gently aged patina of its furnishings.

Afternoon tea, small but reasonably priced.

Each sweet and savory artfully presented!

The New York location faithfully echoes the original with its French provincial flair—similar murals and leather-cushioned chairs adorn the space—but having opened in 2020, it gleams like a freshly minted coin. It will take a few decades to acquire the well-worn character of its century-old predecessor.

Two of three opted for Angelina's hot chocolate (see whipped cream accompaniment on table).

According to their website, Angelina’s was founded in 1903 by confectioner Antoine Rumpelmayer, who named the tearoom after his beloved daughter-in-law. It quickly became the "epitome of French sophistication," attracting Parisian luminaries such as Marcel Proust and Coco Chanel (and, one hundred and five years later, your humble BTS blogger).

Lemon tart - as delicious as it is beautifully presented!

During this visit to the NY Angelina’s, my daughter Rachel and I opted for the afternoon tea: an elegant array of sweets and savories served on a two-tiered silver tray. Though scones were absent, we were treated to a steaming pot of tea—naturally, I chose the Earl Grey. At just under $50 per person, it felt like a reasonable indulgence. The tea treats were beautifully presented and exceptionally flavorful.

Angelina's Earl Grey is the best!

Chris chose a Caesar salad, while Matt and Jenna shared a croque monsieur and a lemon tart. A few in our party couldn’t resist Angelina’s legendary hot chocolate: warm, thick, and gloriously sweet.

Rachel purchasing chocolate mix, but no Earl Grey. 

To cap off our delightful visit, we stopped by the glass counter to purchase some Earl Grey to bring home, only to find it sold out. I told the gentleman behind the register that Angelina's Earl Grey is simply the best. He smiled and said, "I know—that’s why it’s sold out."

Mais bien sûr!

Angelina's in NYC's Bryant Park

One thing we’re certain of—we’ll be back (for all the above!).

A Lively Mind: Jane Austen at NYC's Morgan Library elicits much approbation on special anniversaries!

BTS' Barb Gulley & Rachel Brown, having visited Chawton, still found much to discover at The Morgan

“A Lively Mind” is a perfectly fitting title for the Jane Austen exhibit at The Morgan Library. It beautifully showcases the personality, intelligence, and enduring allure of the author through her letters, personal possessions, and two centuries’ worth of inspired collections curated by generations of devoted Janeites. The exhibit marks both the 250th anniversary of Austen’s birth and the 50th anniversary of the library’s acquisition of an impressive collection of Austen treasures from Alberta Burke.

Curated by Dale Stinchcomb of The Morgan Library and Juliette Wells, a professor at Goucher College, the exhibit opened in June and runs through September.

Jane's letter to her niece, written backward.

Cassandra's  "cut"  - an edit of "uncharitable" remark.

We first learned about the exhibit last year, shortly after our initial visit to The Morgan Library. Knowing they owned some of Austen’s letters, I mistakenly assumed they would be on permanent display. When we found nothing Austen-related, I sent an inquiry asking when and where one might view them in the future. To my delight, Dale Stinchcomb himself responded, sharing news of a special summer 2025 exhibition that would feature not only the library’s holdings but also additional items on loan from Chawton.

Barb G. at Chawton where Jane A. wrote

Rachel B. played the Chawton pianoforte 

That was all we needed to hear—we called our NYC family and booked our hotel! After waiting a multitude of fortnights, last week my husband Chris, our daughter Rachel, and I returned to the familiar Gilded Age home-turned-museum in Midtown Manhattan.

It was well worth the wait.

Even though Rachel and I have previously visited Chawton, Winchester, and Bath, we found plenty to discover in The Morgan’s A Lively Mind. The exhibit includes several of Jane’s letters, many written to her beloved sister, Cassandra.

Lock of Jane's hair once owned by Alberta Burke.

Jane's ring, once owned by Kelly Clarkson

          

After reviewing all of Austen’s correspondence in The Morgan’s collection, Curator Stinchcomb shared that even he was struck by “discovering Jane’s chatty, snarky voice.”

In her letters, Austen speaks candidly about fashion, her writing, daily activities, health, and family. Her remarks about relatives weren't always believed to be flattering, however, leading to some conspicuous editing by Cassandra. In one letter, it appears she physically cut out “uncharitable" remarks to protect both author and family.

"She was the sun of my life".

Cassandra's letter after Jane's passing.

Among the most poignant items on display is a letter from Cassandra to her niece Fanny, announcing Jane’s passing and writing, “I have lost a treasure...” Stinchcomb says the letter still moves him deeply: “[The Morgan] should put a box of tissues next to it.”

Other highlights include:

• ✨ A letter written entirely backward to her eight-year-old niece—in elegantly legible script, no less.

• 📜 A “cross-hatched” letter to Cassandra, where Jane wrote in two directions to conserve paper. At the time, the recipient paid the postage, which was calculated by the page.

• 💍 Jane’s turquoise ring, once won at auction by Kelly Clarkson in 2014. After public outcry in Britain over the ring leaving the country, Clarkson “graciously” returned it to England.

• 💇‍♀️ A lock of Jane’s hair, purchased by Alberta Burke. Like Clarkson, Burke faced condescension from British citizens questioning how such a relic could belong to an American. In response, she generously donated it to Chawton Cottage.

• 📕 A global array of book covers from Austen’s novels—including the Italian edition Gorgoglio e Preguidizio, depicting Elizabeth Bennet with a riding crop, looming over Mr. Darcy. A dramatic and intriguingly menacing interpretation of their romance.

Austen book covers from different countries.

Interesting take of P&P from Italy.

A final note on The Morgan's Jane Austen collection donated by Albera Burke. She bequeathed her Austen manuscripts to this museum/library because she never forgot the generosity of its "kindly curator".

We, too, have benefited from the hospitality of a dedicated Morgan Library curator. We thank The Morgan and Dale Stinchcomb for this outstanding exhibit.

Rachel and Chris outside The Morgan Library and Museum. 

There's still time to take in "A Lively Mind" at The Morgan. For more information on visit the exhibit's page on The Morgan's website:  A Lively Mind: Jane Austen at 250 | The Morgan Library & Museum

Frick Museum: Gilded Age Cast and Barb's Tea Service reap dividends from visit!

The Frick's Garden Court

The Frick Collection, aka "The Frick", is a Gilded Age legacy - a palatial structure built as an impressive residence on Manhattan's Fifth Avenue to house an equally impressive art collection. Construction was completed in 1914 and twenty-one years later it morphed into the art museum Henry Clay Frick had envisioned. After nine decades of operation, it closed down in 2020 for renovations. This April, it reopened and among its early guests this month: the cast of HBO's "Gilded Age" and the Barb's Tea Service cohort. 

Last weekend, I was joined by husband, Chris, daughter, Rachel and our favorite New York couple, son and daughter-in-law, Matt and Jenna, as we walked past the iron gates to the former home of Gilded Age businessman, Henry Clay Frick. The recent updates include access to the second floor, used previously as staff offices, now restored to gallery and living space as the Frick's would have known it, complete with restored wallpaper and period furniture. 

"George Russell" from Gilded Age

Old and new money, free reign of staircase

There are a few restrictions for patrons:  limited areas for photographs and the grand staircase is one-way - guests can only go up, but not down. However, after seeing a recent post of the cast of the Gilded Age on said staircase and pictures snapped throughout The Frick, their group may have been allowed a few more exceptions.  But, whether you play a fictionalized "new money" railroad magnate or are but a humble Gilded Age-obsessed blogger, there's much to enjoy at this museum.

For most guests, staircase is only one-way; you can go up, but you cannot go down.

Henry Clay Frick began his fortune in the late 19th century in coking, essential in steel production. Later, he teamed up with Andrew Carnegie, becoming Chairman of Carnegie Steel. Eventually both enterprises became part of U.S. Steel, one of the companies formed by Gilded Age banker and financial investor, J.P. Morgan. Like Morgan, whose former house is also a museum/library, Frick was a great collector of art, and at times, both were in competition to acquire the same treasured masterpiece..  

We visited in March, 2024 (see Tuesday Tea and Tomes: Personal Librarian) and also this month (stay tuned for future blog story!).

Favorite NYC couple, Matt & Jenna

With Rachel in Garden Court

Ian Wardropper, a former director of the Frick Collection, was quoted in the New York Times (April, 2025), stating "[Frick] hated losing a painting he wanted."

Wardropper also explained that Frick had "traditional tastes, favoring landscapes and portraits of famous men and beautiful women, over anything edgy. He typically passed on nudes or religious paintings, except for Giovanni Bellini's "St. Francis in the Desert."

Clock collection - a Jack Trotter invention?

A portion of the porcelain collection.

In addition, Frick bought paintings by Vermeer, Salomon van Ruysdael and Hobbema, as well as Rembrandt, Gainsborough, Reynolds, Manet, Renoir and Degas.  There are also collections of clocks, watches (perhaps one from Gilded Age's Jack Trotter?)  and ceramics, including early pottery from Meissen and Dresden. The latter includes the  Bottger's teapot that we wrote about in 2021 (Bottger's Teapot) and finally got to see personally - it was AMAZING and future blog story to come!)

We plan to return for more returns at The Frick!

Our BTS cohort so enjoyed viewing all the masterpieces in the galleries, and though we may not have had run of the house like "Mr. Russell", we were in awe of all the incredible art in this home-turned-museum. 

Frick said that it made sense to keep some of your wealth in art that surrounds you, not just invested in bonds. With the former, he said, "you can draw your dividend daily". We certainly felt we received ample return on our admission investment. 

In fact, we plan to return for more returns at The Frick. 

Jane Austen Festival moves to Cincinnatti: Location changes but traditions remain with hot temps, hot tea and a sizzling Mr. Darcy!

Jane Austen Festival moves from Louisville to Cincinnatti in 2025

Despite a new location, a new host and a few year's hiatus, the Jane Austen Festival traditions continued this weekend with hot temps, hot tea and a sizzling Mr. Darcy - and just in time for the 250th anniversary of the celebrated author's birth.

Rachel, Barb & Cara sharing old and new Austen traditions at Heritage Musuem

My daughter, Rachel, and I began attending the Jane Austen Festival, originally hosted by the JASNA (Jane Austen Society of North America) Louisville Chapter in 2009 - it was their second and our first - and we watched as the weekend event grew and prospered.  

Afternoon tea in Louisville, Festival 2010

                  

                     Tea set up at Heritage Village 2025

Rachel and I made it our own tradition for a decade, traveling south to Louisville every July to enjoy the events the Louisville Chapter assembled at the historic Locust Grove estate. We reserved our afternoon tea, shopped the stores in "Meryton" and took our seat under the big tent for featured speakers and, what came to be one of our favorite features, "Dressing Mr. Darcy".

Welcome Reception, 2025. Prior to 2019, Barb & Rachel missed only one festival in 2011 (but "improvised" in England).

(The only Louisville festival we skipped was 2011, when I joined Rachel in England that same summer for a week during her study abroad and we conducted our own Jane Austen excursion in Chawton and Winchester. With a bit of a twist, we still kept the JA July tradition.)

Over the years, we met up with some impressive guest speakers, including authors, John Mullans and Jo Baker, as well as Patrick Stokes, a direct descendant of Jane Austen's youngest brother, Charles.

So, we were eagerly awaiting the revived Jane Austen Festival for 2025, not exactly sure what awaited us at Heritage Village in Sharonville, a suburb of Cincinnati.   We were keenly aware, however, of  the delightfully personal advantages for us at this new venue. Not only did this location reduce our travel time by two hours, but it is a most  convenient ten minute drive from the home of our dear sister/aunt, Cara, who was both our host and our guest for the weekend.

Together, we journeyed to Friday night's "Welcome Reception".  An earlier post on the event's website stated that many tickets sent after registration were not downloadable and, in lieu of a paper receipt,  a list of names would be used for checking in guests. That was a tip off that the entry process may be a bit slow. And, predictably, it was. 

Rachel and Cara sampling Austen blends from Churchill's fine teas.

But once past the contained chaos, we helped ourselves to a charcuterie cup, a sweet treat and a beverage of choice and found our way outside to Meryton.  Here we were given an advanced, exclusive opportunity to meet with the Austen-themed vendors. We sampled and purchased the Jane Austen collection of teas from Churchill's (a future blog story!) while "window-shopping" through a sea of white-tented storefronts. 

Brian Cushing, aka "Mr. Darcy", was a highlight (as always) of the Austen Festival.

Saturday, we returned for the full-on Jane Austen Festival and, after a few misguided directions and another slightly confusing check-in process, we were at last within the Historic Village and thrilled to see our Mr. Darcy was the first presenter at the Somerset Church, a small, but (bonus!) air-conditioned building at the end of the tiny town.

Brian Cushing, who we've followed throughout the JA Festivals, has been demonstrating the art of dressing and undressing Mr. Darcy for almost twenty years. His talks never disappoint, but this weekend's address hit it out of the park - or should I say, a hearty thwack of the mallet through a Pall Mall wicket? Cushing's dissertation was as layered as his gentleman's attire which included hat, jacket, waistcoat, breeches, stockings, boots and a cravat tied to the neck of the shirt.

Mr. Darcy 2009

Miss G. and Mr. D, 2009

And, of that last item it was the women who made the many shirts of the gentleman's wardrobe - which prompted a question from an astute participant in the back. She asked if this person would be a "gentlelady" or a house servant.

Cushing noted the shirts were typically made by the ladies of the house (although staff could certainly be given the task). He continued to explain that sewing was a skill and an occupation of accomplished ladies, adding that after King Henry VIII removed his first wife, Catherine from his palace, she continued to make shirts in exile. (That's a following a thread of thought, literally.)

Jane Austen Festival guests at Heritage Village

Back in the Village, we toured a number of homes with varying degrees of Austen connections and insight and took in one more presentation at the church where the air conditioning was the true star. Though the Festival moved to another state, weatherwise, southern Ohio has much in common with Louisville and we were once again reacquainted with the region's toasty temps of the season. 

But, as mentioned above, it's part of the traditional trio: hot temps, hot tea and, oh, so sizzling, Mr. Darcy. 

Jane Austen Festival in Cincinnatti:  We'll be back in 2026 with fan!

And, as for a few bumps in the country roads of this year's Jane Austen Festival, we attribute those to "growing pains" for a new venue, a new host and an extended break. We look forward to Heritage Village's Jane Austen Festival, 2026 and we'll remember to pack a fan in our reticule to keep cool from all the Festival's essential elements!

A memorable Jane Austen afternoon: BTS presents an Austentacious Tea at Bacon Memorial Library

Barb's Tea Service: Barb G. & Megan O. at Bacon Memorial Library and the Bacon Ford home

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a library, with the good fortune to be in possession of a lovely Victorian home, must be in need of an afternoon tea.

This past weekend, Barb's Tea Service presented an "Austentacious Tea" at the Bacon Memorial District Library for a room full of guests as charming as the venue. A unique feature of this library - located in Wyandotte, a "Downriver" city eleven miles south of Detroit - is its literal connection to the Ford Bacon home, an elegant turn-of-the-last-century abode with many of its original features including wood paneling and dentil molding. 

The front parlor quickly became both the presentation and tea room.

Our first time to Bacon Memorial Library, we - BTS' newest team member, Megan O. and myself -  were given a quick tour of the presentation room in the main building and then just up the stairs and through another door, to the attached grand home. This is where the library had set up a buffet of tea snacks. 

Instantly enamored with the historic home, we wondered if we couldn't make it work for both the presentation and hot tea serving. Megan assessed the layout quickly and declared it was possible with just a little furniture rearranging. 

Incredibly, within an hour & some Meg-ingenuity, the front parlor was ready to seat almost 2 dozen guests.

Although the front parlor wasn't terribly large, it had a lot of curves and nooks, which Megan adeptly took advantage of by tucking a few upholstered chairs and small table in an alcove by the staircase and shoring up bench seating along the front window. Then, pulling a pretty mishmash of dining tables and chairs from assorted spaces nearby, Megan relocated them around the room's center and further expanded the parlor's footprint to the hallway for even more seating. 

A bright and open utility room served as the perfect place for teacups, teapots and teabags.

Our presentation "screen" was the panel just above the fireplace and directly behind the parlor was utility room, bright and open, just perfect for teapots, teacups and teabags.

Almost ready to serve up tea.

In less than an hour, we had our tea brewed and the parlor ready for our guests. It was an extraordinary group and we enjoyed getting to know many fellow Austenphiles, including Victoria F.. It was a treat to meet her  in person - we had connected over social media -  and her niece, Stephanie.

Victoria F. and niece, Stephanie. A treat to meet these Austen fans in person.

It was a delightful afternoon and while we shared details of our Austen-related travels, BTS' newest team member served up the tea, and with a bit of Meg-ingenuity, turned the parlor into a perfect event space, the amazing possession of Bacon Memorial Library.  Good fortune, indeed!

A library in possession of a lovely Victorian home is good fortune, indeed!

Thanks to Kelly R., librarian, who invited us to the Beacon Memorial Library and all the amazing folks who attended our Austentacious Tea!