Friday, January 9, 2009

Maureen, Dowager Marchioness of Dufferin and Ava.


"Lindy and Sheridan, Marquess and Marchioness of Defferin and Ava, gave lavish parties with an extraordinary mixture of people. They had a beautiful garden behind their house near Holland Park, and at one garden te party (actually white wine), Sheridan's mother, the Dowager Marchioness appeared. Maureen was a great character in London society in the thirties and forites and eccentrically stylish; one fabled dress was made of playing cards."

A Chequered Past by Peter Schlesinger.

Maureen looks like my Great Aunty Betty. Betty would wear ALL her costume jewellery at once. Three to four rings on each and every finger and giant brooches and pins all over her cloches and cardigans. When she was hospitalized at the end of her life even her green standard-issue hospital gown was bedazzled and bejewelled.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

that's an enid collins bag!

http://cathyofcalifornia.typepad.com/cathy_of_california/2006/11/maureen_and_eni.html