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"What are you like ?" Nudge, nudge. Wink, wink.
A cheeky, light-hearted question these days, but, in the Victorian era, it was a respectable parlour game for young ladies. Players were asked to describe themselves by doing a series of drawings or paintings of their favourite things. I'm not sure if there was a prize for the best illustrations, or for the most difficult images to decipher, but - it amused girls in those days.
Can you work out the answers? These two are easy.
Typical girl - I'd say she wanted to marry and live happily ever after.
Shooting for the moon! She had ambition too.
This is my favourite - s-candle.
Scandal!
Can you guess these?
I can't work this one out - I know it's a quill pen, but...
Recently, contemporary artists including Peter Blake and Mary Fedden created their own versions...
...but, sadly, I don't think parlour games are about to make a comeback.
iPhone games rule in the parlour, kitchen, bedroom, train, bus...
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Hello:
ReplyDeleteThis is all so intriguing and something which we have never come across before. What fun these are, as indeed are their contemporary counterparts.
Parlour games, as such, are a thing of the past but we still really enjoy all board games and often play cards with friends. But then we are without a television and have been now for about thirty years!!
Sadly, all our under-40s only play on-line games. I love board and games too, but Mr N is a very bad loser!
DeleteFavourite dish? The before and afters? Starter and Pudding?
ReplyDeleteFavourite animal? Fob? Was that the name of a dog or cat perhaps
The quill pen? No idea.
Love this post Nilly and love Mary Fedden's naive paintings too x
Julie x
Favourite dish - I thought "dates" maybe?
DeleteFavourite animal - could it be "seal"?
I will now think ever so differently now when ever I say this apt phrase "What are you like?" to either my son, partner or friend friend when ever they do something daft !! and draw upon this wonderful piece instead !! Lynnx
ReplyDeleteI think I more often have to say, "Oops! What am I like?"
DeleteOh dear!
Shoot for the moon, that's the way in life. Every day.
ReplyDeleteJean x
Yes, I never think of Victorian girls as being so feisty!
DeleteFabourite animal - seal - Mary Fedden's work so distinctive.
ReplyDeleteI think the favourite dish is "dates".
DeleteIn fact, I'd rather like to own a Mary Fedden painting of a dish of dates, wouldn't you?
A lovely post nilly, I did not know about this pastime, how lovely it was though. The illustrations are so sweet. I love the shoot for the moon sentiment.
ReplyDeleteOf course I found this at an antiques fair - very poignant as I couldn't find the girl's name so I'll never know if she achieved her dreams. If I have a name I can use Ancestry.co.uk to find out more.
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