Postcards are little fragments of history, and sometimes they offer a fascinating, tantalizing glimpse into aristocratic life and Edwardian artistic tastes. This recent find in my collection is a perfect example: a striking portrait postcard dated December 16, 1908, bearing a cryptic handwritten note.
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| Iris Serie 1557 |
The Portrait: Iris Serie 1557
The front of the card features a stunning colour portrait, likely a reproduction of a painting, enclosed in an oval border against a pale blue background. The woman wears a large, fashionable hat—possibly a Gainsborough or Georgian style, very popular for portraiture at the time—with a wide green bow and voluminous, stylish hair.
A closer look at the reverse side, printed in Germany by Meissner & Buch, Leipzig, reveals the series title: "Iris Serie 1557." This places the card firmly in the era of high-quality color printing, often reproducing famous works of art for the mass market.
The Message: "The Duke of Sutherland's home"
The handwritten message is short, but packed with historical context:
"The Duke of Sutherland’s home Trentham Hall is full of such pictures as these are. P. Dec. 16 '1908"
The Context: Trentham Hall
The Duke of Sutherland: In 1908, the 4th Duke of Sutherland, Cromartie Sutherland-Leveson-Gower, held the title. The Sutherland family was one of the wealthiest in Britain, owning vast estates, including Trentham Hall.
Trentham Hall: Located in Staffordshire, Trentham Hall was the principal family seat. It was a spectacular Italianate palace, famous not just for its architecture and gardens (designed by Capability Brown), but for its legendary art collection.
"Such pictures as these are": The writer, signing off simply as 'P.', suggests this postcard portrait is representative of the works lining the walls of Trentham Hall. The Sutherland collection was renowned, containing masterpieces by artists like Reynolds, Gainsborough, and Van Dyck—masters of the very style the postcard reproduces.
What Does It Mean?
The postcard suggests that 'P.' had either visited, or was writing from, Trentham Hall just before Christmas 1908. Perhaps 'P.' was a guest, a member of the staff, or a visitor to the famous gardens. The note acts as a miniature commentary on the Duke's extravagant collection, implying the house was filled with grand, beautiful portraits like the one on the card.
Tragically, just a few years after this card was sent, the history of Trentham Hall took a dramatic turn. Due to persistent environmental issues related to the River Trent and pollution from nearby industry, the magnificent house was mostly demolished in 1911. The postcard, therefore, is a tiny artifact from the very end of the Hall’s life as one of England’s greatest stately homes.
This simple card gives us a marvellous peek into the opulence of the Edwardian aristocracy and the fleeting nature of their grand estates.
