In my favorite pair of heeled black leather riding boots, gray pencil skirt and tailored three-quarter length wool coat, I was well dressed for my hot date... With the ever so dashing and dapper, Mr. British Museum. Tall and elegant, I found British to be very passionate for history and engaging in his fascination for culture. With such a delightful profile and charmingly English attitude, I knew that it would be a fantastic date. Below are some of the saucy details from our five-hour long engagement.
British was a fine gentleman, taking my coat at the door and inviting me in. He seems quite popular, as there were many people there vying for his attention. Somehow though, he managed to be a very considerate host and attended to all his guests (without me feeling abandoned). Anyway, in our hours of engrossed conversations, this is what I learnt.
British has a love for ancient Egypt, and seems fascinated with their deities and cultural practices. We talked about their burial practices, their infatuation with cats (me acting like a cat) and how awesome this statue would look in my bathroom. You know, if I had one.
British seems to like the dark, olive-skinned and exotic women... Lucky for me, I'm my mother's daughter. But I did like how these girls rocked their hairstyles and their makeup, although it would be a little too much for me.
I told British my story about BoBo the Russian cow, and how he's been spending days with my sister Danielle... British escorted me to this fine Bovine and suggested that they could be friends.
I once gave a pair of earrings almost exactly like these to my sister, Danielle (hopefully she still likes them). These ones are made of amethyst, and worth a lot more and sadly, are not for sale.
British was delighted to hear that I knew of the Mildenhall Treasure. This amazing dish is one of my favorites from the collection. Quite honestly though, I only knew about the famous set because of Roland Dahl, one of my favorite writers that wrote a book about how the treasure made its way to the museum... It's called The Mildenhall Treasure, you should check it out. (Think poor farmer on a tractor digging through the ground and hitting something).
British and I agreed that this was one of our favorite pieces, I loved how the light hit the strong, angular curves, and how the fabric is draped around his arm. And people carved this out of stone? Are you serious? British loves to laugh at my silly remarks, and escorts me to the next exhibition.
This was a profile cast in bronze, but I loved the patina and how it gave the statue richness in color. The blank stare and sunken eyes seemed to ask a million questions... and yet, I was content just to stand, being myself.
British loves this statue, and was very soft spoken when mentioning her. Apparently, she's a Caryatid or Maiden from the Erecthion in the Acropolis in Greece. British mentioned that the Greeks have stepped up their campaign to return the Caryatid home, but so far, British just can't bear to let her go.
British seemed smitten over this cat, and proceeded to gush on and on about it...
"The domesticated cat is probably associated more with ancient Egypt than any other culture in the world. This cat is a particularly fine example of the many statues of cats from ancient Egypt. It has gold rings, a silvered collar round its neck and a silver protective wedjat eye amulet."
Wow, British, you seem to know a lot about your collection.
"The cat is mostly identified with the goddess Bastet, whose cult centre was at Bubastis in the Nile Delta. Bubastis became particularly important when its rulers became the kings of Egypt, forming the Twenty-second Dynasty, sometimes known as the 'Libyan Dynasty'. The rise of the importance of Bastet and the cat can probably be dated to this period."
British seemed to know a lot about the collections under his roof, but there was one piece that I've loved ever since I was a little girl. It's a hippo, coral blue in color with black markings. When I told British I wanted to see it, he laughed, and warned me that my Hippo was a lot smaller than I was expecting. My Hippo was TINY but it made him all the more cuter - I loved it.
My cute Hippo from Egypt.
Video: British Museum Reading Room
Uploaded by javagold
I loved the Reading Room, and indeed it was my favorite spot. I loved the musty smell of books, the way the light filtered in from the oculus, the pale blue walls, the hardened leather desks... I didn't know until later that video wasn't allowed in the library, but that was after I had already taken the video below. So enjoy, it was my moment of (unintentional) rebellion.
Around seven-thirty the halls were empty, the lights were dimming and our date was coming to an end. I thanked British for his hospitality, kind words and the personal guided tour and hoped that we would see each other again. British smiled while fetching me my coat and invited me to
come visit again anytime.
What a perfect date, and what a gentleman.
British was a fine gentleman, taking my coat at the door and inviting me in. He seems quite popular, as there were many people there vying for his attention. Somehow though, he managed to be a very considerate host and attended to all his guests (without me feeling abandoned). Anyway, in our hours of engrossed conversations, this is what I learnt.
British has a love for ancient Egypt, and seems fascinated with their deities and cultural practices. We talked about their burial practices, their infatuation with cats (me acting like a cat) and how awesome this statue would look in my bathroom. You know, if I had one.
British seems to like the dark, olive-skinned and exotic women... Lucky for me, I'm my mother's daughter. But I did like how these girls rocked their hairstyles and their makeup, although it would be a little too much for me.
I told British my story about BoBo the Russian cow, and how he's been spending days with my sister Danielle... British escorted me to this fine Bovine and suggested that they could be friends.
I once gave a pair of earrings almost exactly like these to my sister, Danielle (hopefully she still likes them). These ones are made of amethyst, and worth a lot more and sadly, are not for sale.
British was delighted to hear that I knew of the Mildenhall Treasure. This amazing dish is one of my favorites from the collection. Quite honestly though, I only knew about the famous set because of Roland Dahl, one of my favorite writers that wrote a book about how the treasure made its way to the museum... It's called The Mildenhall Treasure, you should check it out. (Think poor farmer on a tractor digging through the ground and hitting something).
British and I agreed that this was one of our favorite pieces, I loved how the light hit the strong, angular curves, and how the fabric is draped around his arm. And people carved this out of stone? Are you serious? British loves to laugh at my silly remarks, and escorts me to the next exhibition.
This was a profile cast in bronze, but I loved the patina and how it gave the statue richness in color. The blank stare and sunken eyes seemed to ask a million questions... and yet, I was content just to stand, being myself.
British loves this statue, and was very soft spoken when mentioning her. Apparently, she's a Caryatid or Maiden from the Erecthion in the Acropolis in Greece. British mentioned that the Greeks have stepped up their campaign to return the Caryatid home, but so far, British just can't bear to let her go.
British seemed smitten over this cat, and proceeded to gush on and on about it..."The domesticated cat is probably associated more with ancient Egypt than any other culture in the world. This cat is a particularly fine example of the many statues of cats from ancient Egypt. It has gold rings, a silvered collar round its neck and a silver protective wedjat eye amulet."
Wow, British, you seem to know a lot about your collection.
"The cat is mostly identified with the goddess Bastet, whose cult centre was at Bubastis in the Nile Delta. Bubastis became particularly important when its rulers became the kings of Egypt, forming the Twenty-second Dynasty, sometimes known as the 'Libyan Dynasty'. The rise of the importance of Bastet and the cat can probably be dated to this period."
British seemed to know a lot about the collections under his roof, but there was one piece that I've loved ever since I was a little girl. It's a hippo, coral blue in color with black markings. When I told British I wanted to see it, he laughed, and warned me that my Hippo was a lot smaller than I was expecting. My Hippo was TINY but it made him all the more cuter - I loved it.
My cute Hippo from Egypt.As our date was coming to an end, I saw a little doorway in the great room, and asked what that was. British smiled at me, took me by the hand and brought me into the Reading room, reciting the words of Louise Guiney along the way...
In the Reading-Room of the British Museum
Praised be the moon of books! that doth above
A world of men, the fallen Past behold,
And fill the spaces else so void and cold
To make a very heaven again thereof;
As when the sun is set behind a grove,
And faintly unto nether ether rolled,
All night his whiter image and his mould
Grows beautiful with looking on her love.
Thou therefore, moon of so divine a ray,
Lend to our steps both fortitude and light!
Feebly along a venerable way
They climb the infinite, or perish quite;
Nothing are days and deeds to such as they,
While in this liberal house thy face is bright.
Louise Imogen Guiney
Praised be the moon of books! that doth above
A world of men, the fallen Past behold,
And fill the spaces else so void and cold
To make a very heaven again thereof;
As when the sun is set behind a grove,
And faintly unto nether ether rolled,
All night his whiter image and his mould
Grows beautiful with looking on her love.
Thou therefore, moon of so divine a ray,
Lend to our steps both fortitude and light!
Feebly along a venerable way
They climb the infinite, or perish quite;
Nothing are days and deeds to such as they,
While in this liberal house thy face is bright.
Louise Imogen Guiney
Video: British Museum Reading Room
Uploaded by javagold
I loved the Reading Room, and indeed it was my favorite spot. I loved the musty smell of books, the way the light filtered in from the oculus, the pale blue walls, the hardened leather desks... I didn't know until later that video wasn't allowed in the library, but that was after I had already taken the video below. So enjoy, it was my moment of (unintentional) rebellion.
Around seven-thirty the halls were empty, the lights were dimming and our date was coming to an end. I thanked British for his hospitality, kind words and the personal guided tour and hoped that we would see each other again. British smiled while fetching me my coat and invited me to
come visit again anytime.
What a perfect date, and what a gentleman.
