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Making history With TATLER at BRIDGERTON’s Castle Howard

by | Aug 14, 2021

I’m absolutely thrilled to see so many of our unique pieces featured in the July issue of Tatler, as part of a gloriously decadent Regency-style shoot at the historic Castle Howard in Yorkshire. Set in 10,000 acres of stunning countryside on the edge of the Yorkshire moors, Castle Howard was commissioned in 1699 by the 3rd Earl of Carlisle and designed by Sir John Vanbrugh of Blenheim Palace fame. The wonderous house, which was completed in 1811 and is steeped in history, is a huge tourist attraction. It contains an astonishing 140 rooms, many of which boast jaw-dropping interiors from the likes of William Morris and Edward Burne-Jones and paintings from illustrious artists such as Reynolds, Gainsborough, Stubbs and Bellotto. Outside, its famous grounds are full of peacocks, temples, follies and landscaped gardens.
From Brideshead Revisited to Bridgerton, Castle Howard has been the backdrop for countless famous productions and was the perfect setting for this opulent shoot, sublimely styled by the talented team at Tatler and photographed by the brilliant Carla Guler. Bridgerton fans will recognise the Temple of the Four Winds and the Archbishop’s Room where key scenes from the hit Netflix Regency drama were filmed. Castle Howard – or Clyvedon Castle as it’s known in the series – was used as the country estate of the Duke and Duchess of Hastings, played by actors Regé-Jean Page and Pheobe Dynevor.
Everyone from Queen Victoria to Sophia Loren, who famously cooked pasta for the Howard family in 1964 while filming Lady L, has stayed at the magnificent property, which exudes glamour, grandeur and history from every single stone. The incredible Tatler shoot features the beautiful Blanche Howard, daughter of the Hon Nicholas and Victoria Howard, current custodians of the breath-taking Baroque mansion. Blanche has lived with her family in the country pile since 2015 and was the perfect style muse for this fabulously historic shoot.
Selfridges Resellfridges The Wedding -Jennifer Gibson Jewellery Vintage Bridal Edit 4

Regency jewellery

Regency jewellery was all about romance, lightness and femininity, much like many of today’s pieces and it was important to choose jewels for the shoot that reflected this. There’s a joyful, playful character to the jewellery from this era which is full of colourful stones, decorative flourishes and fine filigrees – perfect for trendsetters inspired by period dramas and even better for dressing up a simple T-shirt and jeans. Possibly our most glamorous shoot to date, seven pieces of vintage jewellery from our one-of-a-kind collection were used spectacularly by Tatler to create a superb Regency-style vibe. There is at least one piece of jewellery in each of the six inspired shots. Although none of the pieces hail from that particular era, they work perfectly in the fabulously historic setting of Castle Howard. And that is the beauty of carefully curated vintage jewellery. Fashions and trends change and come back around again, but intrinsic style is timeless. Each jewel that I choose has a special history of its own and represents a very unique moment in time, yet it is guaranteed to be eternally stylish. Drawing on four decades of experience, I only pick pieces which exude a certain style hallmark and will work in any setting. Whether you’re wearing a blazer or a ballgown, our jewels will always up the style stakes and deliver the wow factor.

Styled for the setting

A huge thank you to Team TATLER for their amazing artistry, for styling our jewels so imaginatively and for bringing a deeper meaning to the phrase ‘wearable art’.

I absolutely adore the way TATLER styled our Vintage Full Collar Sterling Silver Peridot Heart Necklace in Blanche’s hair. This impressive vintage showstopper features peridot stones in a range of fancy cuts, including a large central heart, ovals and pearl droplets set in a solid silver mount with high galleried settings and looks fabulous alongside the stunning Oscar De La Renta gown.

Tatler May 21 Howards Way
Tatler May 21 Howards Way

TATLER also used our mesmerising Givenchy Vivid Green Cascade Pendant Necklace as a brooch in two of the lavish shots, one of which was in front of the Temple of the Four Winds, the memorable setting for Daphne and the Duke’s rain-soaked love scene. Intricately crafted from lustrous gold-plated metal and claw-set with an array of oversized crystals, this eye-catching Givenchy necklace features a long open link chain and a striking fancy-cut cascading green pendant. Although both pieces were created in the 1990s, they look very much at home in this Bridgerton-inspired Regency setting.

Other pieces used in the shoot include our vintage 1980s signed Stanley Hagler Red Glass and Pearl Earrings, which can be seen on the opening page of the article. Designed to make a statement, these dramatic shoulder duster beauties feature Hagler’s signature Baroque-style imitation pearls and intricate beading and look stunning on Blanche.

A second Stanley Hagler piece was used in the Antiques Passage shot. Although the exquisite Gold and Amber Art Glass Drop Brooch was delicately crafted by the New York jeweller in the 1980s, it makes an impressive Regency style statement. An outstanding vintage piece of wearable art, this dramatic brooch which includes tortoiseshell art glass and intricate filigree detail alongside elaborate beading, looks simply magnificent next to the extraordinary Matty Bovan patterned jacket.

Tatler May 21 Howards Way

Rings were hugely popular in Regency times, and I love seeing our Vintage Panetta Silver Gilt Amethyst Glass Cocktail Ring in two glorious shots, in particular, the very elegant photograph of Blanche on the now iconic 18th Century four-poster bed, which was the setting for some of Bridgerton’s most famous scenes. The ring, which was crafted by Italian-born jeweller, Benedetto Panetta in the 1960s and is arguably one of his best creations, features a gorgeous large claw set amethyst, surrounded by smaller white stones and was perfect for the shoot.

Also in the same shot were our 1980s Acid Yellow Rivoli Crystal Drop Clip-on Earrings, which are brilliant for adding a pop of colour and a touch of vintage glamour. Not only do they work perfectly in this wonderfully historic shoot, but they are bang on-trend and would look just as fabulous with a pair of jeans and a leather jacket, proving how utterly timeless vintage jewellery is.

The July issue of Tatler is out now. Howard’s Way is a fantastic article with some compelling images and I’m delighted to have played a part in this rather special shoot. If you’re feeling inspired and would love to bring a touch of Regency glamour to your jewel box then we’ve got some stunning pieces that will get your heart racing.

Love from Jennifer x

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