Postcards of Welsh Ladies ~ in costume ~ drinking tea

The Welsh National Costume ~ you know exactly where it is from when you see it.
The Sugar Loaf or Beaver Hat is as iconic as a Dutch Cap or the Scottish Kilt.

Much - if not almost all - of the credit for preserving this costume and many other things Welsh goes to Lady Llanofer -
The Bee of Gwent
Here is a link to the original costume sketch - complete with knitting in progress!

It became a postcard stereotype to have Welsh Women in costume photographed drinking tea outside a snug croft or cottage home. For variety, the women were also photographed knitting or doing a bit of spinning, presumably with the excellent local wool. This conveniently combines many of my collecting passions - vintage photographs ~ tea ~ knitting ~ national costumes.


This is one of my favorite vintage postcards.

Published by The Photocrom Co. Ltd. London & Tunbridge Wells.

This is actually a "Mailing Novelty" postcard and the front of the card has a hinged flap with an accordion type set of smaller scenes tucked inside.
I had to do a fair amount of photoshop cleanup to remove the flap lines and creases so that this lovely Welsh Lady can be properly seen.

It dates to 1900 to 1915. One of the small photos that are tucked inside are of a military camp of WW1 (1914 to 1918) but the Lady's photo could have been taken years before that.

She has such a kind and gentle face. I love the bunch of knitting in her hand, looks to be a sock for the man of the house. I love the ball of wool hanging from a hook on her skirt pocket.
I most especially love that her teapot lid doesn't match the pot ~ a tea cozy or tea snug would have hidden that well - and kept her tea warmer too!

a group of 11 Welsh Women ~ 1906

One of these women -2nd from the right looks like 'she' has a beard, I wonder if it's a bit of a leg-pull as there are postcards very similar to this with 10 women sitting down to tea . I also have this group as a "Mailing Novelty " postcard and the same figure also looks to be bearded - so it's not just a dirt smudge or a misprint.

I love these large group pictures. They seem to confirm the legend of Bigney Hill. The story goes that in 1797 a large group of Welsh Women marched around the hill in their red capes and black hats. An invading force of Frenchmen believed them to be British troops. The French thought they were outnumbered and so surrendered.

 

Welsh Women at Tea
"Autochrom" (color photo) postcard
published by Pictorial Stationery Co. Ltd, London

This is an unusual studio portrait style photograph.

The Sugar Loaf hats all look exactly alike. It is likely they were all made by the same hat maker. Many of the hats were made locally and they developed minor regional differences.

I particularly like the lady wearing the pink and black striped apron. She is looking straight into the camera with a slightly quirky raised eyebrow. It gives her a slightly quizzical look.

The lady standing looks a bit stern at first glance but as you look at her you slowly see the hidden smile.

The third lady might be about to read her future in her tea leaves .

 

 

 

 

This dear lady is having a picnic tea in 1905.
I love that she is using a workman's horse as a table and that she spread a cloth to make it 'dainty'.

I think it must have been a gusty day as this Lady has added a strap to her hat to keep the wind from taking it away.

When I first saw her face, I immediately thought that here is a woman with an opinion or two. There is a strength in her face and a purpose in her bearing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Welsh Tea Party

These two ladies are willing to sit out on a steep slope in order to enjoy their tea picturesquely.

Their hats are a slightly different shape, tapering up almost to a point. These hats look more like the one associated with the American Pilgrims.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Welsh Costumes - or at least that what is printed at the top of the postcard. The printing has almost faded away.

This is a Valentine's Series postcard - postmarked 1905

This looks like a proper tea, complete with the loaf of bread cut side down on the plate so it doesn't dry out

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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WELSH LADIES ~ PAGE 2