MAYORESS, LADY

Neg. No: (SF) L 9908

Neg. Size: 12"x10"

Neg. Date: 20-05-1927

Sitter: Lady Blades, later Lady Ebbisham, née Margaret Emma Reiner (1885-1965); elder daughter of Arthur Reiner, of Ferriby, Sutton, Surrey; m. (1907) George Rowland Blades (1868–1953), Kt. (1918), Bt. (1922) and later 1st Baron Ebbisham (cr 1928), Lord Mayor of London 1926-27, MP 1918–1928, Chairman of Blades, East & Blades Ltd, Printers of London.

Lady Blades, wife of the Lord Mayor of London, is seen here in the gown she wore to the First Court of the Season on 24 May. Lady Blades herself was presented by the wife of Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin, and herself presented her twin daughters, Misses Margaret Agnes and Helen Elizabeth Blades.

Lady Blades’s costume, made by Jay’s Ltd. of Regent Street, is of salmon chiffon velvet with silver bead cascades falling down the gown. The train of velvet and silver tissue is overlaid with ruched net and a lace cape hangs over it from the shoulders attached by silver tassels and cords. She wears two ropes of pearls and large pearl pendant necklace as well as a delicate and stylish bandeau.

In this solo portrait, Lady Blades shows off the full glory of her white ostrich feather fan, a pose which appears in presentation portraits from the 1920s. Perhaps the photographer was attempting to compensate for the lack of backdrop and other studio paraphernalia.

In later years, Lady Blades served with the Red Cross at hospital units in France during the First World War for which she was made a member of the Légion d’Honneur. Following her husband’s enoblement in 1928, she became known as Lady Ebbisham.

Date: 20 May 1927.

Image published in Cool, published by The Fan Museum, Greenwich

Occasion: The Court, 24 May 1927: Lady Blades was presented by Mrs Stanley Baldwin, and herself presented her twin daughters, Misses Margaret Agnes and Helen Elizabeth Blades.

Location: -

Descr: FL standing.

Costume: Court dress: "A magnificent creation of salmon chiffon velvet with silver bead cascades falling all down the gown. Train of velvet and silver tissue overlaid with ruched net and a beautiful lace cape hung over it from the shouldres, the esemble being caught with silver tassels and cords" (The Morning Post, 25 May 1927, p 4e).

Costume Supplier: Jay's, Ltd., Regent Street, London, W1.

Jewellery: -

Furniture & Props: -

Photographer: Lafayette Ltd., 160 New Bond Street, London, W.

Evidence of photographer at work: -

No of poses: 6.

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Copyright: V&A Provenance: Pinewood Studios; acquired 1989.

References:

Biog: Burke's Peerage; The Times, 5 November 1965, p 14d.

Occasion: The Times, 26 May 1927, p 21c.

Costume: The Daily Telegraph, 25 May 1927, p 17b; The Morning Post, 25 May 1927, p 4e; The Times, 25 May 1927, p 8d; Eve, 1 June 1927, p 542a.

Costume Supplier: The Daily Telegraph, 25 May 1927, p 17b; The Morning Post, 25 May 1927, p 4e; The Times, 25 May 1927, p 8d; Eve, 1 June 1927, p 542a.

Jewellery: -

Reproduced: (versions, with daughters) The Star, 24 May 1927, p 11; The Queen, 1 June 1927, front page.

Additional Information: -

Acknowledgements: -