Edwardian Era (the United Kingdom)
(1901 to 1914)
What happened?
It is generally stated that the Edwardian Era began with the death of Queen Victoria in 1901 and ended with the start of the First World War in 1914. Her passing ended the Victorian Era. Her son Edward VII, had a brief reign from 1901 to 1910. This British era was the last period to be named after the reigning monarch.
A decade of peace and prosperity was marked. The period coincided with the beginning of the 20th century, a period in which the British Empire was at its height of power. The British class society (with poignant differences between a small prosperous upper class and a large poverty-stricken underclass) was still clearly profiled.
Edward was already leader of a fashionable elite that set a style influenced by the art and fashions of continental Europe. Edwardians never shook hands. Women never removed their gloves in public. Men never their hats in the presence of a superior, but not for someone of the lower classes. An Edwardian hostess predetermined every aspect of a dinner party. Very carefully would she arrange the menu and seating arrangements, but also the topics of conversation during the meal.
Significant reforms were made when the Liberals returned to power in 1906. The era was marked by significant shifts in politics among sections of society that had been largely excluded from power, e.g. labourers, servants and the industrial working class. Women started to play more of a role in politics.
In cultural-historical terms, this period coincided with the Jugendstil or the Belle Époque in France. It can be said that today (2021) there was an uninhibited belief in progress, a belief stimulated by all kinds of new inventions and scientific discoveries. It heralded the emancipation of groups, such like women and workers, who had until then, no change to participate in public life.
During this era, the British Empire began to lose its position as the only world power to the emerging Unites States of America and the German Empire in particular. Both England and America had strictly social relationships that were defined. The interactions between and among the classes were governed by a series of complex and rigid rules. The etiquette of the Edwardian Era was second nature to the people who lived during this period.
Boer War
± 1902
The Boer Wars were two wars fought in South Africa between the Boers and the British between 1880 and 1902. The Boers or Afrikaners were descendants of mainly Dutch settlers, who moved as pioneers to the interior of South Africa. They founded the Orange Free State and the South African Republic (Transvaal) there. The First Boer War was a war of independence for the Transvaal after it was annexed by the United Kingdom in 1877. The Boer victory ensured the independence of the Transvaal.
The Second Boer War (1899-1902) was the result of years of tension between the Boers and the British. After conquering their capitals, the Boers switched to guerrilla techniques. The British retaliated with the scorched earth tactic (= all lost ground is left smashed or destroyed). One of the first concentration camps was used, causing many civilian casualties on the part of the Boers. After a Pyrrhic victory (= victory that looks more like a loss) for the United Kingdom, the independent Boer Republic came to an end.
To stop the Boer attacks on their livestock and crops as punishment for helping the British, the leader of the abaQulusi responded by rallying his troops. The Zulus attacked the command camp at the foot of the Holkrans at night. In a mutual carnage, the Boers lost 56 dead, while the Africans lost 52. This battle was the last victory of the abaQulusi.
King Peppermint
± 1908
In ancient Egypt, peppermint oil was extracted from the herb ‘mentha piperita’. Pharmacists during the Late Dark Ages sold peppermint oil as a medicine against nerve ailments, badly healing wounds, headache and a bad breath.
But it wasn’t until the beginning of the 18th century the peppermint candy was invented in England, which was a success in the Netherlands. At the beginning of the 19th century, the wealthy had decorated silver boxes for peppermint candies, like our museum object. The less wealthy had cheaper materials for a peppermint box.
The first Dutch peppermint, by the Faam, with alleged medicinal effect, was sold in 1838, in Breda, the Netherlands.
Company ‘Tonnema and Compagnie’ manufactures in 1902 ‘peppermint sweets recommended by all doctors’ in Sneek, the Netherlands. Everything under the control of the Sneek laboratory at Lolke Dokkum of Dr. Paul Hamel Roos (1850-1935), scientist with connections to the royal family who soon replaced the Sneek for their fame. Stylized and flattering depiction of Roos's portrait on King Peppermint wrappers appeared. It was manufactured on behalf of ‘private labels’. After much deliberation, the name King (Quality In Nothing Matched) was chosen in 1922 as the brand name by businessman Nicolaas De Vries. Two years later, de Vries bought his last partner out and the Ton-nema company is fully owned by the de Vries family.
In 1927 the first packaging in paper rolls appeared. Now a peppermint can actually be used anywhere. Before that, only pots and cans at the grocery store sold peppermint as medicine and delicacy at the same time.
Cough candy 'Italiano', made from residual waste from production boiled sweets, is apparently a sales success. Business goes well for De Vries, when in 1949, he has a sales hit with sour ‘Rang’.
Another commercial success was King Atlas, popular geographically and tourist, worked. For 25 cents, in 1936, when buying King peppermint, you could receive for free the King Atlas after sending a number of rolls. The makers of the atlas were famous designers.
Tonnema sold in 1988 to Van Nelle, but the name King remained. The latest version of King Atlas for the time being (2021), was made in 1996.
Edison Phonograph Cylinder Recording. Found: Stockton-on-Tees, UK (JN0162)
Long-playing Record
± 1910
The Frenchman Léon Scott (1814-1879) used his "phonautograph" in 1860, which converted sound vibrations into a drawing on a soot-covered paper tube. This is how he wanted to visually capture sound. Theoretically, Scott's drawings could be converted back into sound. It was not until 2008 that technology was ready. It turned out to be the song "Au Clair de la Lune".
"Mary had a little lamb", a children's song sung by Thomas Edison (1847-1931) in 1877, was the oldest sound recording until 2008. Edison was the first to record and play back sound. He did this with his phonograph, where the sound was engraved on a rotating tube-like Scott's way.
Emile Berliner improved Edison's phonograph in 1887. He replaced the scroll with a zinc foil covered disc. All kinds of materials were used for the manufacture of the gramophone record.
In Bristol, United Kingdom, the street dog Nipper was taken in the same year by Francis Barraud, a bread painter. His name was Nipper because he bit his boss's ankles. Francis had an Edison phonograph. When he played music, Nipper could be found by the horn. It inspired him to paint "His Masters Voice".
The shellac-based plate (mistakenly confused with Bakelite) became standard in 1895. Edison's scrolls remained on the market until the 1920s and died a silent death.
In 1899 Francis Barraud tries to sell his painting to the Edison Bell Company, the firm that produced the phonograph and music cylinders. "Dogs don't listen to music.", they commented. The competitor Gramophone Company was interested. The phonograph was replaced by a gramophone player. The His Masters Voice label became an icon.
The gramophone record became a success in 1902. First, the Italian operator Enrico Caruso (1873-1921) can count as "pop star". His voice was what the recording technology of the time needed. A record player was a luxury. He managed to sell 1,2 million copies of one of his recordings. The playing time of a roll or record was limited for a long time. Up to five minutes at a speed of ± 80. A winding mechanism served as the drive. An electric motor was used as the drive mechanism in 1925. The number of revolutions was then set at 78.
A gramophone record from Colombia Records was released in America in 1948, the "LP", "long play". The raw material was vinyl, which was much less fragile than shellac. Improved techniques turned the LP down at 33 (1/3) rpm. One record side could take 20 minutes. For the time being, the LP was used to listen to classical music without changing records.
RCA Records, an American record label, capitulated in 1950 and went on to produce the LP. The 45-rpm record turned out to be good for 1 song (in English "a single song"). The disc became "single". There were now 2 formats: the LP, then mainly for long classical pieces, and the single for songs from the lighter genre.
The 78-rpm record disappeared from the picture in 1960. The golden days for vinyl were yet to begin. LP and single became an important expression of youth culture in the 1960s. Record companies made a lot.
The arrival of the compact disc in 1985 seemed to be the end of the LP. A renewed interest by Dance (= Electronic Dance Music) in the mid-1990s with DJs "playing" ("scratching") the records with their hands. Nostalgia plays a role. The vinyl buyers claim that the sound of the gramophone record is much more "real" than that of the CD. The revival of vinyl is worldwide and only accounts for a fraction of total music sales.