Monday 8 October 1660
Office day, and my wife being gone out to buy some household stuff, I dined all alone, and after dinner to Westminster, in my way meeting Mr. Moore coming to me, who went back again with me calling at several places about business, at my father’s about gilded leather for my dining room, at Mr. Crew’s about money, at my Lord’s about the same, but meeting not Mr. Sheply there I went home by water, and Mr. Moore with me, who staid and supped with me till almost 9 at night. We love one another’s discourse so that we cannot part when we do meet. He tells me that the profit of the Privy Seal is much fallen, for which I am very sorry. He gone and I to bed.
chris Link to this
What would be the purpose of "gilded leather" in Sam's dining room? Wall or table decoration? Is this good taste or the conspicuous consumption of an arriviste?
Paul Brewster Link to this
gilded leather
Interesting modern site on subject http://www.paper-hangings.com/wrn/portlg.html
Dirk Van de putte Link to this
Guilded leather
Guilded leather was a commonly used material in rich people's houses - used as wall covering, very much as we now use wallpaper. It was hugely expensive, but it was good taste. It was quite acceptable (and even expected) to show your wealth in home decoration.
Mary Link to this
Gilded leather
Thanks to Paul for his reference to such a fascinating site.
Anyone visiting the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam can see examples of early gilded leather, applied to the wall surface in such a way as to look like richly decorated panelling.
helena murphy Link to this
Neither Sam nor Elizabeth ever seem to have bad taste in anything,leaving aside of course his casual sexual encounters.But Considering Pepys' general subtlety in regard to life,Elizabeth's French background, and the expertise of Sam's father used to entering great houses as a professional tailor ,would indicate to me that they are quite sophisticated in such matters.
Jim Link to this
If you don't think you can get an invitation to visit the home pictured in the link that Paul Brewster supplied above,
you can still get to see leather wall hangings in person -- On your next visit to Washington be sure to visit the Freer Gallery (part of the Smithsonian complext of museums, it's next to the Smithsonian "Castle") and see the Peacock Room. The room was once the dining room of a wealthy Englishman, now moved to an American museum -- there are beautiful leather wall hangings with peacock designs, various Japanese screens and some paintings by Whistler. I haven't been there in a number of years but I still remember the visual impace of that room. Next time I do visit there I'll try to picture Samuel Pepys having leather wall hangings in his house.
Peter Link to this
Having read the phrase "my wife being gone out to buy some household stuff", I spent a pleasant few moments musing on how modern this sounded and speculating on what items would be included in this "household stuff" (The Restoration equivalents of Fairy Liquid, Harpic, Brillo Pads etc?). The original meaning of "stuff" I have always understood to be "fabric" or "material". Could the "stuff" here be the wall hangings that have previously been discussed, some other material, or do we think that Sam is using a remarkably modern sounding turn of phrase?
Bullus Hutton Link to this
We love one another
David A. Smith Link to this
"We love one another’s discourse ..."
I agree with Bullus; not only is Sam eloquent in his simplicity, anyone who can be so candid to a diary will be similarly facile in person. Since we like those who like us, this honest appreciation (the genuine article of which obsequity is the counterfeit), among his other qualities, will doubtless help him rise.