#cpeak

[marzipanandminutiae]

looking into the safest way to use antique ceramic dishware (with respect to potentially leaded glazes) made me notice something interesting in CPeak

I read online that very decorated areas of old china are at the highest risk for lead leaching. while still technically safe if the glaze is intact, these areas should not be exposed to hot or acidic foods for long periods of time

the tea set used in the movie is Royal Crown Derby’s Old Imari 2451, specifically the cup style seen below:

notice the decoration on the inner rim, an unusual feature since most teacups I’ve seen are only decorated on the outside. that seems to imply a slight increase to the concern of lead leaching into drinks served therein, since the tannins in tea make it rather acidic

rewatching the movie, though, I noticed that the teacups are never filled past the bottom of the interior decorations

from what I’ve read, I doubt an adult woman would have been at all harmed by several takes of drinking one sip from a just-filled cup (the tea wouldn’t even have been sitting in it for a long time), even if it was completely full. lead poisoning is cumulative over time, and a risk of leaching isn’t a guarantee by any means. I might not use those cups full to the brim, every single day, for years, but. occasional use would probably be fine, my research seems to indicate

still, I do wonder if that was an intentional safety precaution on the part of the cast and crew. or they could have just wanted the decorations to be fully visible

[isabelofwraithmarsh]

I just. Do not understand how you can look at Edith "She died a widow" Cushing, who thwacks her sister in law with a shovel and has a Bond one liner for it and think that her characterization is limited to "sweet and pure" and then see Lucille, who is said, in canon, to be the action to Thomas' inaction, specifically as the result of their childhood trauma and Lucile's imprisonment in a Victorian era asylum (as in, both Sharpe siblings have done monstrous things, one of them is just more forthright about it, specifically because she has learned to romanticize her own martyrdom to a toxic level) and think "evil harpy".

[marzipanandminutiae]

also, sorry, I don’t mean to make this deeper than it is, and it’s probably just because she does crossdress once in canon, but

GNC L*cille Sh*rpe headcanons do give me some unfortunate “strong-featured woman must be masc-presenting” vibes

you do you! Characterization Tomato, like I said yesterday! I’m not even putting this in the tags (see above censorship) because I am sure nobody means it like that!

it’s just.

she is the PINNACLE of Victwardian femininity in so many ways. not just her lavish, elaborate gowns and floor-length hair, either. her hobbies, her domestic-mindedness, her lack of personal ambition, her eternal self-sacrifice for the man of the house and role as his emotional mainstay...it’s all straight out of a sentimental novel sold in some London railway station in like 1880. that’s one thing I love about the character: she plays into gendered expectations of her world so well, and then with a few horrific twists subverts them

though they’re both quite feminine-presenting in canon and I prefer interpreting them that way, you could almost make a better argument for Edith to have some fluidity in gender presentation. she’s the quintessential 1890s New Woman, after all, and New Women were known to sometimes don suits and top hats for photos as a lark

there’s just so little reason to interpret Lucille as GNC based on canon that it’s hard for me not to see it as an unconscious Woman Have Wide Jaw and Cheekbones, Must Secretly Want To Wear Men’s Clothes take

[marzipanandminutiae]

I will never forget the time I was in the Crimson Peak tag and saw someone bemoaning the fact that Thomas “left Lucille for a BLONDE”

A. show me the part where he left her; man wanted a threesome and you cannot convince me otherwise

B. genuinely are you 13

[marzipanandminutiae]

People are allowed their opinions, especially with something is inconsequential as fandom, but I really really really really really hate voluntarily cross-dressing Lucille scenarios/headcanons/fanart

(Maybe because she’s my favorite and I have strong, visceral negative feelings about being associated with masculinity myself? Who knows)

[marzipanandminutiae]

Allerdale Hall DOES Look 17th Century; You’re Just Not Well-Versed In 17th Century English Architecture Because You’re American And Jacobean Design Didn’t Get Here Until The Late 19th Century has been the most delightful discovery of my morning

also now I know about Jacobean architecture, so. one more style to fantasize about

[marzipanandminutiae]

(the cemetery in the funeral scenes - Edith's mom and later her dad - is the Hamilton Cemetery, which dates from 1850. They host walking tours there.)

!!! so cool!

not to quote a cop show, but I'm very Jake Peralta Die Hard Locations "TAKE MY PICTURE WITH IT :D :D :D" about all of this. as you can probably tell.

[marzipanandminutiae]

if you want to ship Thomas/Enola that’s fine (I don’t get it, but do you)

however. I saw someone saying she was the first woman he was ever sexually attracted to

which

uh

buddy

I. I don’t know how to tell you this but