Preparation Gallery

Thessaloniki - Preparing the Aperitif Mastic and Mezza

Thessaloniki - Preparing the Aperitif Mastic and Mezza. In medieval times, mastic was highly valued by sultans harems as a breath freshener and a tooth whitener. In Turkey, mastic is widely used in desserts such as Turkish delight and dondurma; in puddings such as sutlac, salep, and tavuk gogsu mamelika, and in soft drinks. It is also in Turkish coffee on the Aegean coast. In this depiction, Mastic is used in a mastic liqueur (such as Greek Mastichato). Date: circa 1916

© Mary Evans / Grenville Collins Postcard Collection

Christmas Eve - about 1460 by Pauline Baynes

Christmas Eve, as celebrated in 1460 with children bringing in holly and the Yule Log to be lit on Christmas Day, and other joining in a last minute carol practice, while the lord of the manor sends his seasonable gifts of cheer and goodwill to the poor tenants. A holly wreath hangs from the weathercock and inside, a kissing bough is being fixed in place, the table linen, pewter and gold plate is arranged in readiness for the next day and one of the ladies carries a Twelfth Night cake which will be cut to mark the end of the Christmas celebrations

© Illustrated London News Ltd/Mary Evans

Careful preparations in a photographic studio

Two men are shown adjusting a woman's dress as she is preparing to have her portrait captured in a photographic studio. The photographer is already positioned behind the camera, ready to capture the shot. This suggests that these are some careful, last minute adjustments to ensure her appearance is perfect. Date: 1870s

© Mary Evans Picture Library