Breakfast Links: Week of April 18, 2011

Just like the Easter Bunny, we’ve gathered up a basketful of fresh Breakfast Links for your amusement. Here are this week's favorites from other blogs, web sites, news stories, and sundry curiosities from around the Twitterverse:

• Lovely tradtion for the holiday: Easter buns, sailors, & a Victorian mother's faith in her son's return: http://bit.ly/horeiU
• Winterthur Museum acquires one of the earliest known American Depictions of the Easter Bunny: http://bit.ly/h8SQI4

• Charlotte Brontë was born 195 years ago on 21 April. http://bit.ly/hL33X4

•To-die-for jewels from VanCleef & Arpels, from 1906 onward: http://ow.ly/4oT7X

• Just in time for Easter Week: Hot cross buns in 18th c England: http://bit.ly/dLsMjY

• Behind the scenes look at making 'Napoleon & Empire of Fashion' catalog/book from recent costume exhibition: http://bit.ly/fVdWuv

• Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier marry today in 1956 http://bit.ly/gQM7xZ

• Jane Austen and American painter Benjamin West: http://t.co/qYt

• Death of Lord Byron, on this day, 1824; news reached The Times, May 15 http://twitpic.com/4mtv3a

• 'Banner ladies': An intriguing series of advertising cabinet cards by photographer Mrs. G.M. Bowen http://bit.ly/dUijF9

• Jack Ketch: Bodgy Axeman: http://t.co/xRQSFqm the notorious Restoration executioner.

• Like writing? Like cats? Then you'll love this: http://cl.ly/67yG

• The Rolling Stones Rice Krispies commercial (1964). This precise level of selling out seems good for humanity. http://bit.ly/i7pSwU

• A story of a Royal hideaway, Lily Langtry & Wallis (and glimpse of Dartmoor Prison): http://bit.ly/fyYUyX

• Teeny tiny Shakespeare: In honor of his upcoming birthday, some miniature Shakespeare: http://bit.ly/gxCozo

• Protecting against amatory advances: an interesting explanation for the symbolism of a medieval brooch in the V&A: http://bit.ly/eh9sMA

• Gaudy garden promises: Spring is here...Seed catalogues from the Smithsonian libraries - http://bit.ly/eV0932

• “She Threads Her Way...With an Unconscious Air” London’s Most Famous Prostitute, ‘Skittles’ http://bit.ly/gaHfeo

• See all the secrets of an 18th c French lady's table/desk unlocked & revealed in this video: http://getty.us/i3FjF9

• Video of the royal wedding dresses of Queen Victoria & others kept at Kensington Palace: http://is.gd/JXzbNB