Under the supervision of the daring Montgolfier brothers (the sons of a wealthy paper manufacturer) and in the presence of King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette of France at Versailles, the balloon rose some 1,700 feet in the air and travelled for eight minutes, landing two miles away in the forest of Vaucresson, where two surprised gamekeepers discovered the crashed balloon. Despite the dodgy arrival, all the passengers landed safely. It was a remarkable feat. Previously, scientists thought that atmospheric altitude might be dangerous for the physical body: this flight helped to reassure the nervous.
The Montgolfier brothers constructed the balloon with the help of the royal wallpaper manufacturer, Jean-Baptiste Réveillon, who then built a further balloon to carry a human. Spherical in shape and made from a cotton cloth backed with paper inside (coated with alum to protect it from fire), the Montgolfiers' balloon was launched from a raised platform or dais, which contained a well stacked with straw, wool and old leather shoes. Once lit, the fire produced a dense smoke, and the balloon began to rise.
The brothers called this 'Montgolfier Gas', not realising that it was the hot air that caused the lift, not the smoke.
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Lisa Coppin
The Cotswold Company’s chief creative officer shares the pieces that mean so much to her
TRAVEL
Six of the best pineta, plus a festive trip to Covent Garden. Review of The Orange, Belgravia by Katie Pike, travel stories
OLD SHEFFIELD PLATE
Stumbled upon by chance, this ingenious material was a more affordable option than solid silver, and well-preserved examples are particularly desirable today
Merrily on high
Summoning servants since the 1700s, bell boards create instant English country-house style (even if you don't have any servants). Emma Longstaff dons her pinny
Let it snow
Nostalgic, magical and highly collectable, snow globes are curious objects of wonder that never fail to instil joy
Velvet Crush
Once the preserve of the wealthy, velvet finally touched all levels of society, thanks to advances in its production process
Celebrating in the Stable
Antiques dealer Julia von Hülsen specialises in Gustavian pieces - all of which look perfectly placed in her German home
THE SHOW MUST GO ON
Victorian toy theatres charming and exquisitely designed miniature worlds have inspired theatre royalty for decades. Today, the tradition is being kept alive by a small but talented network of makers
NICHOLAS LEES
The ceramic artist talks to Dominique Corlett about new ways of working with clay and blurring the edges of solid objects
Candy CHRISTMAS
Pastel hues, vintage decorations and bowls of sweet treats: the festive run-up is gloriously joyful at Bettina Færgeman's historic Copenhagen apartment, where there's an emphasis on entertaining...