She was the 18th century celebrity who made men faint in awe of her beauty by her very presence. But her beauty - and her vanity - led to her demise as the lead-based make-up she insisted on plastering on daily resulted first in the loss of her looks, then deadly blood poisoning. Now the grand 7ft mirror in which Maria Gunning, the former Countess of Coventry, admired her stunning reflection has been auctioned off for more than £300,000. Labelled the first victim of vanity, Maria died aged 27 in 1760 after her love of make-up resulted in her untimely death. The 253-year-old mirror sold well above its estimate even though her condition meant she the society hostess used it for a matter of just months. A glorious George II giltwood overmantel design, it was bought for her by her husband The Sixth Earl of Coventry in 1759, who is said to have been so frustrated by his wife's love of make up that he would chase her around the dinner table with a handkerchief, trying wipe it from her face.
More weather chaos is heading our way, with ice and snow already hitting areas across Birmingham .
For years Jeorgia Woodd, 30, abused her body, having succumbed to a condition known as 'diabulimia' .
BLOWING bubbles underwater, this adorable polar bear slides into his tank for a playful dip .
WITH the phosphorescent blobs and mesmerising patterns, these spectacular images may look like the hall marks of an enchanted forest but it is in fact the scene of thousands of dancing FIREFLIES .
A mischievous fox cub demonstrates his playful side by biting his sibling’s tail .
UNDERWATER and above-water seaside shots show the best of British beach-life .
An adorable orangutan named Pongo celebrates his first birthday at Zoo Atlanta, Georgia, America .
One sheepdog is taking a well-deserved rest after giving birth to a whole WHEELBARROW-FUL of puppies .
A mum-of-two has worn the same t-shirt for an entire year to raise awareness of a 1 in 7 million condition that prevents her daughter from talking .
Vikki Jose, 26 loves nothing more than lavishing gifts on her loved ones at Christmas time .
THEIR gnarling teeth at the ready, these two baboons fight it out for the last piece of fruit .