Making a Compleat Gentleman

West Wycombe Manor was set in a beautiful Park and the perfect setting for a man of means who also enjoyed the good life. Its colonaded west front is highly unusual, for a climate like England recalling perhaps many happy times spent lazing in the loggia of an Italian Palazzo. While smaller than most of his friends country houses today it is a perfect film set for eighteenth century period films because it encapsulates and reflects in architecture the society of a time when young men of privilege went in passionate pursuit of civilised life. Is it the perfect Temple to Taste of a Compleat Gentleman?

Wine, Woman & Song

Wine was made before history was recorded. For thousands of years it has given comfort, pleasure and evoked high spirits among man people in many different countries and cultures.

Sydney’s Hidden Jewel – 150 Year Celebration of The Nicholson Museum

In 2010, The Nicholson Museum, Sydney’s and perhaps Australia’s best kept secret, will celebrate its 150th year with a special exhibition Charles Nicholson: Man & Museum

Evolution of Art, Design and Style – Antiquity to Avatar

‘Just as a palate can be educated to appreciate fine wine so too can both the eye and the ear be educated to distinguish the rare from the ordinary, the exquisite from the mundane’. Pare Keiha, Associate Professor, Dean – Tumuaki AUT, Auckland NZ

THE EVOLUTION ART, DESIGN & STYLE
ARTISTIC TASTE – ANTIQUITY – AVATAR
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Introduction to Collecting Antiques – FREE online video presentation

Collecting aesthetically pleasing items is quite normal and fulfills a deep emotional need within us all. You can become “hooked” on the search for that special piece, forgotten, unappreciated and unloved.
If you would like to become a collector, potential purchaser or, a dealer in antiques we offer FREE, An Introduction to Collecting Antiques sharing some [...]

Living in the East has its rewards…

Dr Sheena Burnell appeared on the ABC program ‘Collectors’ in 2007 with her collection of bound feet shoes and related objects.
Sheena is an anaesthetist currently living in Shanghai and she began collecting Chinese objets d’art and Japanese ukiyoe (wood block prints) in the 1980s.
Her shift in focus to collecting Chinese dress accessories dates from her [...]

iPAD…an apple a day keeps the mind active

Apple is relying on ease of use,  crisp, clean wide angle and accessible viewing display to carve out a whole new market for its new wiz bang wonder iPad. Its e reader capabilities are tipped to be the key to its success over the next decade.
It was my eldest son  who first started teaching me [...]

Julie Andrews …a woman for all seasons

On her 69th birthday much loved actress/vocalist Julie Andrews made a special appearance at Manhattan’s Radio City Music Hall for the benefit of the AARP (American Association of Retired Persons).
One of the musical numbers she performed was based on ‘My Favourite Things’ the perennial favourite from the movie ‘Sound Of Music’. Here [...]

Avatar…experience a true sense of enlightenment….

James Camerons’ Avatar is a truly amazing experience. Donning my 3D glasses, I joined my son, and a packed audience to experience this extraordinary achievement in film making.
It takes creativity to a whole new level and, like everyone else after three hours I simply wanted to join Jake, Neytiri and the rest of the Na’vi [...]

Portraiture – Egypt to Enlightenment

Glory is fleeting, but obscurity is forever…Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821)
author Carolyn McDowall
What is a portrait? Is it an actual likeness of someone? If we know the person portrayed is a General, King or Queen will it change our viewpoint? What is a portrait’s function?  Is it meant to show the sitter at their most characteristic ?
The [...]