The intellectual ideas of every period in world history have always been reflected in its architecture. It is important we consider well the consequences of the decisions we make in tearing down our living heritage, even in regard to modern buildings of great merit.

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When people today talk about jewels, jewellery, gemmology and gems it is clear the vocabulary has become confused. Gemstones are treasured minerals found in the earth. ‘Gems’ are the objects fashioned from them. Jewels are gem ready for mounting into jewellery and other objects of art. And, jewellery – it is the finished product that if its designer from Cupid to Cartier has succeeded, adorns its wearer well.

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Glass is a substance we would not want to live without. It has fascinated for centuries as it captures light and glows from within. It is a jewel like substance made from the most ordinary materials: sand transformed by fire. It would be George Ravenscroft who would be the man to make the first celebrated English ‘glass of lead’ a product now known as crystal. It was unique in that it could also be cut. Once launched onto the market cut crystal did not from then on, ever lose its appeal.

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Classic – is the SECOND part of our four (4) segment course the Evolution of Art, Design & Style. It is available in video, ebook or podcast format and can be watched, read or listened to on your computer, iPad, Kindle or iPod.

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Day 19 -  The Dream Team Part 3 Louis XIV set about renovating his father’s hunting lodge at Versailles seconding the talents of Foucquet’s ‘dream team’ to create a building project that ultimately influenced the evolution of all the arts in the western world. Louis Le Vau was succeeded on his death at Versailles by [...]

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Join us for CLASSIC, the SECOND part of our four (4) segment course of study The Evolution of Art, Design & Style CLASSIC: ARTIST & ARTISANS Renaissance to Restoration This part of the course (Days 11 – 20) covers the periods from the rebirth of humanism in Italy during the fourteenth century to the restoration [...]

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Holiday periods and long weekends give everyone opportunities to catch up on jobs left undone, or pleasures denied. A favourite pastime in our family is hunting for that special piece of furniture waiting to be recycled grandly

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Do the protagonists on television’s real estate renovating reality show, The Block at Melbourne in 2011 face a renovating nightmare, or a restoration delight?

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Charles II abandoned puritanical austerity following his Restoration to the English throne in 1660. It is not surprising that he wanted to buy sumptuous and fashionable clothes. When he had been a fugitive from the Battle of Worcester in 1651 he been forced to wear ‘nothing but a green coat and a pair of country breeches on and a pair of country shoes, that made him sore all over his feet that he could scarce stir’. On his return he gave himself up completely to luxury and pleasure, adorning his very Frenchified person with sumptuous textiles and jewels.

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Portraiture is at the heart of British Art. In 1707 the Act of Union brought England and Scotland together under one flag and parliament as Great Britain. The new Britons felt an urge to national self-definition and artist William Hogarth (1697-1764) championed the idea of establishing a native school of artists. The roots for portraiture [...]

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Collecting antiques is a social phenomenon, often misrepresented as being the hobby of only a select few. From my experience working in the trade, perusing galleries, working at and attending fairs and auctions over a long period of time (some 30 years) collecting antiques is a pleasure indulged in by a vast number of people from very different backgrounds and all walks of life.

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