Le Corbusier – Charles-Edouard Jeanneret’s Modernist Style
Early in the twentieth century Swiss born Charles-Edouard Jeanneret adopted his grandfather’s name Le Corbusier presenting a new audacious style of architecture
Design History & Decorative Arts
Diane de Poitiers – Moon Mistress and Woman of Influence
Wearing black and white was a statement of style for the mistress of Henri II of France Diane de Poitiers who adopted Goddess Diana’s crescent moon as a symbol
Fashion – Is It More Than a Frock asks Carolyn McDowall?
Costume encompasses all that we wear and today reflects a society in which privacy has been stripped bare – so what is fashion, is it more than a frock?
Garden Art of Japan – Profound Happiness, Beauty and Bonsai
The garden art of Japan devotee can approach his/her ultimate destiny calmly with great dignity, glorying in the beauty and majesty of the creation and creator
18th Century ‘Compleat’ Gentlemen – Rulers of Taste & Style
Pursuing a passion for art and architecture in England in the 18th Century spawned new trades and expanded enjoyment for those living a leisure filled lifestyle
Australia, a Multicultural Land of Paradoxes & Opportunities
Australia is a multicultural land of opportunity, one whose layers of diversity are constantly re-interpreted distilled and decanted into something quite unique
Meissen Porcelain – Passionate Pursuit of Power and Prestige
Augustus the Strong, Elector of Saxony’s claim to fame rests on his being the founder of the first European factory at Meissen to produce porcelain in the west
Helen Johns, Special Features Correspondent – Joins Our Team
Brisbane based creative Helen Johns is going to pen feature stories on a regular basis, giving us an insight into her special experiences here at home or abroad
Enlightenment – On Beauty and Thought Provoking Works
In 18th century Europe aesthetics was a field of study . Beautiful works were seen as thought provoking, but clearly distinguished from those considered sublime
The Sydney Fair – Art Deco Vintage & 20th Century June 13-16
Highlighting the Art Deco style of Gatsby’s time, The Sydney Fair from June 13 – 16, will be a ‘vintage emporium of international scale’ and homage to modernism
City of Bath In The Age of Pleasure – Baths, Balls and Beau
King Henry VIII came to Bath and discovered the therapeutic value of the waters in 15th century. When ‘Beau’ Nash arrived in 1702 it became a centre for fashion
Art Deco – A Revolution of Design & Style for the Modern Age
Art Deco was about integrating contemporary living with art, and turning life into art, against those consciously working for the undoing of art and its purpose was enjoyment.
The Grammar of Ornament – Inspiring a Taste for the Exotic
In 1856 Owen Jones published The Grammar of Ornament inspiring a taste for the exotic reflected in Leighton House and The Peacock House at Holland Park, London
David J.K. Roche – An Honourable Quest in Trust for a Nation
Whether as a collector of decorative arts or as a dog breeder and judge David Roche was all about being the very best that he could be on ever level of his life
What is an Antique – Watch our FREE Video
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.
A Symphony of Stained Glass – Flight of the Egret
There are some in our society who are blessed with great creative gifts. Imagination is surely one, however it is one thing to have the ability to form images and ideas in the mind, especially of things never seen or never experienced directly, but quite another to connect those to the totality of real things in the world in order to convey knowledge or influence our perception of them.