The Italian island of Murano is renowned for its historic glass factories, which have prospered in the face of events including World War 2 and the more recent economic downturn. The island is home to iconic and highly reputable brands including Venini, De Biasi and Salviati to name but a few. The glass manufacturers of […]
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British architectural styles and British architecture as a whole have evolved hugely over the centuries, with movements and styles from years gone by still exerting influence and having vast appeal today. Let’s take a look at some of Britain’s major, most prominent, and most iconic architectural styles from the late 15th century onwards. Tudor
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Many beloved Christmas movies hinge their dramatic impact on the idea of Christmas being jeopardised in some way, only to be saved at the last minute by a miracle. Whether it’s the threat of the Grinch stealing away everyone’s gifts or the possibility of Christmas being cancelled due to a great storm, the idea of
Glass Ornaments: A German Christmas Miracle Continue Reading »
The joy of having a glass collection goes beyond sheer visual admiration. For those who own antique glass, there is also the profoundly meaningful sense of restoring and preserving heirloom pieces for future generations. Each item of antique glass serves as a tangible emblem of an era—a way of life that has long since passed
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When most people hear the word ‘Bohemian,’ they envision eclectic decor, artfully loose, careless hair and clothing, and flamboyant jewellery, rich in the use of natural materials and semi-precious stones. The Bohemian movement is the label of counter-culture rock stars and precocious fashionistas alike, one of many commercialised images of rebellion available to those who
Bohemian Movement: A Romantic Past, A Peripatetic Future Continue Reading »
Though human beings are without a doubt the most impressive architects in the animal kingdom, we are not the only ones; the desire and ability to create and maintain shelters is found across a diverse range of species, from the humble ant to the soaring eagle. Our aptitude for creating furniture, however, is completely unique
The Rise And Fall Of The Bauhaus School Of Art And Design From a modern perspective, it’s easy to underestimate the sheer power and influence of the Bauhaus school: What immediately strikes many of us upon viewing a signature Bauhaus object, such as the Wasilly Chair or the Wagenfeld Lamp, is the fact that they
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The history of Art Deco glass designs begins in the early twentieth century. The year was 1925: The hardships of World War One had given way to a burst of prosperity, stifling Victorian dress had been relegated to the attic in favour of loose, comfortable clothing, and along once-quiet country lanes the roaring of engines
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Beautiful Monsters: The Strange Appeal Of Brutalist Architecture Around the world—and in Britain perhaps most poignantly—the 1950s and 1960s were a time of unparalleled optimism. These ‘years of hope’, as the late Tony Benn dubbed them, saw the middle class of the nation transformed by peace and prosperity. Wayland Young, in his book Return to
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From Venice To Fenton Art Glass: The History Of Milk Glass In the world of art glass, much is said about the appeal of whirls of colour and shimmering iridescence; from the many-faceted delights of millefiori to the distracting gasoline glimmer of carnival glass, both collectors and glassmakers have drawn centuries of enjoyment from the
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