Nothing lost in translation

25 - 26 September 2000
Oxford, The Manor House at Clifton Hampden (the Christopher Gibbs sale)

A pair of stained elm fauteuils
Designed by Syrie Maugham, 20th century, in the Louis XV style
Each with rectangular padded back, squab cushions and part-padded arms covered in ivory linen, with slightly outscrolled arms, on short cabriole legs (2)





28 June 2005
London, South Kensington

A pair of ash armchairs
Mid 20th Century, in the manner of Syrie Maugham (2)




The Bergere Chair produced by Soane

A faithful, and beautifully executed, reproduction of the pair from 2005.



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Now playing: Gail Ann Dorsey - Always True
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Random bits of fabulous

Taken from the November issue of The World of Interiors.



The courtyard of Cranbrook's Saarinen House photographed by Richard Powers.




A covered patio in Tangier photographed by Roland Beaufre.



Recently, I read somewhere (and it wasn't over the rainbow) that there are people who actually believe that designers create a WOI look just to be published in those hallowed pages.

Mind boggling.



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Now playing: Toni Childs - Blind
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Something for the weekend

Mission: Impossible

Seasons one through three. Why? Those were the seasons that Barbara Bain appeared as top model and actress Cinnamon Carter. So flawlessly chic in that knowing way.














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Now playing: Richard Kiley - Little Bird, Little Bird
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More ways to waste time

Shirley MacLaine and Michael Caine in the 1966 crime caper Gambit.

Love this film. MacLaine is exquisite to behold and Caine is roguishly charming.

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Now playing: David Bowie - China Girl
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The final curtain

Bea Arthur (1922-2009) in a scene from an episode of Maude. Quite possibly one of the most memorable moments in television history.

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Now playing on iTunes: Peggy Lee - Is That All There Is
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Far from the madding crowd

Clouds Hill


The music room


The book room


The back of the cottage


Nothing in Clouds Hill is to be a care upon the world. While I have it there shall be nothing exquisite or unique in it. Nothing to anchor me. - T. E. Lawrence


T.E. Lawrence, using the name Shaw to avoid publicity, rented Clouds Hill in 1923 as a retreat from nearby Bovington Camp when he rejoined the Air Force. In 1925 Lawrence bought the cottage and it became his earthly paradise. He did not sleep at the cottage but spent evenings there reading, writing and listening to Beethoven and Mozart.

The tiny rooms* of Clouds Hill are as Lawrence left them with simple and austere furnishings, some of which he made himself. The cottage reflects his complex personality and monastic way of life. The crowded book room is lined with shelves from floor to ceiling. It is here that Lawrence found the peace and quiet he needed to work on his Seven Pillars of Wisdom, which was published in 1926.

In 1935 Lawrence was discharged at the age of 46 from the Air Force and returned to Clouds Hill to live out his days. Five days later he was killed in a motorcycle crash when returning to Clouds Hill from Bovington Camp.


Clouds Hill, the rural retreat of T. E. Lawrence, is now a part of Britain's National Trust.


Of further possible interest -

Lawrence of Dorset: From Arabia to Clouds Hill by Rodney Legg

Journal of the T. E. Lawrence Society



*It was one of these tiny rooms, specifically the cork lined bathroom, that inspired the kitchen in W1.

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Now playing on iTunes: Sting - Desert Rose
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There will be...

More News From Nowhere - Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds


Soon.

Before the fall

Where, oh where Imelda, did it all go so terribly, terribly wrong?

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Now playing on iTunes: Mark Knopfler - Imelda
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Either...

She was loved, or he was guilty. More than likely a combination of the two.

A Victorian sapphire and diamond brooch. The principle oval shaped sapphire is set within a surround of cushion shaped diamonds in silver and gold. With a diamond and sapphire set foliate scroll mount and suspending five graduated sapphire and diamond clusters.


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Now playing on iTunes: David McAlmont - Diamonds Are Forever
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Taking the veil

The mantilla.





Portrait of actress Hedy Lamarr by Eliot Elisofon for Life, 1946.
Miss Lamarr wears a black lace mantilla and black lace-trimmed dress.



Mrs. Jacqueline Kennedy, and her hostess, the Duchess of Alba, wearing Mantillas of White Lace, Attended the Seville bullfights April 21, 1966. Photograph by Bettmann.



Carmen Polo and Francisco Franco at the procession of the Virgen de Valvanera.


Mourning Portrait of the Duchess of Alba by Francisco Goya, 1797.


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Now playing on iTunes: Johnny Cash - The Long Black Veil
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Bring it back

e·pergne (-pûrn, -pârn)

A large table centerpiece consisting of a frame with extended arms or branches supporting holders, as for flowers, fruit, or sweetmeats.




Moulded clear art glass epergne, centered by a trumpet form top, having two shallow dish tiers and waisted center support ending in a round footed base, 53cm high.




An early 20th Century W.M.F pewter epergne.
Rectangular base supporting twin strut arms terminating in circular clear glass bowls flanked by central conforming trumpet vase, 46cm high.




Victorian glass epergne.
Five piece mold blown clear glass epergne, base with folded water splash crimped and fluted edge, threaded support base, center trumpet and three side trumpets each with threaded body. Center trumpet with fluted and crimped edge, six sided base. Three side trumpets with Jack in the Pulpit shaped crimped rim with top projection and folded base.




A Baccarat ormolu mounted glass centrepiece.
A moulded trumpet shaped vase above a dish and scrolling stem supported by three hippo tusks, 59cm h, moulded mark Baccarat, 1875.


As dining rooms go the way of the dinosaur, so too do the accouterments. Admittedly, the epergne has not been fashionable for some time. As dinner parties have become more intimate and less formal the taller, and grander, centrepieces have become virtually obsolete.

The examples above are positively pedestrian when compared to the 18th Century and some of the more elaborate Victorian styles. Yet, by today's standards they seem too grand and superfluous. Surely, that alone should be enough to warrant a revival.


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Now playing on iTunes: Moloko - Sing It Back (Album Mix)
via FoxyTunes

Bring it back

e·pergne (-pûrn, -pârn)

A large table centerpiece consisting of a frame with extended arms or branches supporting holders, as for flowers, fruit, or sweetmeats.




Moulded clear art glass epergne, centered by a trumpet form top, having two shallow dish tiers and waisted center support ending in a round footed base, 53cm high.




An early 20th Century W.M.F pewter epergne.
Rectangular base supporting twin strut arms terminating in circular clear glass bowls flanked by central conforming trumpet vase, 46cm high.




Victorian glass epergne.
Five piece mold blown clear glass epergne, base with folded water splash crimped and fluted edge, threaded support base, center trumpet and three side trumpets each with threaded body. Center trumpet with fluted and crimped edge, six sided base. Three side trumpets with Jack in the Pulpit shaped crimped rim with top projection and folded base.




A Baccarat ormolu mounted glass centrepiece.
A moulded trumpet shaped vase above a dish and scrolling stem supported by three hippo tusks, 59cm h, moulded mark Baccarat, 1875.


As dining rooms go the way of the dinosaur, so too do the accouterments. Admittedly, the epergne has not been fashionable for some time. As dinner parties have become more intimate and less formal the taller, and grander, centrepieces have become virtually obsolete.

The examples above are positively pedestrian when compared to the 18th Century and some of the more elaborate Victorian styles. Yet, by today's standards they seem too grand and superfluous. Surely, that alone should be enough to warrant a revival.


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Now playing on iTunes: Moloko - Sing It Back (Album Mix)
via FoxyTunes