The Society inc. Newspaper Volume 4.

BY SIBELLA COURT

THE SOCIETY INC

EDITION 4

PHOTOGRAPHER | Steven Baccon STYLIST | Sheree Commerford of Captain & the Gypsy Kid LOCATION | The Society inc

C ontents 03 captain’s letter Ahoy from The Society inc. captain, Sibella Court

Captain’s letter Cabinets of Curiosity and Collecting has to be one of my all-time favourite

04 i am a collector

things & pastimes; The history, the seeking & discovering, the wonder,

Organised Chaos

marvel & deep seeded curiosity that makes up my being is sparked on summer holidays when gifts are exchanged, beaches explored, adventures

06 cabinet of curiosities

are had & there is time to while away with visits to museums, galleries,

Precursor to the modern museum

every level. It seems an apt theme for our 4th edition as it falls over the

botanical gardens & national parks.

For The Stylist’s Guide we travel to Morocco & London and meet some interesting folk in the Meet the Maker from collectors to mixologists.

It is also timely for this edition with the holiday season beckoning that we have teamed up with Patrón to create a very special vitrine and cocktail that will see you through the summer full of natural wonders and a hint of frivolity.

08 the stylist’s guide to marrakech Eat&drink | Stay | Shop | Explore

10 hardware tips & tricks Handy how-to’s on styling hardware

16 object history This thing for old things

17 collecting A brief history

18 the dictionary of collecting Words needed for collections & curiosities.

21 meet the maker

The Society inc by Sibella Court

Ken Wallis of Seasonal Concepts, Bella Foster, Belinda Black, Matteo Barnett, Peter Emmett

hello@thesocietyinc.com.au www.thesocietyinc.com.au

23 australian museum

@sibellacourt | @thesocietyinc #thestylistsguidetotheglobe

Long Gallery

+61 2 9516 5643 | Suite 3.02, 75 Mary St, St Peters NSW 2044 Australia

24 the stylist’s guide to london Eat&drink | Stay | Shop | Explore

FRONT COVER ILLUSTRATION | Bella Foster PRINT PRODUCTION | POD Marketing Solutions www.pod.sydney

26 design studio Hallmark

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I AM A COLLECTOR Or ganised

ch ao s My first collections from around the age of three or four (which I still possess) were shells, sequins, beads and ribbons. They encapsulate my childhood, my mother, our holiday house, early school years, solitary moments, playing with my siblings and other lovely fleeting thoughts.

All objects, once held, have a memory or story of where, when (sometimes a bit vague) and who you were with when you found them. I have a better memory for such things and none for last week’s incidents. I am renowned for my extensive collections and draw on them constantly for inspiration to create paint colours, give my books layers & texture, style shoots, shop displays and my own home, as inspiration for The Society inc hardware range and the hospitality interiors I design. I enjoy having my things around me: out on show and ready for their story to be told; as rotating objects & treasures; available to touch & turn over.

I call it organised chaos. Lucky for me, I have the luxury of having an outlet for such a habit: my shop, The Society inc. I have collated a rather impressive collection in itself, of vintage shopfitting & factory cupboards, shelves & drawers that help contain my object library.

As a Collector, I do get fixated on things and enjoy the focus it brings to shopping expeditions and forages through markets.

I never tire of this, and have a love of early morning jambon baguettes & cafe au lait whilst scouring & scrambling the trestle tables and back of vans at Porte de Vanves or other such markets, finding treasures & pre-loved goods: textiles, porcelain, lampshades, ephemera, tableware, stylist-wares, cutlery, small furniture pieces and other flotsam & jetsam.

If an object is attractive to me both in aesthetic and in story I will add it without judgment of its origins. I am a random collector with an eye for detail. I do not collect expensive things and I find beauty in the forgotten, the natural, manmade and handmade, overlooked, well-made, humble, lost and everything

OVER & OVER A collection is one or more things.

I believe you can start a collection with one thing. Don’t be formal e.g. if you like rope, you can start with a braided lanyard with a bottle opener on the bottom. Maybe it’s the material that is the collection, although it doesn’t need to be in the same format, you can put together things made of rope, string and twine.

Or it could be an idea of things that fly, for example. There doesn’t have to be any reason for it, a collection doesn’t need to be justified beyond the desire to have it and keep it.

Collections are simply an attraction over & over again to the same object, or shape, or colour, or texture.

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in-between. I then start to loosely categorise. I am not strict, and I let make-believe & my memories lead the way in how I place items in a story. I am known to be fickle with some collections but not others. Do not be scared of passing on a collection you are no longer interested in, someone else will think all their Christmases (or Hanukkah for others!) have come at once. As a stylist, casual observer & traveller, I find my objects in many places from beaches and forests to shops, markets, dealers, auctions, sidewalks and council strips, the internet and friends.

Be prepared to be on the lookout. I like to think about things or have a running list of what I might one day have in my possession, and more often than not they do eventually come to me.

Different things can motivate you with collecting; for me it may be a space I am designing or shoot I am concepting and researching. I love history and often discover new people, books, ideas, movements and tastemakers that encourage me to visit museums, historic houses and libraries to find out more and ask questions. Once an object has more weight than a mere material possession, there is a substance & story that can be told. Remember, the process of collecting, discovering the find and interaction is as important as the final display & the story it encapsulates exists as much as the object.

When looking at the illustrated Cabinet of Curiosities of Ferrante Imperato’s Dell’historia Naturale, Naples 1599 you can see displayed objects, not restricted to cases or cabinets, but filling all the space, even up to the vaulted ceiling, with a stuffed crocodile, upside down, centre stage! Don’t be shy about creating 3D adaptations of your cabinets as I do with all my interiors. Let things fly, crawl up walls, lean or sit on the floor.

I am a random collector with an eye for detail. I do not collect expensive things and I find beauty in the forgotten, the natural, manmade and hand-made, overlooked, well-made, humble, lost and everything in between.

This is Organised Chaos. I cling to the idea that your pieces are dynamic, can be moved, lent, touched and experienced by you, your family and friends. They can be functional as well as decorative pieces. There is nothing better than being able to utilise them in daily life: meals, workspaces, at home, mantels, bathrooms, the garden and beyond.

You are the curator of your collections: edit, be selective, picky or accommodating. These are your collections & objects that make sense to you and make you happy. Make corners to explore, study & enjoy anywhere you like: on window sills, mantels and dressing tables. Line things up on a baseboard on the floor, place a length of ribbon or fringe over a doorway, stones in the bottom of a bathtub, or hang textiles on a suspended pole from the ceiling. Do not limit yourself with display and, depending on their format and shape, let the collections speak for themselves.

A collection is more often than not emotive, with direct connections between you and the objects in it. A collection is a memento of people, places, past times and experiences, made up of memories of characters you have encountered, meals, globetrotting adventures, explorations and travels, the details of daily life, time spent with friends, gifts and a million other things.

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SHOW & TELL I have an interpretation of a Cabinet of Curiosities at my shop, where one can experience intrigue, wonder & magic, a place to explore, discover and find meaning and knowledge. It is your own personal show & tell, a theatre of wonder, and a keyhole vision into your personality and interests, a 3D self-portrait. Reveal tales and memories with your collections through object choices, placement and the way you display them: there can be communication between those objects.

I have taken the idea of display to walls, windows, floors and ceilings, which incorporates sticking, hanging, placing, lying, flying & putting under glass.

CABINET OF CURIOSITIES Precursor

to

th e

mod er n

6

m u se u m

The precursor to the modern museum, the Cabinets of Curiosities or ‘wunderkammers’ of old were collections of objects that were often not yet categorised or commonly known in contemporary society. They were particularly popular in the 1800s as seafaring types began traversing the globe & bringing back their unusual treasures, seen by civilised societies for the first time.

Well-heeled & deep-pocketed amateur collectors began collating a mixture of natural curiosities, marvellous objects, the bizarre and the never-seen-before specimens to display & show off to other curious-minded types. They were often displayed in glass-topped or fronted cabinets that had easy access, as these collections were all about show & tell, touch & feel – an open arena for speculation, storytelling & discussion. As collections grew these cabinets would often expand to encompass the entirety of a whole room. Curiosities, oddities & natural wonders would be displayed everywhere, from the more formal cabinets, shelves & drawers, to the ceiling, floor & wherever they fit. This was before science and museums, and there was no categorisation other than the aesthetic & temperament of the keeper of the collection whose motivation was the stranger & more mysterious, the more desirable. There was a haphazard casualness to it all that I love.

I encourage you to hunt out any small museums in your local area or while you’re on holidays and trips. They’re often hidden, sometimes tiny and occasionally in private houses, often bypassed even by the locals. Put on your super sleuth hat and look for obscure signs (which may be handwritten). I look for museums that cover botanical & medicinal gardens (living museums), herbariums, zoology, shell or conchology, entomology, natural history, marine and bones, curiosity, history, historic houses and most things in between.

Inspiration comes in unexpected forms & I am often led to something by what a curator might have said, a small note on a plaque, donators’ names or an artist’s subject matter. Sometimes the thing you end up discovering was not what you set out for, which is just as exciting.

MUST SEE MUSEUM Cabinet de Joseph Bonnier de La Mosson, Paris Galerie de Paléontologie et d’Anatomie comparée, Paris Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature, Paris Pitts River Museum, Oxford UK The Mercer Museum, PA US The Museum of Jurassic Technology, LA US Caroline Simpson Library, Sydney Vaucluse House, Sydney Museum of Old and New Art, TAS Queensland Museum, Brisbane Ettore Guatelli, Parma Italy Museum of International Folk Art | Girard Collection, Sante Fe Mexico SHOPS De Vira New York Seasonal Concepts, Sydney Evolution NYC Paula Rubenstein NYC Paxton Gate SF US

vitrine noun | Origin French C.19th from vitre, meaning pane of glass. A Vitrine was traditionally a glass paned cabinet made specifically to house a collection of curios, objet d’art, specimens, natural wonders & marvels etc. Its shape determined by the collection & craftsmanship of the maker, comes in a large array of sizes. Its doors can be flung open with ease to reveal and make accessible their inner contents.

As the holiday season starts it’s important to be ready for entertaining & impromptu get togethers.

BARCART STYLING Be the ultimate host & have a knock out bar at home that you have curated to your cocktail recipes & favourite gotos, treating it as you would your Cabinet of Curiosities; personalised & treasured. Stock it up with good-looking bottles, hand crafted liquors, the tools of the trade & a fruit bowl & squeeze for the freshest of the fresh summer mixers.

Seek out a vintage bar cart or just a shelf that you have at home to make way for your bar.

SAY U LI TA INGREDIENTS 45ml Patrón Silver tequila 30ml Fresh squeezed Pink grapefruit 15ml Fresh lime 15ml Agave syrup Habanero GARNISH Habanero chilli chopped & wedge of lime, optional salt rim METHOD Shake with ice and strain over ice-filled glass

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Note: for exceptional carts try: @the_vault_sydney, @nicholasandalistair @1stdibs

The

MARRAKECH

Sty list’ s

G uide

to

t he

Glo be

Follow my adventures on Instagram @sibellacourt #thestylistsguidetomorocco #thestylistsguidetotheglobe

shop

Popham Design - I have Popham tiles in most of the hospitality projects I have designed and it was a real pleasure that I was invited over to founders Caitlin & Samuel’s house in Gueliz, but also to their incredibly good-looking factory outside of Marrakech to try my hand at making one. Everything about their tiles makes me happy from the design, colours and patina, down to how they feel under bare feet. @pophamdesign The Medina - So much about visiting Marrakech is getting lost in the medina & soaking up the essence & history of this exotic magical labyrinth. You will inevitably get disorientated and if this makes you nervous ask your riad to organise a guide. Look for rugs, tasselled throws, fine raffia work in the form of shoes, water bottle & tissue box covers, brass door knockers and

other treasures. I love to wander & take note of the seasons. My September adventures had the vendors’ carts piled high with prickly pear and with the lead up to Eid al-Adhan, the streets were heavy with purple onions, charcoal & knife sharpeners.

Beldi Country Club Souk - The country club has its own souk with ateliers around two courtyards heavy with figs and flowers.

Buy delicate tea glasses here and watch the glassblowing on site. @beldicountryclub Soufiane Zarib - Be warned that upon visiting Soufiane’s shops you will be coming home with at least one rug. They are as beautiful & magical as they are in the stories & very easy to get carried away. If you need a little inspiration of how it may

look in your home, El Fenn has his rugs showcased throughout the rooms & hotel. @soufiane.zarib Valerie Barkowski - I first came across Valerie’s beautiful wares in NYC many moons ago. Her sheets, towels, lamps & soft furnishing offering are all edged in tassels & fringe of the finest quality & to die for colour combinations and are incredibly irresistible. This is the ultimate in quality souveniring that you will be ordering more to be posted to your door! It is a concept store where you can shop for clothes for all the family, homewares and is a healthy lunch stop with their cafe, KARWA conveniently located across the road from Majorelle Gardens. @valeriebarkowski

explore

Musée Boucharouite - Boucharouite are peasant textiles made out of rags and clothes that no longer serve their purpose, made by elderly women to inspire, create community and pass the time as well as telling the story of their families. Hung throughout owner Patrick’s beautiful private home, an amazing residential setting for these pieces displayed as precious artworks over claw foot bath tubs, beds & sofas. As it is hard to find I would recommend getting walked in.

Beldi Country Club - This is more a village than exclusive Country Club with sprawling grounds of gardens (rose, grass, cactus), pools, setting areas, glasshouses, atriums, tents, conservatories, rug laden paths, more pools & even their own souk! I recommend a noon arrival to explore for at least an hour,

then poolside, beautiful lunch under the olive trees, pooltime, hammam & souk. It’s beautifully executed with a gardener’s eye & dreamscape; olive groves, hundreds of rose types, hay bale walls, ancient doors, all an extremely considered masterplan that is breathtaking at every turn. @beldicountryclub Jardin Majorelle - The famous Yves blue (after Klein not Saint Laurent) that Jacques Majorelle established & tendered until his death in 1967. It later became the home of Yves Saint Laurent & Pierre Bergé until Yves’ death in 2008 when it was opened for public viewing. This relatively small garden of impressive cacti & tropical plants is all you wish for with the glimpse of blue ever present through the plants. Another oasis to while away an hour or so with the YSL museum designed by Paris-

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based architecture firm Studio KO scheduled to open in 2017. @officialjardinmajorelle Insiders Experience - The ultimate experience to tour the medina, desert or even get picked up from the airpot in a vintage style Ural motorcycle & side car (an authentic Russian knockoff of the 1938 BMW R71). Each tour is tailored just for you & they recommend you think you’re spending some time with the friend of a friend not a guide! This is the ultimate way to travel for all those lovers of the turn of the century, campaign furniture, sandy archeological digs and The English Patient. @insidersexperience

tips

what to pack

It does reach 55 degrees + in Marrakech, so plan your trip accordingly especially if you are heading to the desert.

Feit natural sandal: comfortable for treading around the Medina.

The Poglia Porter bag: perfect to transport your hat.

The biggest holidays include Ramadan & Eid al-Adha, it is best to avoid travelling at these times if possible.

You may think that you can pick up kaftans at every corner in the souk but I’m afraid you cannot - be prepared & stock up on your Morocco look before you go.

When going out for dinner in the medina ask your riad to have you walked in & picked up so you don’t loose your way after a couple of delicious cocktails on a rooftop terrace.

Maison Michel straw hat: ultimate sun-protection on Saharan visits.

Vita Kin linen dress: a stylish way to beat the heat.

stay

El Fenn - What an explosion of colour that works! At first the layout is somewhat disorientating (similar to the Medina) but you quickly work out the map of El Fenn with its intimate internal courtyards, roof terrace & resident turtles. This is a place where colours know no boundaries in all the good ways, with unexpected art & surprise everywhere. The palatial sized rooms are in an array of colours, I would suggest to try the Rosé & Noir rooms. Both rooms lead off a green tiled verandah and are furnished with a mix of Art Deco pieces, Moroccan crafts, the best of the best rugs that harmoniously tie together these rooms of vision from four poster bed, to lounge, to bar cart to marble bath tub. Make sure you visit the tiered

rooftop scattered with kilim cushion seating under woven cane pendants. @elfennmarrakech Riad de Tarabel - An oasis spread over 3 roads fused together over 8 years. It began as a private residence to French owners but has expanded to 10 rooms with a hammam & spa due to open in the near future. Beautifully executed with waxed stucco & polished concrete finishes & all the perfect shades of bluey greys in the wood work. A true oasis at the end of a cobbled alley, a stone’s throw to the entrance of the medina. It is delicate, refined & sophisticated & is available to rent in its entirety for a birthday celebration! @riaddetarabel

Dar Mo’da - Another hidden gem in the heart of the medina housed in a traditional riad & filled with Italian antique & Moroccan furniture. You enter Dar M’oda through large wooden doors and there it feels instantly quieter, calmer, more tranquil.

It must be the combination of monochromatic interiors, the watery sounds of the fountain or the bird calls. A boutique riad with a breathtaking rooftop that floats above the madness of the medina with 360 degree views of the rooftops & mountains in the distance. Book the White Room or the top suite that spills out to the pool. @riaddarmoda

eat | drink

Nomad - The hottest table in town! Be sure to make a booking on the terrace. The interior is modern mixed with Moroccan crafted items and spaced over 2 levels (inside & outside terrace) with bar dining & drinking. It is Moroccan tiles in black&white chevron, cane covered festoon lighting and fabulous food and service. The classic tagine amongst spicy calamari, gazpacho, salads and other loveliness washed down with cucumber martinis. You will definitely go back for more! @nomadmarrakech

La Famille - The souk has many secret gardens and this one is the ultimate. This is a must. Think verbena & lemon scented water as you sit down, semolina breads with daily homemade dips, a daily salad brimming with goodness in a lush garden of Eden. I could eat here every day & find a different secret spot in the garden to hide in. It is essential to book so owner Stephanie knows how many to cook for in her open kitchen. Lunch only. @la_famille_marrakech

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Terrasse des Épices - Best as the sun is setting or in the cooler months, set through a square of sweet shops, basket & handblown glass vendors & take some time looking at all the hole-in-wall shops on the way up. A great place to refresh & replenish & they do offer embroidered hats on the hotter days in an uber cool interior of black painted walls and wicker furniture. @terrassedesepices

HARDWARE Tip s

&

Tr ic ks

M I X E D M AT E R I A L S

The hardware pieces you’ll find in The Society inc collection are those that celeb rate humble materials like b rass, bla ckened steel, zinc, leather & cane.

W hilst they hold their own, sometimes the best things happen when materials are mixed together.

One such item in the range that flourishes with a dabbling in mixed materials is the Tick Tock Toilet Roll Holder. A folded zinc encasement with just the right amount of brass detailing in the central bolt & back piece screws, the best looking solution yet to disguise unsightly toilet paper rolls!

I N T H E BAT H RO OM First Mate S Hook / Butchers S Hook | The missing link to your hanging solution & perfect chain accessory. The Butchers S Hook in blackened steel is a great match with the Petrel Chain, or if you’re after something a bit different, the aged brass First Mate S Hook makes for a pretty contrast.

Flotilla Rack | Just the right length for a towel, this classic rack has so many possibilities and not just in a bathroom scenario.

Petrel Chain 1M | Perhaps a little superfluous, but a good-looking way to make the most of the curtain rail and suspend convenient vessels. And no doubt it’s bound to come in handy in other rooms around the house!

Lander Soap Dish | An essential addon to your bath caddy, the Lander Soap Dish nicely captures slippery soap bars & keeps them contained in a porcelain vessel, which takes its form from a vintage pharmaceutical piece sourced in London.

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Booty Bucket | What better way to store necessary items in arm’s reach? Loofahs, washers & soap bottles at the ready in a beaten zinc bucket.

Tincture clipb oard I am always on the lookout for the perfect menu board or list-making device of any kind - it's an attempt to be orderly & tidy stacked with a love of well-made antique office equipment.

Shopping list | The best looking way to jot down a list of essential groceries. Keep somewhere near the fridge, or hang amongst other kitchen utensils on a Chandler Rack.

Menu | At a size that fits a third of an A4 page, it’s just right for easy printing of menus and a considerate size for taking in hand. Plus, with a useful hole at the top of the clip, you can line them up with some s-hooks along a rack like the Chagrin Pull or Flotilla Rack. A good looking hospitality option.

S O C I E T Y N U M BE RS

Illustrations by Ngaio Parr & The Society inc

I’m ever one to keep an eye out for a well fashioned number, as they can have so many uses. The Society Numbers are based on my favourite font and in a humble bla ckened steel, they will look just the part on any wood surfa ce with a few fine ta cks.

Front door & gate post | Make sure the mailman has the right address with your street number boldly & proudly affixed to the door or better yet, along a post of your picket fence.

Drawers | Add a bit of character to deep set drawers by giving each one a number. And who cares if they aren’t even in order? Pick a sequence of your favourite numerals and away you go.

Stair risers | I loved to label the risers on the set of stairs at my old Paddington terrace, just to break up the climb. It makes the ascent a little more exciting.

Café table numbers | After a hospitality solution to keep track of your bills & tables? Affix numbers in a corner of the table top for a not-so-average & tactile alternative to a number stand.

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M U LT I- U SE PU L L S

These versatile pulls can be put to use in so many ways and offer a bespoke top-layering solution.

HARDWARE CARE Our products are hand-forged using honest & humble materials. Their imperfections, patinas and variations are intrinsic to the underlying importance of craftsmanship within India.

Our brass will patina & age over time, this ever-changing characteristic makes the object even more beautiful.

Linseed oil or Penetrol can be used on all of our blackened steel to keep it rich & dark in colour.

This will also prevent & remove any rust which may build up over time in coastal or wet environments. Dot a rag with Penetrol & massage into the steel for 3-5 minutes & leave to dry. We recommend a few coats over the life of the product.

Our raw leather products are designed to age & darken over time. We love when the story of the user & their environment is imprinted on our products. Oxalic acid can be used to wipe down your raw leather to remove any dark stains or spills. A little goes a long way!

Chagrin Pull Shagreen is the rough textured hide you might find on a ray or shark and although this aged brass pull takes on the French term, it still evokes the imperfect and textured finish just right for a hand-tinkered aesthetic.

Oversized drawer pulls | Little pulls might look a tad out of proportion on your large pots & pans drawers, but either of these pulls offer the right length for grip and look good to boot.

Hand towel rack | Rather than leaving the spot for the hand towel to hang as an afterthought, add some consideration to where it will live in the bathroom by installing a decorative rack, pride of place next to the sink.

Decorative display | If you are someone like me who prefers to keep their favourite textiles, ribbons & strung trinkets out on display to admire, pair a rack with multiple s-hooks; the First Mate S Hook works a treat with the Chagrin Pull. Or affix a rack to the inside of your wardrobe door for the best looking tie rack in the house.

Cut t er Pull

The Cutter Pull is a nod to the age old craft of leather braiding - think a seasoned stockman making a whip or fashioning the decorative flourishes on his saddle.

The raw leather nicely contrasts the blackened steel and the beauty of it is that over time the oils of your skin will age it in the loveliest way.

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D R AW E R KNOB S

Wit h t he a ddit io n of oversiz ed drawer pulls t o my hardware range , it seemed only right t o v is it t he ot her e n d of t he spectrum .

Limpet D rawer Knob Sometimes rock pool searches revealed a huddle of limpets, clinging tightly just above the waterline. This simple polished brass knob will provide the grip of a limpet whilst adding a gleam to contrast dark materials or a luxe finish to light colours.

Drawer pull | These knobs are perfect to finish off

those little top drawers that secret away small, precious treasures, or top-layering a restored bedside cabinet.

Hallway hooks | Team up a handful of knobs with a piece of found driftwood or salvaged timber for an improvised coat hook or key rack.

Periw inkle D rawer Knob I have fond childhood memories of exploring rock pools on seaside excursions, and coming across a carpet of periwinkles. I would slip a few of their abandoned shells in my pocket to add to my collection. With the petiteness of a limpet in mind, this blackened steel knob is perfect for those little top drawers.

PI L GR I M KNO C K E R The scallop is a sign used along the Camino de Santiago, a pilgrimage walk that has been trekked by thousands of travellers over the centuries.

Pilgrims would identify themselves with a scallop shell attached on their person, and follow the way by looking for the scallop sign affixed or painted on walls & doorways. This classic shape has been cast from a scallop shell I had amongst my library of objects and all its beautiful detailing shines in aged brass.

T E L LTA L E S T O RY

One of my favourite terms from a seafaring glossary, telltales are the ribbon-like lengths that are sewn into a ship’s sail indicating wind direction.

Knocker | Fasten the Pilgrim Knocker to your front door so that friends & guests may feel welcome stepping up to your doorstep.

Paperweight | With its weight and gorgeous detailing, keep it in sight resting on a stash of papers and loose ephemera. This is definitely one piece that should be on show!

Napkin holder | Work the scallop in to a seafaring themed tablescape as a practical centre piece with a small pile of napkins held between the backplate and shell.

As one who looks to the smallest detail in the spaces I create, no bracket or drawer pull is left unconsidered. If you are looking for a simple way to top layer and continue a visual narrative throughout your kitchen or office space, the Telltale Drawer Pulls & Bracket is an easy yet thoughtful fix.

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PHOTOGRAPHER | Steven Baccon STYLIST | Sheree Commerford of Captain & the Gypsy Kid LOCATION | The Society inc

OBJECT HISTORY This

th ing

for

old

t hi ng s

I have this thing for old things, intrigued by the way they were crafted, their history, and who made them. Sometimes they have their energy that inspires you to pick them up, turn them over & make them your own. I have many things like this from 25 years of styling & travel. These objects fill the shelves of my studio and give me endless inspiration & joy. I am a Collector of my Curiosities.

AU S T R A L I A N BI R D DIO R A M A

R A I LWAY WAT E R C A R A F E

Sitting pride of place in my studio is a stunning diorama of taxidermy Australian birds in all their glorious colours. Its use is decorative & of no scientific value. I am its latest custodian and although it was originally destined for a hospitality project it sits anchoring my design space with no intentions of moving on.

Whilst writing my book Bowerbird I was fortuitous to visit the back vaults of some of Australia’s fabulous natural history museums. They prefer the skins for scientific classification and the life-like poses of the 19th Century dioramas were a decorative format to adorn one’s parlour. It is an object of enormous interest & wonder when people come for meetings.

I dream of another time when travel was about the journey as much as the destination. A time of trunks, porters, dining carts and steamer chairs for lounging port side. When silver was served at all meals & one dressed for dinner and may even be invited to the Captain’s table. This water carafe with its thoughtful design of a cork top housed in silver plate and chain encapsulates that time in this functional object.

T I N TA M B OU R I N E In 2011 I went to Syria for a chapter in my book Nomad. In the beautiful old town of Aleppo in a cobbled square was a three story merchants house full of vintage wares. Even though old wares have been traded around the globe for aeons there is always something distinctly local about antique shops in different countries in different towns. I picked up some great treasures, one being a simple tin tambourine. I imagine it was made by the Dom (the community of Syrian gypsies) whose trade often specialises in the craft of tinsmithing & entertainment. This small humble object encapsulates both these trades and has such an honest beauty to it.

HO RN S P O ON W I T H SH I E L D I took my Dad to Scotland on a roadtrip for his birthday one year.

We are good travel companions, he likes to drive & doesn’t mind stopping & adventuring. We set off from Edinburgh with a stop into a local antique store. I was looking for a pocket knife for our travels – I found a lovely one but my real find was this finely carved & crafted horn table spoon with a silver shield so carefully embedded in its handle. I wonder if it came from a set and carved from the horns of the heritage breed of Highland cattle with their long horns & shaggy coats that are found throughout Scotland.

Was it made during the Winter when the moors are too cold & wet to work and there is time to craft such a beautiful object fireside?

MATERIAL THINGS “Material things have “biographies”— lives of their own. They “contain” us, beyond their being a commodity of routine usefulness. Our antique or heirloom objects have an appeal from the associations they evoke, either from dead family members or the imagined lives of previous owners. We can’t separate the narrative of an object from the object itself; it is permeated with its story like an aroma. And it carries its story in its aroma. The past clings and enters us like a perfume, carrying worlds of feeling.” Said so beautifully by my friend, Mandy Aftel from her book, Fragrant: The Secret Life of Scent.

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COLLECTING A

br ief

h istor y

Amateur collecting became quite the trend in the nineteenth century as science began to challenge religion as a way of understanding the world.

Buccaneers, botanists & the merely curious brought back from their travels to the New World discoveries as simple as pineapples, skeletons, bird’s eggs, shells and native artefacts and in the case of Jeremy Button, a real life human being picked up by Captain Fitzroy from the islands around Tierra del Fuego.

While gentleman-explorers and amateur scientists were working on the edges of official practice, members of the general public were looking with a discerning eye at flora & fauna, and collecting by pressing, pinning, preserving, capturing, skinning, maintaining specimens in books, bottles, jars, boxes, domes and cases to observe, record and comment.

The personal collections were not particularly organised (not in any scientific way, at least) but were more a showcase of random objects, totally catering to the owner’s desires and interests. These cabinets of curiosities, which could be anything from souvenir albums to custom-made pieces of furniture, were simply a place of display where pieces could be easily examined, moved and cast aside if necessary. A show & tell environment that encouraged visitors, debate and modern opinion in the Age of Enlightenment and world exploration.

For middle class women in particular, who had the time for rambling & combing the countryside and seashore, the plant-hunting phenomenon (including the Victorian Fern Craze) became a hugely popular and socially favoured pastime, allowing them some aesthetic and scientific pursuit otherwise denied. Although it was considered a leisure activity rather than a career, they did contribute to the advancement of study and understanding of botanical nature through one-of-a-kind handmade mounted illustrated albums most notably of seaweed, algae, fern and wildflowers.

The roots of many museums lie in the eighteenth & nineteenth centuries, a time when the boundaries between categories of high & low, art & science, education & entertainment were not as clear as they are now. The beginning of the twentieth century saw disciplines becoming specialised and a distinct separation being created between all these things, amateur and professional.

PHOTOGRAPHER | Chris Court 17

DICTIONARY

Collections

&

c ur io si t i e s

A collection of words from The Society inc dictionary that

E

one may need for collecting & curiosities.

Eccentric - Something we need more of. A person with

A

outside-the-norm fashion sense or lifestyle ideas. Can be seen wearing silk smoking jackets covered in oversized paisley

Anthology - A compilation of the written word be it a series of excerpts, a bundle of poems or an assortment of short stories.

Antiquitarian - An aficianado of things of the past. Can often be found in the corners of dark & mysterious antique stores.

B Bibelot - A small ornament or trinket held in value by its owner, an item of rarity and beauty. A piece of hardware soon to be added to my hardware range (stay tuned).

Bits n’bobs - All the smaller tools that fasten/pierce/clasp/ mend: needles, paperclips, tacks, bobby pins, buttons; most often found at the bottom of a bag or drawer.

& velvet slippers, sporting a magnificent moustache whilst Charms - The tools of a witchwoman (doctor) carried &

directing a team of craftsman to build a folly in the garden on

concealed with much care in a soft bag hidden in the folds &

his rambling estate. Note: does not only apply to males.

tucks of a skirt or tunic.

Cheap & cheerful - Objects that satisfy & bring a smile to one’s face at little or no cost.

Compendium - A collection of knowledge & information on a particular subject; one can never have too many.

Conchology - Study of shells. Collected from beach combing; shell museums; drawings & lithographs and divided into studies & families; or haphazardly with no care of scientific classification, and only of a personal Cabinet of Curiosities.

Bonnier de La Mosson, Joseph - 18th century aristocrat

Ephemera - Paper for a purpose; the incidentals made from it,

who created the magnificent cabinet of curiosities tucked

often overlooked or discarded; with marks from being many

away in the mediatheque of the Muséum National d’Histoire

times thumbed. All the papers: postcards, letters, telegrams,

Naturelle, Paris.

notes.

Boronia - Fragile Australian native that has a delicate tea-like

Ethonography - Study of people and cultures. Leads to new

floral scent; I would like to become a distiller of Boronia in

perspectives.

my next chapter.

Exotic - Originating from faraway lands and foreign shores.

Bowerbird - An Australian bird known to collect shiny, pretty objects to lure his mate. Dwells in a reedy ground bower, where the male displays his treasures & finds in a very particular fashion. Objects collected are commonly blue but can range from bones, pegs, bottle caps, wire, pen lids. The

Curator - Caretaker charged with the task collecting,

often tended by eccentric agrarians.

organising & displaying.

Curiousity - A marvellous quality to possess. Leads to

F

exploration, adventures and pursuits otherwise not taken.

Something we should always have & never loose; can be

name of my fourth book.

Not-so-average botanical specimens found in glasshouses,

referenced to ‘A Cabinet of Curiosities’.

Fleamarket - The first places I seek out when globetrotting.

Antique wares and treasures spreadout on faded canvas.

Where my most favourite objects have been discovered.

D Deltiology - The study & collection of postcards, travel tales immortalised on paper ephemera.

Dewey Decimal System - When I was a child (& later) you looked up library books by a typed spine number that was

Folly - A structure purpose built in the fashionable gardens of the 19th century. From the perspective of the casual observer may appear a mistake but is ones life long passion and/or dream. May appear in the form of a grotto, building, structure, vehicle.

duplicated in a card filing system. Once found, you then

G

borrowed it which was recorded with a due date stamp on a lined card found on the inside cover. Ah the romance of

C Cabinet of curiosities - The precursor to the modern museum.

Ojects from far-flung places, specimens of a curious and intriguing nature and items never before seen stored and displayed in maginificent cabinets or vitrines.

Categorisation - A method of grouping like things, very much like natural taxomny.

typed stickers & cards & paper & hushed voices & the smell

Gallion manilla - The Spanish fleet that carried the riches of the world to the Spanish Empire from gold, glass, salt, textiles, spices, perfumes & other desirables, a lucrative

of books.

Diorama - The 3-D manmade worlds created to mimic real life, large or small. Amazing examples are to be found in the American Natural History Museum. The simple art of creating mini-worlds under glass to display oddities & curiosities and create beautiful still-lifes.

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target for pirates & buccaneers.

Globetrotter - An uber-cool suitcase. One whose feet are never content to be still.

Globetrotting - Travelling around the world many times.

Comes in many varieties; a personal favourite.

Goods & chattels - The bits n’ bobs needed for a job or that

Mirabilia - Word used to described a collection of marvels &

can be purchased at a specialised store for a specialised

wonders. Things that inspire.

requirement.

Miscellaneous - The odds and ends.

H

Motley - Best used to describe a rough n’tumble, ne’er do well pirate crew. The many-hued garments of a jester.

Heirloom - Treasured objects passed down from one family

Museum - Where history puts on its best show. Exhibitions

to the next, can be of monetary value but most commonly of

of national, scientific or cultural importance. Its forerunner

emotional attachment of people & times gone-by.

was the cabinet of curiosities.

Higglety pigglety - Lovely to say; when everything is not

Mythical - Beasts of the imaginary.

matched or stacked perfectly.

Hodgepodge - A mix n’ match of styles; often a term for

N

an interior when furniture & objects are from different eras

Nooks n’ crannies - All the places that bobby pins & pennies

& styles.

fall into.

Hoodwinked - To be deliberately tricked or swindled. To

Show-&-tell - To share tales & stories with like minded people through display & handling of objects. An early example is Cabinet of Curiosities, a large scale show-&-tell where exotic & unusual items could be revelled & marvelled over.

Souvenir - A object bought or found, manmade or natural from foreign lands and foreign shores. A word that has been given a bad rap & needs to be used to conjure up its true romance.

O

have the wool pulled over one’s eyes.

I

S

Objet trouvé - A preloved, found object. Faded & frayed.

T

Things discovered in a long abandoned attic or at the bottom

Imaginarium - The title of my new book; a magical place

of a beaded opera purse. French, found object.

Tailfeather - The showy feather centre stage of a bird’s tail

where I gather my experiences, memories, colours, scent &

Oddities & curiosities - All the magic & fantasy; unusual;

used for direction, flight & to attract attention (mostly the

ideas; my life library; part history, some real, some imagined,

never seen before; things that turn up in my world; & can be

ladies). Much admired by humans, & in the past, the bird’s fate

and a whole lot of make-believe.

in yours if you visit The Society inc.

to become a headdress, decoration & adornment for fashion &

Ologies - My love of the study of things; shells, books,

religious purposes. Most exquisite tailfeathers found on Birds

postcards, rocks.

of Paradise (see David Attenborough documentary).

Kaleidoscope - An array of colours in shifting shapes. A

Osteology - Study of bones & skeletons. Perhaps a little

Taxidermy - Preservation of animals for display in dioramas.

change in pattern.

squeamish, but there’s something to be admired in the finesse

Terrariums - A mini green forest/world created within glass.

Keepsake - A reminder to be kept & treasured.

and fragility of seafaring birds’ bones on the beach.

Treasure Trove - Collected from deep sea depths by pirates.

K

A valuable assortment of items in gold, silver, precious stone,

L

mother of pearl.

Lucky dip - A bag or basket filled with random items or selection of small ‘gifts’ wrapped together, to be dipped into without

U

looking, one item at a time is to be chosen by the dipper; items

Unexampled - Original ideas conjured up in ones imagination

P

are generally Cheap & Cheerful * see C for definition.

based on travel, knowledge, stories & the like.

Luminaries - A person that shines, as well as the moon & the

Palimpsest - The ghost of once was, the memory of times &

Utensil - Tools for everything you could possibly need in

sun. Experts & pioneers in their field.

people gone-by in an object; its history & past use revealed

the kitchen; whisks, wooden spoons, egg beaters, flour sifts,

in its wear & tear.

cake testers, mushroom brushes, cooling racks, colanders.

Paraphernalia - A group of items, bits n’ bobs, odds n’ ends,

Must be aesthetically pleasing & displayed on hanging racks.

M Make-believe - Not to be left in childhood. The best way to

that may serve a particular purpose or trade.

weave magic and embellishment.

Petrology - Study of rocks. Smooth, grey and egg shaped

V

Mélange - A mixed variety, a hodgepodge collection, an

are my favourite kind of rock, especially found when

Vitrine - A cabinet to showcase a specific collection &

assortment of miscellany.

beachcombing.

display; most beautifully crafted of glass, brass, copper, mirror & fine woods. Often, as important as the collection.

Q

Menagerie - St-Heliair/Cuvier; started with the Enlightenment

Quill - Comes in a variety of colours; dusty pinks, soft

W

browns, deep aubergine, subtle shades of violet, white

Whim - Take a fancy based on sudden desire. An eccentric

ringed tips. Of the sea urchin or porcupine varieties. Glass

and extraordinary turn of the mind.

apothecary jars filled with quills that make a beautiful musical

Wonderment - The feeling of being pleasantly surprised &

chime sound when gently rattled.

filled with awe.

Wondrous - Stepping into an imaginary land filled with

period, as peoples’ curiosity grew for owning live animals as

R

well as objets, exotics & specimens for their ever-growing

Ribbons - Made up my first ever collection. Used for colour

Wunderkammer - German for chamber of wonders; an

cabinets of curiosities.

inspiration, making a package extra special.

alternate term for cabinets of curiosities.

19

magical delights. Inspires a joyful amazement.

Seasonal Concepts by Ken Wallis

MEET THE MAKER Meet The Contributors All that is curious can be found at Seasonal Concepts, a shop housed in an original Georgian two storey residence, still with its flagstone floor and lath & plaster walls.

Built by a drayman in 1856 (my favourite year as it so happens), the building has passed through several hands, even undergoing a transformation in the 1920s by an engineer, but now hosts the wonderful collection of curiosities, antiques and flowers curated by shopkeeper & florist Ken Wallis.

The collection of objects at Seasonal Concepts is the result of Ken and partner TR sourcing from auctions, fetes & markets: Butterfly specimens, painted boab seed pods, old garage oil cans, jars of buttons, laundry tongs, a taxidermy lioness in a top hat, fisherman baskets, colourful pottery, items that hark back to the 20th century, with a love of things vintage Australian… it all makes for magical setting.

But alongside objects of history, natural curiosities sit quite comfortably too. Ken’s earliest collection was jars of shells foraged on family seaside holidays and his floristry roots began growing up helping his grandmother and aunt on their flower farm by planting seeds specified by brides that would grow in time for the weddings. There’s a wonderful contrast between the man-made and the fresh florals, nuts and foliage nestled among them. “They add some difference to the antique objects in the store, items that have passed and had their time, whereas I love watching the life of a Gymea lily over 6-8 weeks as it buds then flowers and then slowly decays away. There’s a beauty in that process,” says Ken. An emporium for anyone with a curious eye, a visit is sure to leave you with a feeling of wonder & nostalgia or book in to one of the seasonal floral workshops.

Seasonal Concepts, 122 Redfern Street, Redfern NSW 2016 Australia, mail@seasonalconcepts.com.au | @seasonalconcepts | www.seasonalconcepts.com.au

Ke n Wallis

s e a s ona l c o n c e p t s

Bella Fos t er

Describe your work space.

Dickens meets Grandma’s kitchen and Grandpa’s Garden Shed… with a twist!

a rt i s t

Most treasured object?

An ancient Agate Bead believed to be over 3000 years old. It called to me from an Op Shop in Sydney in the mid 90s and I wear it most days.

I fell for her painting whilst pursuing another fabulous Brooklyn-based artist’s site, Wayne Pate. Wayne kindly introduced me to Bella as I always imagined this painting as the cover of our Cabinet of Curiosities themed newspaper. Bella’s print is available through waynepate.com

Collection?

My collection of Australian Birds Eggs that was collected from 1890 to 1910 by a wealthy businessman at the time. I have all the note books listing the location and dates that each of the eggs were collected.

Describe your studio or work space.

My workspace is a simple studio in a shared commercial space with 6 other artists in Los Angeles. It has a window and big table in the center. One side of the table I use for oil paintings, and the other for watercolors.

Holiday destination?

Namibia! I can never get enough of the landscape, animals and funky botanicals.

Best invention?

Peanut butter and chocolate.

Artist?

Kate Bergin! www.kateberginartist.com I love her still life composition with animals, birds and objects on table tops! Perhaps how I see the dining table in my dream home!

Go-to colour?

Blue.

Most treasured object?

My guitar. It’s handmade from a maker in Granados.

Childhood scent?

On ice cold morning in early spring… the waft of daphne by the back door!

What you collect?

Picasso books from the 70’s.

Season?

Way too hard! I enjoy the celebrations of all that in new with the arrival and end of each season.

Secret skill?

Christmas ornament making.

Preferred mode of transport?

Walking! To be able to suck in every sensory detail and stop at will!

Preferred season?

Summer.

Secret skill?

Knitting! I was taught to knit when I was about 5! Part of the process of making yourself selfsufficient in the country. I still knit and it’s a great form of relaxation!

Favourite shop in the world?

Svenskt Tenn.

Latest book, podcast, movie?

Currently reading David Copperfield, and enjoying the Living Myth podcast.

Time in history?

The age of discovery! Darwin! I want so bad to be on the Beagle!

@bciel | bellafoster.com

@seasonalconcepts | www.seasonalconcepts.com.au

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Belinda Bla ck b l ac k pa n t ry

I met Belinda many moons ago catering for a weekend beach party, I loved her food then & have her cooking up a storm for more upcoming parties! Her fabulous marshmallows are good for kids & adults, perfect stocking stuffers, the fanciest roasting ones around the campfire, and just a great all round party-pleaser when pulled out after dinner!

Describe your studio/workspace.

Very dusty! When we cut our marshmallows there is a lot of cornflour and icing sugar flying around and covering everything.

Go-to ingredient?

Anything freeze dried…or summery at the moment, lychee syrup is on the hit list.

Fav season?

Festive!! Bring it on.

Collection?

Packaging, we love chic modern packaging and amazing branding so I have a stash, I also love sampling what’s inside!

Best invention?

Guitar cutter, our dream addition to our studio, cuts a tray of marshmallows in one foul swoop...

Most treasured object?

My daughter Eva Rae.

Mat t eo Barnet t

D r Pet er Emmet t

s p i r i t ua l i s t a d v i s o r Master mixologist, Silver’s all-time favourite person, keen surfer and the best guy to have a party with, bringing all the good stuff as well as making the tastiest cocktails.

Describe where you work.

I’m a spiritualist advisor at the Cape Byron Distillery, Byron Bay. The distillery is located in the hinterland of Byron on a property that farms macadamia nuts and features a sub-tropical rainforest, part of a regeneration project (and passion) over the past 30 years of the Brook family.

Collection?

Books.

Greatest tool?

Maybe my corkscrew slash bottle opener?

One luxury you cannot give up?

Morning coffee.

Collection?

Vintage cocktail shakers and my quiver of surf boards.

Best invention?

Internet.

Latest book, movie, iPod cast?

Barbarian Days by William Finnegan- A memoir about a life-long infatuation with surfing.

Finding inspiration?

Novels.

Most treasured object?

My hammer.

Scent?

Salt water and sunshine.

Go-to Design reference/inspiration? dezeen.com

Music that gets you toe tapping?

Rolling Stones, Dire Straits, Paul Simon, Jurassic 5, De La Soul, A Tribe Called Quest, Notorious B.I.G.

Secret skill?

Plastering.

Secret skill?

Fake it till you make it...

Museum, shop, movie you love?

Captain Fantastic was pretty good recently, I love a good movie... and the MCA in Sydney is always inspirational.

Boutique alcohol?

Too many to list and I’m biased, so it would be Brookie’s Byron Dry Gin, Tequila, single malt whisky and Stone and Wood beer….

@blackpantry | shop.blackpantry.com.au

@mrfromage

c a b i n e t c r e at o r

I have this idea (one of many I know) but it ticks a lot of my favourite boxes. I imagine that I am engaged to curate Cabinets of Curiosities for people’s houses. Be warned they are frightfully expensive & they may or may not be complete in your lifetime.

Dr Peter Emmett was invited to curate 100 Objects in the Long Gallery, part explorer, part catalyst and part scholar an exhibition not to be missed.

Word you like to drop into conversation?

Anthropocene.

Go-to ingredient?

Drinking- a large sphere of ice. It looks impressive in the glass, keeps the drink cold and dilutes the drink at a slower rate. Eating I’m an enthusiast for all types of cheese and pairs well with cocktails.

Sibella Cour t

c u r at o r 100 t r e a s u r e s of t h e au s t r a li a n m u s e u m

To set the scene, imagine you live in some amazing coverted warehouse or palazzo and you have a wall that just needs that little something, a vitrine to house an amazing collection that is everything that you love in it & it never has to be moved or styled, it is all done for you, you just have to write a brief, or not even, I can tease one out of you! It is more installation or 3D wallpaper if you like. First sourcing the oh-so-important cabinet that will house this marvellous collection and fit your wall perfectly, then I travel the world seeking all the treasures & curiosities that will begin to fill the shelves. They will be unearthed in fleamarkets, auction houses, beaches, oddity shops, backs of vans & perhaps occasionally under dubious circumstances and will be mailed to you, numbered, catalogued and with their position firmly assured within your very own personal vitrine.

I have curated a couple already, one is no longer but you will see photos amongst the pages of this newspaper. The Soceity inc was originally housed in a 1860’s corner terrace in Paddington.

22

Worldly possession? iMac. Pet peeve?

Dirty dishes in sink.

Coveting right now?

2 Round the World airline tickets.

@australianmuseum | australianmuseum.net.au

Before I actually had formalised my ownership of this beauty I had acquired the most magnificent of cabinets at auction – it was rumoured to be from a pencil factory in Alexandria, Egypt.

It was moved into its home in the front room and become the foundation piece for the shop & all I had to display.

Once settled in I had my set builder construct shelves that were loosely based on an ancient glass library in Murano to line the walls of what was to become my studio space. No two shelves were the same in width or length and all slightly askew. My vast collection of the natural world and miniature scientific vessels & instruments filled these shelves and was a delight to loose yourself in and marvel at all the wonders of nature.

I am yet to receive my first commission. Please email hello@thesocietyinc.com.au for enquiries

AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM Long

G aller y I have a fascination with ologies; conchology, entomology, palaeontology & ornithology are some favourites just to name a few.

I once dreamt that I hosted a children’s afternoon show most definitely influenced by watching the Curiosity Show for those that remember it – and each week we would delve into a study of an Ology: its definition, disciplines, specimens, cultures, history, discovery, complexities & comparisons, environment and everything else you needed to know to spark your curiosity.

I think with my new found love of water colour I will make it into a children’s book instead.

This October the Australian Museum has restored and opened the Long Gallery. A Cabinet of Curiosity & treasure in itself, designed to be visited & viewed by the public to inform, inspire & generally be a place of wonder & enchantment. It was built between 1846-1855, a traditional neo-classical gallery drenched in natural light from panelled skylights now showcasing 200 Treasures. 100 Treasures are curated from the museum’s vast collection of 18 million objects & specimens of largely Australian & Pacific flora & fauna and cultural collections, and 100 treasures are people that have shaped Australia & its history. The various ologies are represented as well as people and although only 100 treasures, often they are entangled with many others that are integral parts of their stories & are also on display. Each selected nature object is matched with a cultural object as we recognise the intimacy & connection of all living things. It is this connection & entanglement that we inevitably have with the environment, animals, culture and objects that defines the new age of Anthropocene. Long Gallery celebrates this concept, as head curator Dr Peter Emmett explains, ‘to bring objects from historic collections into this historic gallery, liberated from the storerooms, so we can rethink their past, present and future entanglements’.

DILLY BAGS MADE BY BUNDJALUNG WOMEN

SUPERB LYREBIRD

These dilly bags were made

by Bundjalung women for gathering and carrying food.

They are designed to be worn around the neck. Dilly bags are woven from the tough fibres of vines and dried grasses and occasionally lined with animal fur to prevent small grains and seeds from falling through the holes in the weave.

The superb Lyrebird is famous for its ability to mimic any sounds from its immediate environment, including car engines, dog barks and the calls of other native birds.

About 80 percent of its song comprises copied sounds, strung together into a rousing medley that, along with a spectacular display of dancing and tail-shaking, is used during courtship rituals.

RAINFOREST SHIELDS These beautiful shields, made by the Koko-Yellani people of Cape York, were cut from the wood of fig trees and painted with natural pigments. They are among more than 2000 objects collected by Dr Walter Edmund Roth, the first Protector of Aborigines for the Northern District of Queensland, from the vast area of northern Queensland during his six year appointment from 1898.

23

FISHING HOOKS

MEL WARD’S CRAB COLLECTION

These beautiful and skillfully crafted fishing hooks are made from a remarkable variety of natural materials, including seashells, turtle shell, Abalone and bone, as well as twine woven from plant fibres. They were collected by Captain James Cook on his Pacific voyages between 1768 and 1780, and were acquired by the Australian Museum in 1894.

Charles Melbourne (Mel) Ward was a polymath who started his career captivating audiences as an acrobatic dancer and comedian. Since boyhood, the talented thespian was also fascinated by crabs. After discovering a new species on a Queensland beach - named after him by the American Museum of Natural History. In 1929 he became a honorary zoologist at the Australian Museum.

The

LONDON

Sty list’ s

G uide

to

t he

Glo be

Follow my adventures on Instagram @sibellacourt #thestylistsguidetolondon #thestylistsguidetotheglobe

shop

Cloth House - If you love textiles this is the place. Fabric by the yard as well as a beautifully curated rich array of vintage textiles, haberdashery & passementries. I could live in this shop. @clothhouse James Smith & Sons - This shop is worth a visit for the original fit out as much for the beautifully hand crafted umbrellas, parasols & walking sticks. After much thought & deliberation I bought a collapsible umbrella, perfect for travel with a curved bamboo handle. A lifetime investment.

Soane - An interiors shop specialising in supplying clients with the best of British traditional crafts. They work with small workshops and nurture the traditional crafts of saddlery, hand woven wicker, upholstery & iron forging. Their fabrics are designed & milled in Britain and wallpapers are block printed by expert English printers. A dedication to quality & English craftsmanship. @soanebritain Howe London - Christopher Howe lovingly restores & crafts

exceptional furniture & soft goods with a focused appreciation of traditional techniques, materials & skilled master tradesmen.

His shop is stocked with his expertly curated antiques, vintage pieces & textiles as well as his own line of ‘Made by Howe’ furniture that are admired for their beauty, craftsmanship and his eye of mixing old with new. @howelondon Petersham Nurseries - If you cannot make it out to Richmond to dine & meander amongst the plants & furniture in the green houses of Petersham Nurseries & its beautiful gardens, never fear they have recently opened a retail outpost in Convent Garden spread over 16,000 square feet which includes two restaurants (opening Nov 2017), a lifestyle shop, garden shop, delicatessen with a wine cellar and a florist. A world where furniture, food & plants entwine to create a magical setting. @petershamnurseries The House of Toogood - Just opened! The ever-talented Faye & Erica Toogood have a new gallery & exhibition

space showcasing their very own workwear inspired clothes, furniture & objects as well as those of their talented friends & contemporaries. It’s situated at 71 Redchurch Street – visitors should make an appointment or press the buzzer on Club Row to gain entry. @t_o_o_g_o_o_d LASSCO Brunswick House - A wonderland of salvaged goods to build a home; old sinks, flooring, radiators, furniture, paving, mirrors, lights, doors and other fabulous finds – will ship anywhere! Whilst you are considering your purchases sit amongst the wares and have a bite to eat. @lasscobrunswickhouse Daunt Books Marylebone - If you are visiting the world’s best travel bookshop housed in an original Edwardian bookshop bathed in natural light be sure to set some time aside to peruse the shelves & dream of magic carpets to whisk you off to faraway lands. It would be rude not to pop across to the Plain English design showroom, who craft the most beautiful of kitchens. I hope to have one installed one day. @dauntbooks

eat | drink

The Wolseley - This is a good idea, anytime of the day. In the mornings I like to sit tucked to the right in the little bar area and night-time it’s all about the grand open restaurant for people watching with a glamorous marble backdrop straight out of an old movie. @thewolseley The Thomas Cubitt - London does do the best gastro pub food in the world. Not far from Sloane Square, this oak lined pub is named after the architect Thomas Cubitt who developed many of London’s lovely streets & suburbs. Sit on the ground floor & spill outside if it’s a sunny day. @thethomascubitt

Bob Bob Ricard - Designed by the legendary interior designer, David Collins. I just love the backgammon wood inlaid floor & just go for the interiors however the Russian fare is outstanding. @bobbobjicard Sketch - If you just love pink & can’t get enough of it, Sketch is a must for you! Whilst you are in London one should do afternoon tea but with a twilight twist. Start with a cleansing tea in the Gallery & finish with a cocktail ready for an evening out! Be sure to check The Glade room designed by Carolyn Quartermaine with its leafy decoupage walls & French cane chairs. @sketchlondon

24

Electric Diner & Cinema - Fresh, casual, good fare with a supercool fit out. It feels local & full of regulars. Alternatively, book a ticket next door at the oldest working cinema in London reimagined by design luminaire Isla Crawford for dinner & a movie. @electricdiner | @electricportobello COFFEE | Monmouth Coffee Company - My usual pattern is to resort to a cup of tea brewed with love but there is hope in London for a good cup of coffee at the Monmouth stores. @monmouthcoffeecompany

tips London is spread out, get in tune with the tube but choose your times wisely & try to avoid peak hours.

Do a little pre-planning before you head out so you have a loop or route in place for walking, taxis & public transport combo.

Houseboats | The Thames River is the perfect location to immerse yourself into the local life, as it snakes its way through the centre of London. Find an array of houseboats on Airbnb of different styles in various fabulous suburbs.

what to pack

instagram accounts to follow

Burberry Trench Coat: if you don’t already have one to pack, stop by the flagship store & visit the Makers House exhibitions.

@globemakers @richardleemassey @theshopkeepers #thestylistsguidetolondon

Soho House membership: gets you in to all the cool places, including Soho Farmhouse

Penhaligon’s The Coveted Duchess Rose Eau de Parfum: the London-worthy scent to embroil you in high-society & scandal.

stay

The New Road Residence - I dream of staying here. The owners behind Hostem staged this beautiful residence in an 18th Century linen merchants house with a magical palette to create a backdrop for Faye Toogood’s Roly Poly Chair, Stuart Shave gallery artworks, Rick Owens & kitchen by Plain English Design. A freestanding copper bath, linen sheets and the notion of ‘if you like it you can buy it’ just tops off what is a memorable experience in a beautifully preserved & restored house. @the_new_road_residence

Chiltern Firehouse - A hotel housed in London’s first purpose fire station with 26 rooms that feel like a private house of your long lost English great-uncle. Owned & imagined by André Balazs (Chateau Mormont & The Mercer) it oozes his thoughtfulness behind a guest’s experience as well as beautifully appointed rooms, think marble bathrooms, fireplaces, 24 hour kitchen, guest-only & a phone that says Dial 0 for Anything. If that’s not enough you can access the uber cool bar & restaurant but be sure to book WAY in advance.

The Ned - Latest addition to the Soho House family by mastermind Nick Jones. Its name borrowed from the building’s architect, Sir Edwin Lutyens, built in the 1930s. It is grand to say the least with towering green marble pillars & an elevated baby grand on arrival surrounded by fancy food stations & guests.

The hotel has 252 bedrooms from crush pads to suites that are in the original chairman’s & director’s offices. The look is 1930’s luxe with wood panelling, lamplight & upholstery galore & of course a fully stocked minibar. @thenedlondon

explore

Sir John Soane’s Museum - A museum more poetic than archival in a three adjoining townhouses where once resided inventive architect Sir Soane who died some 180 years ago. The house remains as he left it which was beautifully curated and cleverly designed to showcase his broad collections of paintings in pull out walls, plaster casts, Roman marbles & Egyptian antiquities (the sarcophagus of the Egyptian king, Seti I is so impressive). @soanemuseum Dennis Severs’ House - Artist Dennis Severs has reimagined the 18th century life of a family of Huguenot silk weavers in an original Spitalfields townhouse. Guests are invited into an interactive world of imagination where they learn & discover the history of this family through smell, lighting & sound (although guests remain silent). Book tickets online. @dennissevershouse

The Natural History Museum, London - As a huge fan of David Attenborough, I like to walk through these halls with a running commentary of his voice in my mind. Not only does it house around 80 million natural history related items, but the actual building & intricate stone carvings are worth a visit. @natural_history_museum Ham Yard - Even if you are not staying at Kit Kemp’s magical colourful patterned hotel, it’s worth a look firstly at the amazing roof top garden with its very own hawk and bee hives, the perfect spot for a private soiree. With a wonderland basement with its very own 1950’s bowling alley, this is fun & frivolity at its best, no frowning happens here. @firmdale_hotels Chelsea Physics Garden - After hitting the antiques & interiors stores of Pimilico Road and picking up some lunch from

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Daylesford Organics (designed by Spencer Fung, one of my favourite architects), head down to London’s oldest medicinal garden. Established in 1673 as an Apothecaries Garden and was world renowned for its exchange of seeds & knowledge of plants from the New World. It continues to educate & inspire with over 5,000 specimens of edible, useful, medicinal and historical plants within its sheltering walls. @chelsea_physic_garden Kew Gardens - This is a favourite stop for me, my inner Botanical Explorer gets very excited about visiting the John Pawson Sackler Crossing, the glass houses, giant water lilies and Marianne North’s Gallery, an homage to her fearless exploring & life’s work of botanical illustrations that line the walls of this pavilion that she built & funded in 1882. A masterpiece in many ways. @kewgardens

DESIGN STUDIO Hallmar k

All marks of a maker spark my imagination & make me dream of who made it & when. To leave a subtle reminder of who tinkered, smithed, turned, sculptured, leaving a hint to explore & delve into history many moons later.

The intrigue & individuality of these marks not only make you look a little closer at objects but even the marks themselves are symbols of creative genius. Many craftsmen leave their signature in a form of a symbol, initials, a mark, potter’s marks, blacksmith’s touch marks and then hallmarks to indicate purity & quality of materials.

I too like to leave my mark both in an actual symbol as well as a style on all the interior projects I create & products I design.

Sometimes it is my much loved shield symbol which has become the mark of The Society inc or sometimes it is SC discreetly stamped into some bespoke items. But regardless of an actual mark or not, I like to think my process, approach & style becomes the symbol of my makers mark. I work in many materials & with the master craftsmen & tradesmen that tool them. These trades inform the materials that I turn to in my storytelling of designing spaces & products as overtime I have begun to understand some (never all) of their idiosyncrasies – leather, textiles, steel, zinc, lead, wood, brass, marble, stone & rope.

Not only does the handcrafted & bespoke element of my work reveal my makers mark but with a history in prop styling there is most often a hardware wall, a Cabinet of Curiosity, a layering of props & artwork that is just imagined in such a manner that gives me away. I seek high & low, far & wide for collections of hardware, props, paintings, photographs, nautical paraphernalia, vintage lights and everything in between and am widely known for just loving rope, big piles of rope! A signature in itself!

I adopted the shield shape as my own when I was conjuring up the story behind The Society inc. As we know all good oldfashioned clubs have a symbol or emblem that is recognisable to its members whether they wear it on a signet, jacket or just to adorn the front door to its clubhouse. My shape is borrowed from my old enamel school badge, a very English school, one for Young Ladies! I believe its rules were written about 1856, my favourite year in history. A time of enormous social change with just three years shy of the publishing of The Origin of the Species by Charles Darwin. He was a member of The Royal Society whose history never fails to inspire, amuse & shock.

And although I love the Latin motto of The Royal Society’s ‘Nullius in verba’ I will stick with my own, ‘Et facti sunt pirata’.

MAKERS MARKS Many craftsmen leave their signature in a form of a symbol, initials, a mark, potter’s marks, blacksmith’s touch marks and then hallmarks to indicate purity & quality of materials.

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