antiques MARCH - JULY 2013
art and
IN QUEENSLAND
MOUNT TAMBORINE / KURWONGBAH / BRISBANE
ART OF Peter J Hill
Farmer Joe
G.N. Olsson Traditional Mastercraftsmen Established 1983 Antique Restoration & Custom Clocks, Furniture & Architectural Features
Oriental Antique Restoration – including Chinoiserie, Chinese, Japanese, Indian Today’s investments – Tomorrow’s antiques and heirlooms! Also custom made. Members AICCM, AAADA, M&GNSW & MBAQ
Queries & Appointments 07 3888 1549
393 Narangba Rd, Kurwongbah Brisbane QLD 4503 Australia Fax: 07 3888 5330 • gnolsson@bigpond.com www.gnolsson.com
Today’s investments - tomorrow’s antiques and heirlooms! 2
Antiques and
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MOUNT TAMBORINE
MOUNT TAMBORINE IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS ith a torrid start to 2013, nature had its own way once more in Queensland with cyclones, winds and floods and Mount Tamborine was one of the many districts that did not fare very well. Gallery Walk was closed for near on a week with power cut by falling trees and flying debris. Now, I am happy to say that tranquil, scenic Mount Tamborine is once more open for business every day and in all seasons. The scenic drive up the mountain makes for a very pleasant time out or even a day trip away from all the glitz and glamour of the Gold Coast.
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BLACK CAVIAR IN THE STABLE GALLERY P. J. Art Gallery has featured a number of times on the inside front cover and first page of Antiques and Art in Queensland. During that time, many of Peter J Hill’s Australian paintings have been admired by the frequent readers of this popular Queensland magazine. The inside colour page has been saved, framed and, in many cases, copied by up-and-coming artists. His equine art is the work for which Peter is most well-renowned. This is housed in the premises’ Stable Gallery which, looking exactly as it sounds, has hay bales in abundance, whips, lanterns, and much horse memorabilia decorating the walls. There are no live animals around but plenty of horses feature, scattered about on the wagon wheels and the walls. The latest attraction to inhabit the Stable is the great Australian wonder horse Black Caviar, who recently won her 23rd straight race. Peter has painted a series of four portraits of this magnificent animal – one of which has just been sold, so it would be wise to invest quickly in one of the remaining works from the set. In fact, some years ago there was a ram raid theft at the gallery and a number of his famous horse paintings were stolen, now believed to have been sold on the overseas black market. Though heart breaking, it was viewed as an appreciation of Peter’s reputation as a highly respected and sought-after artist. ‘I have learnt to live with the robbery,’ Peter observes, however, ‘I did take it as a compliment as the thieves picked nine of my best paintings at the time.’
PETER J HILL SET TO RETIRE After much consideration Peter has decided on a change of pace and is retiring from painting this year. I know this will surprise a lot of people but with the passing of time he has come to realise that he wants to spend
more time with the grandchildren who all live in different states of Australia. This year I would suggest that all his clients should take the opportunity to purchase one of Peter’s Clydesdale horse paintings – for which he is most famous – or one of many Australian landscapes which will be hanging in the P. J. Art Gallery. We won’t be having any sales as such but will be encouraging purchasers to negotiate and ask for a good deal. Everyone seems to like to do that these days.
…WITH NED KELLY IN MIND For many years I have been asking Peter to paint one of my ancestors, Ned Kelly, and it now appears that he is going to do so. Peter has in place a plan to paint a series of works themed around this Australian icon and is intending to complete the paintings prior to retiring. This is very exciting and with Peter’s trademark traditional style, I’m sure they will attract a lot of interest – so get your orders in soon! We’d also like to take this opportunity to thank all our clients for their patronage and we look forward to hearing from you all as well as the many friends we’ve made over the years.
“ P. J.”ART GALLERY Owned and operated by internationally known artist Peter J Hill and his wife Judy
ARTIST PROFILE Born in 1937, Peter is a self-taught artist having started to paint as a hobby when he was 19 years old. Turning professional in the 1970s, Peter’s art works now hang in corporate boardrooms, hotels, clubs and in private collections both in Australia and around the world. Nearly every continent can claim to have at least one of his oil paintings on its walls. Peter lived in Melbourne in the 1970s where he owned and operated his own gallery at Olinda in the Dandenongs. When he moved later to Canberra, the Australian government purchased examples of his art for presentation to visiting heads of state. During a television interview a journalist asked Peter how he would describe his art. Peter answered, ‘When I paint a horse it looks like a horse; when I paint cattle they look like cattle. So I guess you would call me a traditional artist. I paint my paintings the way I see them, which is why so many people can relate to the places and scenes that I paint.’ Judy M Hill Gallery Director P. J. ART GALLERY 07 5545 0089 / 07 5527 3107 judyandpeter09@bigpond.com.au www.pjart.com.au
Bold and Beautiful
Peter’s paintings suit all budgets and can be packed and freighted throughout Australia and overseas Open 7 days 10 am - 4 pm
136 Long Road ‘Gallery Walk’ Eagle Heights Qld 4272 Ph: 07 5545 0089 Mob: 0428 259 014 Email: judyandpeter07@bigpond.com • judyandpeter09@bigpond.com Web: www.pjart.com.au Antiques and
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Brasac enterprises
One of a set of five framed photographs selected by Max Dupain from amongst his favourites, for sets of limited edition prints published for the Royal Blind Society in the late 1980s. Set of five framed $2,500. Individual $600 each.
Moonflower, 1982
Sunbaker, 1937
Girard Perregaux 9 ct white gold stainless steel case back 17 jewel $2750
Interior Elizabeth Bay House, 1978
At Toowoon Bay, 1985
Blue Gum Forest, c. 1940
Cartier Gold on sterling silver quartz c. 1990 $1500
24 Jewel VGOC 31198614 case 168018, 18 ct gold Omega Constellation c. 1971 $3800
Of the three nine piece sterling silver tea sets made by Garrard & Co London in honour of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, this is the only known surviving example. Hallmarked Garrard & Co London 1953/54, weight approximately 11 kilos
Omega Seamaster 14 ct c. 1960s $1895
Longines Admiral 10k gold filled, c. 1965 $2295
GOLD COAST ANTIQUE CENTRE 2076 GOLD COAST HIGHWAY, MIAMI QUEENSLAND P: 61 7 5572 0522 M: 0412 229 117
Gerrard Perregaux gyromatic, original band, c. 1960 $1295
Gold diamond and jade stick pin $3750
CAMPERDOWN MEWS 212-220 PARRAMATTA ROAD CAMPERDOWN NSW P: 61 2 9550 5554 M: 0412 229 117
BOTH OPEN 7 DAYS 4
Antiques and
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A selection of English hallmarked sterling silver frames and antique silver available.
front cover
Editorial Content
Pair Hugo Lonitz majolica ewers, Germany, c. 1870, polychrome enamel, impressed factory mark,1425. Image courtesy Discovery Corner, Brisbane See page 34 – 35
03 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 18 19 20 21 22 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 35 37 38 40 41 42 43
Mount Tamborine is open for business – Judy M Hill Antiques on the West Side Hot air and cool images – Kathryn & Derek Nicholls The eclectic Gold Coast Antique Centre – Jenny Thomas Gold Coast City Gallery hosts Ulrick and Schubert Photography Award Autumn – Winter shows at Gold Coast City Gallery Exhibitions at Gold Coast City Gallery A specialist furniture manufacturer Grace Galleries Gold Coast: The destination warehouse for collectors Spirit of Australia Gallery – home to authentic Australian-made products Showcase of Aboriginal work Fine French fashion and the Montgolfier balloon – Kathryn & Derek Nicholls Brisbane Antique Centre the new old place to be Glen Gillard: a survey Diamonds – a good time to invest – Ken Penfold Piqué jewellery – a centuries-old art – Moira Drexler Upheavals that bring new skills and talents to fresh shores – Chris Guild Robyn Bauer Studio Gallery presents Martin Edge – a colourful journey – Robyn Bauer Exciting activities ahead at Paddington Antique Centre – Suzy Baines Boudin & the French love of painting en plein air All the way to Alaska – Eilisha Little Quality is the best policy: At Lavin Antiques we believe good quality is here to stay Commercial Road Antiques and Decorative Arts waves in a new era – Ian Thomson A clock collector reminisces Bentwood furniture another 19th century revolution – Jill Phillips Pack & Send: art and antique specialists – Stephen & Janet McCartney Mastercraftsmen legacy for future generations Bowed string instruments – shaping and planing the fingerboard Bohemia’s heart of glass elegant glass pieces produced by Bohemian craftsmen – Jason Bridge New directions for Woolloongabba Antique Centre & Café The fashion for collecting – Kym James
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44 45 47 48 49 50 52 54 55 56 58 59 60 62
Annerley Glassworx leads the way in leadlight design & restoration – Denise Allen Starting your collection at Bayside Antique & Collectables Centre – Rob & Di Metcalfe Beautiful rugs deserve the best care – Stephen Muncey F.J.Mole – Silversmiths celebrating a centenary of service Closing down sale at Kilkivan Fine Art & Antiques The regeneration of Roger Salt’s at Crows Nest Lancaster’s Toowoomba Antique Centre – 17 years old and going strong The magic and beauty of brass bed porcelains – Mark & Lynne Bennett Ipswich Art Gallery – the faces of Ipswich up close in a portrait exhibition At the National Gallery of Australia – Tate’s Turners: an unrivalled collection – Christine Dixon Maintaining the high-gloss look on modern and traditional furniture – David Foster A reflection in time – finding Victoriana arts & literature in Sydney’s Queen Street, Woollahra – Susanne Gervay Art Gilding brings you the Midas touch promise Oriental Antique Gallery welcomes collectors and purveyors of fine furniture to their new Brisbane store – Phillip Guan
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IN QUEENSLAND
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ADVERTISING SALES – QUEENSLAND André Jaku 02 9389 2919 andre@worldaa.com David Phillips 0417 605 562 info@worldaa.com DESIGN AND PRODUCTION Brian Cass, Kylie Kennedy, Brigitta Campbell, Kathy O’Grady, production@worldaa.com PRINTERS webstar 1/83 Derby Street Silverwater NSW 2128 Rural Press Bells Line of Road, Nth Richmond NSW 2754 NOTICE TO DEALERS Articles for publication in Antiques & Art in Queensland should be up to 1,000 words in length, preferably typed as a word document and saved to a disk or emailed. Pictures can be supplied as prints, transparencies or digitally as jpegs either saved to a disk or sent by email. It is desirable that images be accompanied by captions. Publication of articles is conditional on an advertisement being taken. Next issue will be distributed in July 2013 Booking deadline 3 June 2013 Copy deadline 10 June 2013
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NOW ONLINE Australia’s foremost magazines on the decorative arts antiques, art & collecting vintage & retro Need to contact your local dealer but don’t have a copy of your state’s Antiques & Art? Problem solved – log on and read online. Peruse World of Antiques & Art – the most authoritative magazine on the decorative (antiques) and fine arts in Australia. A portal to national and international collecting trends, subscribe to the online edition and SAVE! Check out Collectables Trader – subscribe to the online editions and save! Australia’s only bi-monthly magazine on vintage, retro and collectables.
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GOLD COAST/MOUNT TAMBORINE
s& k r Ma rdner Ga llery Ga
ANTIQUES
on the West Side
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visit to North Tamborine is a memorable day trip from Brisbane or the Gold Coast. Take in the breathtaking views to the west while visiting Witches Falls National Park – the first National Park in Queensland – and be sure to spend time at the picnic areas, local shops, antiques and art galleries and cafés. It is rumoured that the name Witches Falls stuck after residents west of Tamborine Mountain saw lights on the side of the mountain many years ago and attributed them to the ‘Mountain Witches.’ Visitors with an interest in the arts and antiques find this village a perfect destination. Here they are able to explore the high-quality shops on the Main Western Road in North
Tamborine in addition to enjoying the wonderful surrounding natural views. Witches Falls Gift House at 98 Main Western Road is next to Witches Falls National Park – the oldest National Park in Queensland. Come and meet Noelina and Phil in what appears to be a small shop but is in reality a well-stocked gift store. Search through the vast array of old and collectable objects including Shelley, Royal Doulton, Crown Derby, Wedgwood, Royal Dux, Lladro and other fine names. They have old and estate jewellery, antiques, curios and beautiful furniture in mahogany, walnut, oak and other rare and exotic timbers. Phil combines his furniture making skills
with a flair for bringing old pieces back to life. Furniture repair and restoration is his preference, while Noelina is a skilled artisan with her sewing machine. Continue opposite at 97 where you will now find The Shop Time Forgot and Kittys Vintage & Kitsch. Further along at 69 Main Western Road is Marks and Gardner Gallery. Here Janene and Mary will tempt you with their art gallery showing contemporary works, or their delightful Secret Garden bookshop. If tired from wandering through the plethora of shops, sit for a while at their verandah café and let it all soak in.
Phil & Noelina Jackson 98 Main Western Rd Mt Tamborine QLD 4272 P: 07 5545 0885 F: 07 5545 0076 M: 0418 647 452 E: gifthouse@winshop.com.au
www.witches-falls-antiques-and-gifts.com.au OPENING HOURS Wed, Fri, Sat & Sun 10 am - 5 pm inc. Public Holidays Closed Christmas Day and Good Friday Open Anzac Day 12 - 5 pm Other times by appointment
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HOT AIR & COOL IMAGES
s all F es ti ch iques se W nt A t Hou if &G From Governor Phillip’s voyage to Botany Bay, illustration of a kangaroo rat, c. 1789
Koala (Phascolarctos fuscus), c. 1810
Have you ever looked at an early chart that shows the route of Cook’s Endeavour across the Pacific in his quest for the east coast of New Holland as directed by the Admiralty in England? Such a little ship and such a large ocean! Cook’s discovery of the east coast of Australia should be declared the most important discovery of the 18th century – definitely from the point of view of anyone living here, anyway. Landing at Botany Bay, Cook claimed the east coast for Britain and named it New South Wales. A skilled mathematician, astronomer and cartographer, his charts of the east coast of Australia were used in navigation for over 100 years.
SAN ANDREAS FAULT, OR THE FAULT OF INACCURATE SUPPOSITION?
Frederick Nodder, Wombat (Phascolomis ursinus), c. 1814
ave you been anywhere different lately? Or are you visiting the same old ‘haunts’? The Brisbane Antique Centre is right at the Beenleigh-Redland Bay turn-off from the Pacific Highway at the beginning of the road to the south Moreton Bay scenic route. A Montgolfier hot-air balloon is at the top of the sign outside the Centre, but there's no hot air inside as the Centre is air-conditioned. That’s not quite right according to Derek when referring to my enthusiastic descriptions of the finer points of antique maps and prints in the Antique Print Club shop there. Fortunately for me, enthusiasm is usually contagious. It’s always nice to be able to share one’s pleasures with others. Antique prints were created from an artist’s or scientist’s drawing by transposing this onto a ‘plate’ for printing and circulation. Inaccuracies in an engraving or lithograph are often dismissed as artistic licence. While this is generally acceptable in the case of scenery or purely artistic creations, when the antique print is of a nature study, the peculiarities of some early images make them unacceptable to the science student – but more collectable to others because of their imperfections.
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AN ERROR OF JUDGMENT On early voyages, at least one crew member was officially appointed as the artist to record any discoveries. Sometimes, of course, an able body seaman who showed any talent at sketching was ‘drafted’ into the job, but usually the artist was chosen for his artistic skill before the voyage set sail. Fairly accurate drawings were usually made during voyages; sometimes despite time constraints when
fauna did not stay still. However, despite the efforts of the intrepid travelling artist, they were still at the mercy of the engraver back home. When transposing a drawing into an engraving, if the drawing was thought to be unrealistic, the engraver would sometimes creatively adapt it to what might be more acceptable to the home audience who were completely unfamiliar with, for example, the ‘kangooroo’ that had been seen. The rat-like features of early English and French engravings of the kangaroo are among the more interesting of the early natural history engravings of Australia's fauna – although other unfamiliar marsupials and birds are also spectacular for their idiosyncrasies.
Across the other side of the Pacific, the most recently charted coastline was north-west America, but the most collected maps of America are not the ones progressively showing the charting of this coastline. Some of the most popular maps worldwide are the ones showing California as an island. This brings us to another interesting point with early maps. Despite being aware that previous charting had been proven wrong, some mapmakers went ahead and published the wrong information. Now they could have their own personal view – or perhaps it was just too difficult or too expensive to re-engrave the map?
UNSUCCESSFUL NETWORKING? Jesuit priests were great travellers and in many parts of the world were highly influential. With their early networking, they were usually aware
of the latest information from around the world. A case in point is Jesuit cartographer Heinrich Scherer who showed California as an island in his maps of 1710. This was years after Eusebio Francisco Kino, a Jesuit missionary in Mexico and Arizona, proved otherwise when he led an expedition overland to the Pacific Ocean. Scherer’s maps have great artistic appeal, with strong engraved detail and interesting cartouches that are often geographically incorrect. In his map of America Scherer includes African wild animals, as well as strange birds. Even when antique prints and maps are faithful representations of the subject, they are often interesting for the information shown as they draw a picture of the period when they were made. Geographical information might describe the terrain or even the explorer’s experience in a locality, while a topographical view shows a location that was quite different from that to be found today. The stunning maps by French geographer Victor Levasseur are surrounded by a superbly engraved narrative that not only included detailed statistics of the period, circa 1850, but also illustrated produce, commerce, industry, local landmarks, peasants in regional costume and historically important people from the region. How could anyone not find antique maps and prints fascinating? Hot air indeed! Kathryn & Derek Nicholls ANTIQUE PRINT CLUB 07 5525 1363 / 0412 442 283 sales@antiqueprintclub.com www.antiqueprintclub.com
SUPPOSITIONS SUBSTITUTED FOR LACK OF KNOWLEDGE In much the same way, antique maps and charts are always more popular when they are incorrect. Does that suggest we like to be reminded that others make mistakes, or is it just that we like to relate to the history and beliefs of our ancestors? Fifty years before the First Fleet settlement arrived in 1788, Australia was shown without an east coast – or in maps circa 1750 by Bellin, Buache and other French cartographers, with widely varying outlines. Nicolas Bellin actually showed a dotted line up his fanciful east coast of Australia, and printed along this dotted line in French the words: ‘I suppose Van Diemen's Land could join to Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea but without proof’. Europeans presumed the existence of Australia’s east coast many years before James Cook finally discovered and charted it in 1770.
James Cook’s Pacific Ocean published by Antonio Zatta, c.1776 Antiques and
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From left - right: Carnival glass plate made by Northwood Glass Company, West Virgina (1908-1921), ‘Peacock on a fence’ pattern Chinese porcelain lidded canister, Chia Ch’ing mark Royal Worcester charger decorated by Peter Love Emerson Radio
The eclectic Gold Coast Antique Centre RANGING FROM ANTIQUES TO RETRO he centre offers an enormous range for all collecting interests whether Art Nouveau, Art Deco, 19th century regional French antiques including garden statuary, as well as an assortment of glass from the Victorian era to the popular 1950s Murano glass and 1960s retro. Explore the array of antique and vintage designer jewellery or add colour to your home with a genuine movie poster. Read what was happening and of interest in the many 1950s and ’60s magazines that can be found here. An all time favourite for most is to take a trip down memory lane by listening to the old 78 records played on one of the many Edison gramophones – some dating back to 1910 – in the centre.
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COLLECTING PORTABLE RADIOS For those with a yen for such nostalgic sounds of yesteryear, one of my favourite pieces at the centre is a radio made by the Emerson Radio & Phonograph Corp, New York which remains one of the most sought-after of vintage radios in today’s market. Starting in 1915 as the Emerson Phonograph Company, by the 1930s Emerson Radio was well established, the business becoming more involved in the production of radios and becoming very prominent by introducing ‘Peewee’ pocket radios which, being compact, were perfect during the Depression. Emerson was also one of the leaders in the production of radios constructed from Catalin material. A thermoset plastic, Catalin can be reworked, allowing the use of dyes and marble effects, and it is also very translucent. Before this, most radios were constructed from Bakelite which was more resilient but not as collectable as the Catalin radio.
SURFING MEMORABILIA For those who love waves of a more physical form, the centre carries plenty of surfing memorabilia, ranging from collectable surfboards to magazines from the ’60s.
SPARKLING PIECES FOR THE GLASS COLLECTOR For the glass collector, a must-have is a rare North American cobalt blue carnival glass plate known as ‘Peacocks on a fence’. This large Northwood stippled piece (c. 1911) has a carnival glass satin finish pattern with a saw tooth edge, ribbed back pattern, is highly coloured with aquas, purples, blues and greens and in fabulous condition. This is one of many exquisite carnival glass pieces available at the Gold Coast Antique Centre, along with many other treasures.
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FEATURING FORNASETTI Another piece for interest to glass collectors is a Lina Cavalieri glass shade floor lamp. This is among some of the best examples of the work of renowned artist, sculptor, interior designer and engraver Piero Fornasetti which can be seen at the Gold Coast Antique Centre. It is shown here along with another of his pieces –
a fabulous ‘Zebra’ design two-door cabinet. Although Fornassetti was born in Milan, Italy in 1913 – thus this year commemorates 100 years since his birth – today his work appears to be contemporary and is as popular as ever. When he exhibited his designs at the seventh Milan Triennial Exhibition of Decorative Arts and Modern Architecture of
1940, his work was seen by Gio Ponti, a leading Italian architect, industrial and furniture designer and artist of the 20th century. Subsequently Fornasetti collaborated on many interior design and furniture projects with Ponti. In 1952 he was commissioned to decorate the ocean liner Andrea Doria, specifically to design the first class areas. In 1970, Fornasetti established his own shop in Milan to retail his individualistic silkscreen printed designs. Characteristics of his work include favouring the use of black and white, architectural illusions and motifs such as the sun, playing cards, harlequins, hands, fish, flowers and self portraits. Fornasetti also enjoyed employing glass, metal and marble in the creation of his artworks. His designs in fashion and interior decorator pieces include scarves, hats, ties, pipes, ashtrays, lamps, china plates, chairs and tables. Over 11,000 items were created by him, many featuring the face of Cavalieri (1874-1944), who was a famous soprano as well as being renowned for her beauty. The design store Themes & Variations, which opened in London in the early ’80s, revived interest in Fornasetti’s work and his appeal continues today. Why not drop by the centre and acquire your own piece of Italian style.
ABOUT THE GOLD COAST ANTIQUE CENTRE With rare and interesting antiques and collectables arriving daily, the Gold Coast Antique Centre is an exciting place to visit. The centre sells authentic antiques and collectables that are correctly labelled and competitively priced. Come to the centre and chat with the friendly dealers and staff who are all very passionate about antiques. With over 20 selected dealers offering a wide assortment of wonderful and occasionally quirky pieces, your time browsing will be rewarded with a find that will give you pleasure for years. Open seven days, on Monday to Saturday 10am – 5pm and Sunday 10am – 4pm, the Gold Coast Antique Centre is conveniently located at 2076 Gold Coast Highway in the centre of Miami, halfway between the Coolangatta Airport and the heart of Surfers Paradise, and one hour south of Brisbane. Look out for the black and white building. Jenny Thomas GOLD COAST ANTIQUE CENTRE MIAMI 07 5572 0522 / 0414 338 363 www.goldcoastantiquecentre.com.au
GOLD COAST
GOLD COAST CITY GALLERY HOSTS
Ulrick and Schubert Photography Award 6 APR – 19 MAY
‘Physical spaces such as galleries cannot simply be replaced by the virtual space of the internet (though they can certainly work synergistically to great effect). Equally, an art institution that too tightly delineates its cultural “pigeon hole” will tend to attract like-minded people and effectively exclude many others. In its eclecticism and openness, the Josephine Ulrick and Win Schubert Photography Award at the Gold Coast City Gallery is a latter-day “meeting place for strangers” drawing its artists from across the nation and its audiences from all areas of the local community and those from further afield visiting the resort city. In doing so it complements what I have always seen as the Gold Coast City Gallery’s essentially egalitarian philosophy.’ The winner will be announced on 6 April at 5.30 pm. The exhibition is proudly supported by The Josephine Ulrick and Win Schubert Foundation for the Arts. All works not acquired by the Gallery will be for sale.
FOCUS ON LANDSCAPE PHOTOGRAPHY: TALK 11 May Warren Vance, Paris kaleidoscope #2, 2012, inkjet print. Courtesy the artist
Kurt Sorensen, Untitled #9 (descendant of Lazarus Chapman, convict, arrived in the Rocks 1824), 2012, gelatin silver print from collodian glass negative. Courtesy the artist
Mine Konakci, For a pittance 1, 2012, digital print. Courtesy the artist
ow in its 13th year, the Josephine Ulrick and Win Schubert Photography Award with a total $30,000 in prizes and acquisitions is a highlight of Gold Coast City Gallery’s exhibition program. From close to 300 entries, 2013 guest judge Anne Noble, acclaimed photographer and New Zealand Arts Laureate and Professor of Fine Art at Massey University, has selected 65 finalists for display.
group of boys documenting their transformation into young men. Another photographer exploring men and masculinity is Julie Sundberg. In her intimate photograph Jack #10, Sundberg’s subject unveils his transsexual sentiments. Meanwhile, Jessie Boylan’s beautiful documentary photograph titled Tom, Bateman’s Bay NSW delves into childhood memories of summers at the coast.
AUSTRALIAN HISTORY PORTRAYED
In this exhibition we are reminded of the varying ways that artists use photography to make sense of place. Venturing into central Queensland, Kelly Hussey-Smith and Alan Hill explore the economically powerful yet now transient region. Their archival inkjet print 5am records an aspect of the life of the fly-in fly-out workforce, forced to make a temporary home in an old motel. Bushfires – the scourge of the Australian summer but also essential for regeneration of the bush – are emotively captured in Hailey Lane’s To Lands Unknown. From across the globe, South Australian Warren Vance, inspired by the 1957 French film Rouge Balloon, poetically plays with kaleidoscopes against a Paris backdrop. The large theatrical photograph Sweet House by Meg Cowell was created by suspending a dress in water and playing with its buoyancy to wondrous effect.
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Several artists have drawn on the rich tapestry of Australian history. With references to early staged studio photography, Mine Konakci playfully explores Australia’s convict past in For a pittance 1. Similarly, Kurt Sorensen using collodian glass negative eerily links his subject to their ancestor in his Untitled # 9 (descendent of Lazarus Chapman, convict, arrived in the Rocks 1824). Conversely, Michael Cook draws on his indigenous heritage and early European settlers’ perceptions to ponder what is ‘civilised’.
FOCUS ON PORTRAITURE Professor Noble noted a strong presentation of portraiture. Ella Dreyfus in her black and white double portraits Under Twelve Under Twenty no 11, inspired in part by Michael Apted’s7 Up documentary films, follows a
VARYING SENSE OF PLACE
ABOUT THE AWARD The 2013 award presents an excellent survey of contemporary Australian photography showcasing the work of past winners who have entered alongside a significant number of first time entrants. Recently Alasdair Foster, director of the Australian Centre for Photography, managing editor of Photofile magazine and 2005 judge articulated the importance of the award:
the
Senior Curator Virginia Rigney will give a free talk, highlighting contemporary directions artists are taking in the 2013 Josephine Ulrick and Win Schubert Photography Award and discussing the genre of landscape photography in conjunction with the exhibition Smalltown. Presented in conjunction with Take Better Photos. Please RSVP by calling or emailing GOLD COAST CITY GALLERY 07 5581 6567 gallery@theartscentregc.com.au www.theartscentregc.com.au
JOSEPHINE ULRICK and WIN SCHUBERT
PHOTOGRAPHY
AWARD 2013 6 APRIL – 19 MAY
PUBLIC PROGRAMS Artist Talks: EUGENIA RASKOPOULOS and PROFESSOR ANNE NOBLE Sat 6 April, 4pm, FREE PHOTOFUN FOR THE KIDS Sun 14 April, 11am – 2pm, FREE IPHONEOGRAPHY WORKSHOP Sat 11 May, 9am – 1pm, $75 WORDS IN THE GALLERY Sat 11 May, 3pm – 5pm, FREE
Anna Carey, Pacific Moon 2012, giclee´ print, courtesy the artist
The Arts Centre Gold Coast 135 Bundall Road Surfers Paradise Qld 07 5588 4000 www.theartscentregc.com.au
Hailey Lane, To lands unknown, 2012, gicleé print on photo rag. Courtesy the artist Antiques and
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GOLD COAST
Above: Evangelion original painting exhibition ©khara. All manuscripts are duplicated
Right: Audio visual installation featuring all the musicians of the ACO designed by MOD Productions
AUTUMN – WINTER SHOWS
at the Gold Coast City Gallery EVANGELION ART EXHIBITION
17 April – 5 May n 4 October 1995 at 6:30 pm a phenomenon was born – and its name was Shin Seiki Evangelion (Neon Genesis Evangelion). After two years of hard work, Hideaki Anno (writer and director) and Gainax (producer) unveiled the first episode of Evangelion to a Japanese audience. Twentyfive episodes of the animated television series followed, along with CDs, radio dramas, video
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games, three blockbuster films and a section of the Fuji-Q Highland amusement park. Apparently Anno drew inspiration from long bouts of depression which he endured coupled with psychoanalytic theory which he learnt from psychotherapy. Additional layers of interest in Evangelion are sparked by allusions to biology, military and religious ideology. An intriguing aspect is the extensive vocabulary of symbols, many inspired by Judeo-Christian sources, with interpretations that vary from individual to individual.
VIRTUAL
ORCHESTRA 1 – 23 JUNE
The Virtual Orchestra screenshot with snow storm scene. Photographer: Michela Ledwidge Production still from ACO shoot with full orchestra, March 2011. Photographer: Matthew Vaughan
Writing on anime’s influence on Japanese society in Anime Reviews last June, Nadav1 observed: ‘Evangelion did to casual TV viewers exactly what Studio Ghibli did to causal movie goers – proved that Japanese animation is capable of reaching high intellectual levels and touching mature subjects…. perhaps the most unique influence anime has had over the Japanese society can be seen in the seamless way in which anime has integrated into the Japanese culture. Show me a Japanese kid who doesn’t know about Pokemon, a teenager who hasn’t heard the opening theme song from Dragon Ball Z or an adult who doesn’t think My Neighbor Totoro is an indispensable part of the Japanese culture and a reminder of Japan’s agricultural past. Anime influences the Oricon music chart because a small, yet noticeable, number of famous singers and bands (such as Mizuki Nana and Garnet Crow) gained their popularity though their involvement in anime.’ The immense popularity of Evangelion spread across the globe to the UK, USA, Italy, Chile and Germany. In 1999, Evangelion reached Australia where it was the first anime series to be broadcast on prime time on SBS TV. It gathers more and more interest with each episode of the story as fans debate the intricacies of each character and their actions and strive to understand the meaning of the narrative. Now the Gold Coast City Gallery is excited to present the Evangelion Art Exhibition alongside Madman Entertainment, the Japan Foundation and the Gold Coast Film Festival as part of the 2013 QPOW! Festival.This exhibition brings together an extensive collection of original concept and production art, character drawings, rare Evangelion books, statues, tapestries and other key artefacts from the Evangelion blockbuster films. It will provide a fascinating insight into the artistry of Japanese anime film production.
THE ACO VIRTUAL ORCHESTRA 1 –23 June Have you ever wondered what it would feel like to stand on stage in the middle of an orchestra playing the music of Bach, Grieg and Piazzolla? The Virtual Orchestra is a wonderful new collaboration that marshals the latest in innovative interactive technology with the artistry of the Australian Chamber Orchestra (ACO). Visitors to the Gold Coast City Gallery will be able to immerse themselves in an ‘on stage’ experience. Designed by MOD Productions, the audio visual installation, featuring all the musicians of the ACO playing four different works, will be projected onto the walls of the gallery, with the sound of each musician coming from the direction of their projection. By using a remote control, visitors in the space will be able to select to hear the sound of each individual musician, enabling the viewer to grasp exactly the contribution that each instrument makes to the overall sound. The display is designed to give visitors a unique insight into how music is constructed, and this will be enhanced by the music score streaming on screen and an augmented reality mobile application which gives information about the music, musicians and instruments. This 30 minute interactive installation crosses the boundaries of performance, artwork, music, media and virtual reality and will delight and intrigue audiences who are familiar with classical music as well as those who may never have been to a concert before. For more information about the programs contact GOLD COAST CITY GALLERY 07 5581 6567 gallery@theartscentregc.com.au www.theartscentregc.com.au Note 1 Nadav is the user name of the writer for the website
QPOW! is an initiative of the Gold Coast Film Festival and the Gold Coast City Council
The Arts Centre Gold Coast 135 Bundall Road Surfers Paradise Qld 07 5588 4000 www.theartscentregc.com.au
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working in collaboration with The Arts Centre Gold Coast, Gold Coast Tourism, Supanova Pop Culture Expo, Broadbeach Alliance, Dreamworld and Pacific Fair Shopping Centre. The festival presents a week of pop-culture related events, staged at various venues, exclusive to the Gold Coast. More information at www.qpow.com.au.
GOLD COAST
EXHIBITIONS AT GOLD COAST CITY GALLERY JOHN GOLLINGS: SHOOTING SURFERS PARADISE – A REPHOTOGRAPHY PROJECT 1973 – 2013 22 June - 4 August he idea of rephotography is to establish an exact visual comparison of one place over time. For many cities that were extensively documented in the late 19th and early 20th century at the time of the advent of photography, the delight in comparisons with freshly taken images is often that, despite the maelstrom of historical and technological change that has gone on around them, so much of the built environment is still the same; the buildings stand as silent witness to past events. This major new exhibition of a rephotography project of Surfers Paradise reveals a very different set of images, and speaks of how different this Queensland city is from most other major cities of its size. Proclaimed only in 1935, Surfers Paradise and the Gold Coast is the youngest of Australia’s major cities. Acclaimed photographer John Gollings, known for his dramatic and refined images of contemporary architecture, has brought an exacting eye to the beachfront streets and their jangle of holiday apartments, fast food outlets and extroverted signs. The project began at the beginning of Gollings career in 1973, when he was still a student studying architecture at Melbourne University. He and fellow students Tony Styant-Browne and Mal Horner were immediately struck by a small publication by architects Robert Venturi and Denise Scott Brown, now regarded as one of the most important and provocative texts of 20th century design. Learning from Las Vegas proposed that the study of the disregarded architecture of signage and street furniture, of traffic flow and commercial fixtures was of serious importance. The young Australians resolved to come to the Gold Coast to make a similar study of the Australian city that most resembled this strip city leisure form. Fast forward to 2013 and Gollings has undertaken a major project to revisit these images that have never before been published in their entirety. He comments: ‘This particular series on Surfers Paradise is intriguing architecturally and technically. To find an original camera position you need to match three relationship combinations from the original image; this establishes the camera position, then you have to match the angle of view by choosing the correct focal length of lens. This should be easy since I was the photographer and I have the same camera outfits from 1973. But no, to my surprise, everything has been demolished, destroying the reference points and even the road alignments and inclines have changed. Even similar trees have been moved, some as little as a metre, adding to the confusion. Working from reference prints each site becomes a patient analysis of perspective, lens coverage and road changes, with the occasional background building still visible, although most are hidden by newer developments. The architectural analysis is ultimately the reason for this work. The Gold Coast is an almost unique linear city of high rise bordering an ocean with a benign climate and massive growth. Its origins were of human scaled, working class holiday flats and associated infrastructure using a kitsch and
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John Gollings, Surfers Paradise Blvd (looking south from The Shore), 1973–2011, digital print. Courtesy the artist
derivative style from Las Vegas and Florida. This has all been destroyed, replaced or improved, depending on your point of view.’ One of the most immediately dramatic pair of photographs in this series is Surfers Paradise Boulevard taken from a beach front apartment building called The Shore. In 1973 when this first image was taken, there were only 14 towers and the distinctive round form of the Focus building on the left was yet to appear. As the national economy stabilised towards the end of the ’70s, between 1978 and 1982, no less than 46 high rise buildings over nine storeys were constructed, creating an instant landscape of cranes and towers. This burst of development created an oversupply of units which inevitably led to a crash in values and a cessation of most construction activity. Gollings has a long-standing interest in the theme of the rise and demise of cities through his documentation of ancient ruined cities in India and Cambodia. This series on Surfers Paradise now stands as both an art project and an architectural and cultural study that allows us to see and understand the city and the changes in ways not possible before.
rather than as an abstraction, for such are the virtues of smallness.’Accompanying the exhibition is a book published by Hamish Hamilton-Penguin.
FOCUS ON LANDSCAPE PHOTOGRAPHY: TALK 11 May In conjunction with the exhibition Smalltown senior curator Virginia Rigney will give a free talk discussing the genre of landscape photography. Presented in association with Take Better Photos. Seating is limited so please RSVP to GOLD COAST CITY GALLERY 07 5581 6567 gallery@theartscentregc.com.au www.theartscentregc.com.au
Martin Mischkulnig, Lochiel, South Australia, 2005 (detail). Photograph © Martin Mischkulnig
SMALLTOWN HHT OF NSW TOURING EXHIBITION
11 May – 16 June This exhibition is a dialogue between two artists – photographer Martin Mischkulnig and awardwinning author Tim Winton – travelling through rural and remote Australia. Inspired by growing up in a series of roadside motels run by his parents, Martin Mischkulnig travelled to out-of-the-way places around the country, from Fitzroy Crossing and Wittenoom in Western Australia, across to Iron Knob and the Oodnadatta Track in South Australia, down to Queenstown and Exeter in Tasmania. ‘The motels were mostly just out of town so we always lived on the fringes. It gave me strong feelings of freedom and space, but also a curiosity about where the highway out front would lead to. It wasn’t until after travelling around Europe that I really noticed these places for the first time…’ Smalltown showcases stunning colour photographs of Mischkulnig exploring the idea that these were never destinations in themselves but places on the way to somewhere else. Using a large format 8 x 10 camera, which weighs about 20 kg with the tripod, Mischkulnig shoots from under a black cloth, recording both the beauty and ugliness of our far-flung towns. He captures with raw honesty the monotony, stoic spirit and transience of life in small towns. Tim Winton, who lives in a small rural town in Western Australia which has a population of 600, speaks from the heart on this subject: ‘I love small towns – the sense of sanctuary they offer, the possibility of intimacy they retain, the way you can keep an entire community in mind as a distinct group of faces and traits and characters
JOHN GOLLINGS SHOOTING SURFERS PARADISE A REPHOTOGRAPHY PROJECT 1973 – 2013 John Gollings, Cavill Ave South New Orleans Motel/Melbas Night Club 1973 – 2011
The Arts Centre Gold Coast 135 Bundall Rd Surfers Paradise Qld 07 5588 4000 www.theartscentregc.com.au
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GOLD COAST
A SPECIALIST FURNITURE MANUFACTURER Churchill Chesterfield made in Australia
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ased on Queensland’s Gold Coast, Churchill Chesterfields are leather chesterfield and bespoke furniture manufacturers. Proudly Australian made, the firm makes an extensive variety of designs. Choose from English reproduction traditional chesterfields, a range of Queen Anne wing chairs and recliner chairs. There are leather office/study swivel chairs, such as Captains, Admirals, Director’s, Gainsborough, Mountbatten’s, London swivel and larger wing swivels, also office/study or commercial compact chesterfield tub chairs, plus many more designs. All furniture is hand made by one of Britain’s most experienced craftsmen, using
only the best possible resources available today to create everlasting masterpieces.
SPOILT FOR CHOICE Our many ranges are all available in leather and fabric in a wide range of colours. We use original English antique rub off leathers plus the aged, distressed, pull up aniline and waxed aniline leather which are imported from the UK exclusive to us. The leather is fire resistant and is of the finest A grade hides. Imported from the UK are five leather ranges with a choice of over 70 different colours. If preferred, choose fabric or velvet upholstery. Perhaps you have a fabric already purchased – let us make it up in the style of your choice.
Churchill Chesterfields Manufacturers of high quality Bespoke English Reproduction Chesterfield leather furniture
FRAMES AND MORE Match your choice of fabric or leather with our selection of timber. Our frames are made of the finest European beech hardwood timber all from renewable forest plantations, the timber is the same used by 95 per cent of UK chesterfield manufacturers. All frames come with a 10year structural guarantee, are dowelled glued and screwed. The looks include traditional mahogany; dark, medium, golden and light oak; walnut, plus many more.
OUR SPECIAL CHESTERFIELDS The chesterfields are made with sprung seats and hand-built sprung backs units, dispelling the myth that these designs are uncomfortable. Our designs, many not seen in the country before, are soft and luxurious, designed to suit a customer’s preference. For something different, there is the Art Deco range of plain unbuttoned chesterfields with mixed contrasting leather fabric combinations.
BELOW THE SURFACE The bespoke service is designed to address a customer’s special requirement. This is a personal made-to-measure tailored manufacturing facility. The foams are standard fire resistant, are of the highest quality resilience, and carry a 10-year warranty.
WHERE & WHEN THE CHESTERFIELD WAS FIRST INTRODUCED In England a chesterfield evokes an image of elegance and sophistication. This deep-buttoned sofa is synonymous with traditional English furniture design, its origin dating back to mid 18th century. In circa 1773 the fourth Earl of Chesterfield commissioned noted furniture designer Robert Adam to design a piece of furniture that would permit a gentleman to sit with the back straight and avoid what the Earl referred to as ‘odd motions, strange postures and ungenteel carriage.’ In our opinion, we assume this to be the forerunner of the now famous chesterfield sofa. The deep-buttoned leather chesterfield is one of the most distinguished luxury products of the British Isles, renowned worldwide for the craftsmanship used in its construction and for its beauty.
A MODERN CHESTERFIELD SOFA Due to modern health and safety legislation, the old methods of producing a chesterfield sofa have changed. Our chesterfield sofas feature full flame retardant leather and foam fillings amongst many other modern refinements ensuring the safety of you and your loved ones while retaining the original character of chesterfield furniture. CHURCHILL CHESTERFIELDS 07 5530 2648 info@churchillchesterfields.com.au www.churchillchesterfields.com.au
Visit our web site www.churchillchesterfields.com.au
8 Moondance Court Opening hours 8am to 5pm Bonogin, Gold Coast Monday to Friday Queensland 4213 By Appointment Mobile: 0424 882 144 Saturday & Sunday only Telephone: 07 5530 2648 Email: info@churchillchesterfields.com.au
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GOLD COAST
GRACE GALLERIES GOLD COAST
The destination warehouse for collectors with an eye for special antique pieces to enhance their décor O ur iconic warehouse filled with antique décor pieces is a must-visit and go-to destination for anyone with an interest in eclectic furniture and decorator items.
FIND THE RIGHT PIECE TO CREATE THAT LOOK Add some panache and sparkle to your home, office or restaurant decorating with our eclectic range of statement pieces and decorator items. Consider bringing an oriental touch to these interiors – the warehouse is filled with interesting and different items that will give every room that special wow factor.
PAINTINGS & PRINTS An important consideration when styling a room is what to put on the walls. We have a wide and constantly changing range of affordable paintings and prints in stock.
CLOCKS & WATCHES
Our stock is targeted at homemakers, decorators and collectors in southeast Queensland and northern NSW as well as interstate and overseas visitors.
to arrange shipping. Most of the smaller collectable items we sell can be posted anywhere in Australia in a three kilogram Express Post Bag for a cost of just $20.
STEAMPUNK
JOIN OUR MAILING LIST
We have a large range of decorative and collectable Steampunk items in stock. Steampunk is the intersection of technology and romance and refers to a genre where steam power, spring gadgets and modern marvels of the 20th century are thrown back to Victorian aesthetics.
We send out a weekly email with details of new items - if you would like to be on our mailing list, email us at grace@gracegalleries.net.
BUYING A GIFT?
Our ground level warehouse style premises are located at 18C Young Street Southport,
To find out more about our exciting range of stock call GRACE GALLERIES 0408 109 427 grace@gracegalleries.net www.gracegalleries.net
For people looking to buy a unique gift without paying retail prices, our range offers something for all ages and tastes.
FASHION, FILM & PHOTO SHOOTS We hire our stock for fashion, film and photo shoots. Enquire for details.
Very appealing and attractive are timepieces. Check out our wide range of collectable clocks – there are up to 100 in stock – including carriage clocks and novelty clocks. We also carry a range of watches.
OUR MOTTO
MORE TO CHOOSE FROM
ON OUR WEBSITE
Grace Galleries stock of a wide range of quality antique decor items, furniture, home decorator items and collectables are chosen to suit the most discerning taste. We especially cater to decorators and individuals who are looking for a unique or striking piece to add a statement to a room. The pieces we carry not only add glamour but brings a dimension of comfort and enhances the space they are placed in. Moreover, these collectable pieces cannot be found in regular retail outlets.
EASY TO FIND
close to Southport Library. The entrance is through the large gates – look for the pair of large lions out front, and parking is easy. For those unfamiliar with Southport, it is just three kilometres north of Surfers Paradise and less than one hour from the Brisbane CBD.
A thing of beauty is a joy forever. Invest in quality pieces that can follow you anywhere. Objects are what matter. They give soul to a house, unit or office. We display a wide range of stock on our website www.gracegalleries.net under five major categories: 1. Ceramics and Glassware 2. Collectables and Ladies Fashion 3. Furniture and Mirrors 4. Paintings, Prints, Sculpture 5. Tableware and Decor Items Potential buyers from anywhere in the world can browse online and contact Grace Galleries by phone or email grace@gracegalleries.net
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GOLD COAST
SPIRIT OF AUSTRALIA GALLERY
Home to authentic Australian-made products
AUTHENTIC ABORIGINAL DIDGERIDOOS pirit of Australia Gallery offers the biggest variety of Eucalyptus species didgeridoos on the Gold Coast. You can find plain ones such as Eucalyptus woolybutt from one to 1.3 metres, and plain ones in bloodwood and ironbark. Hand-painted didgeridoos by Aboriginal artists such as Johnny Turnbull, Colin Wightman, Lionel Phillips, Karl Hardy, Lionie Roser and others can be found in mallee and woolybutt (85 cm to 1.4 m). These artists also paint full size (1.3 – 1.6 m) didgeridoos on bloodwood or ironbark.
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OPALS AND JEWELLERY
APPAREL
The gallery displays a large variety of Aboriginal hand-painted necklaces, bracelets, and other jewellery. An impressive collection of black, crystal and matrix opals originated from Alan Rise, Coober Pedy and other inland opal-mining centres. You can select your own loose opal stones and pendants from Boulder opals, mainly dug from the Queensland opal mines at Yowah, Koroit and Opalville.
There’s a large selection of t-shirts and lycra, hand dyed, tie dyed and printed that are Australian made and feature licensed Aboriginal designs. The gallery offers a wide range of other distinctively Australian products: - Canvas paintings, boomerangs, emu callers and eggs, pottery, wooden carvings - Crocodile and kangaroo leather accessories (belts, wallets, necklaces, bracelets, bags etc) - Australian-made toys - Sheepskin footwear (slippers and Uggs) - Ties, scarves, nappery, novelties and gifts - Harley Davidson official licensed merchandise
OILSKINS, JACKETS AND HATS Traditional oilskin jackets and leather bush hats for the harsh environment of the Australian outback are also available.
Spirit of Australia
G A L L E R Y Specialists in Authentic Aboriginal Fine Arts and Artefacts
Shop No. 5, 3171 Surfers Paradise Boulevard Surfers Paradise Qld 4217 Phone: 07 5561 0330 • Fax: 07 5561 0331 Email: info@spiritofaustraliagallery.com Website: www.spiritofaustraliagallery.com Open 7 days 9 am - 9 pm 14
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SPIRIT OF AUSTRALIA GALLERY 07 5561 0330 www.spiritofaustraliagallery.com
GOLD COAST
Betty Mbitjana, 90 x 150 cm $2,900
Jeannie Petyarre,105 x 150 cm $3,900 A Cora, 90 x 90 cm $750
George Tjugarrayi, 70 x 110 cm $5,900
Showcase of ABORIGINAL WORK S pirit of Australia Gallery is the only Aboriginal art gallery in Surfers Paradise. The Gallery offers a unique collection of traditional and contemporary Aboriginal paintings by Central Australia’s most famous artists such as Walangkura Napanangka, Gloria, Jeannie and Kathleen Petyarre, Abie Loy, Evelyn Pultara, Margaret Lewis Napangardi and Ronnie Tjampitjinpa. The more contemporary and modern Aboriginal art is exhibited by Yondee, Trisha Mason, Colin Wightman, Melissa Wright, Grant Paulson, Bibi Barba and others.
Ningurra Naparulla, 54 x 86 cm $4,900
Spirit of Australia Gallery offers the largest collection of didgeridoos on the Gold Coast. Over 200 authentic, termite-eaten didgeridoos are on display. The Gallery offers free lessons on playing the didgeridoo to customers wanting to learn. You will also find a unique and wide variety of Aboriginal artefacts and souvenirs including boomerangs, apparel, pottery, crafts and gifts. Visitors to the Gold Coast should drop by the Gallery and take a photo of the largest didgeridoo that the Gallery displays at our entrance. SPIRIT OF AUSTRALIA GALLERY 07 5561 0330 www.spiritofaustraliagallery.com
Kuddtji, 90 x 150 cm $5,500
Kuddtji, 60 x 90 cm $2,900
Kuddtji, 70 x 120 cm $3,500
Spirit of Australia
G A L L E R Y Specialists in Authentic Aboriginal Fine Arts and Artefacts
Anthony Walker,100 x 150 cm $1,900
Ronnie Tjampitjimpa, 92 x 150 cm $14,900
Shop No. 5, 3171 Surfers Paradise Boulevard Surfers Paradise Qld 4217 Phone: 07 5561 0330 • Fax: 07 5561 0331 Email: info@spiritofaustraliagallery.com Website: www.spiritofaustraliagallery.com Open 7 days 9 am - 9 pm Goompi Vgerabah, 90 x 170 cm $2,900
John Turnbull, 90 x 120 cm $1,690 Antiques and
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GOLD COAST
FINE FRENCH FASHION and the Montgolfier balloon ave you noticed the Montgolfier balloon at the Beenleigh-Redland Bay turnoff from the Pacific Highway? That’s where the new Brisbane Antique Centre is hosting the Antique Print Club’s opening exhibition of delightful and rare French pochoir fashion studies. Parisian haute couture has always been appreciated. In previous centuries fashion designs for ladies and their daughters were introduced to the public by talented artists. Artistic style has changed as much as fashion design, and the artists who specialised in fine fashion illustration now have their work displayed in museums along with actual examples of fashion. When illustrations were first produced for publication and circulation, only the privileged could afford a subscription to an exclusive fashion magazine. Those who could
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afford the beautiful hand-coloured pochoir illustrations collected them as works of art, and enjoyed them on their walls – even if they didn't wear the clothes that were shown. Although a French word for stencil, pochoir has been used worldwide since this fashion illustration method was perfected in France at the beginning of the 20th century. Up to 30 stencils were cut for the skill and finesse required in the application of gouache and watercolour, to build up the tone and nuance of each image.
PREMIER POCHOIR PUBLICATION The first luxury periodical to use pochoir illustrations was Journal des Dames et des Modes - Costumes Parisiens. Versions of this publication have existed since early in the 17th century, but the early 20th century version was the first to produce exquisite pochoir illustrations of fashion. The cover and pages of heavy Holland paper were stapled together, and it
Antique Print & Map Company Antique Maps and Antique Prints from c.1600: Antique Maps of all countries Antique Prints on all subjects
Heritage Editions Reproduced from antique maps & prints Limited Edition reproductions of important Australian maps
Antique Print Club Now at 95 Mt Nimmel Road Neranwood Qld 4213 – Above MudgeerabaSpringbrook Road in the hills behind the Gold Coast – Refreshments available, or bring a picnic Clubhouse open to all by appointment sales@antiqueprintclub.com
Phone 07 5525 1363 0412 442 283 (poor reception among hills) Or visit our shop OPEN DAILY at the new BRISBANE ANTIQUE CENTRE at the Beenleigh-Redland Bay turnoff from the Pacific Highway
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contained editorial on fashion and short extracts of literature from eminent writers of the day. The most popular section of this little journal was compiled by the flamboyant couturier Paul Poiret. Costume Parisiens contained charming hand-coloured pochoir illustrations of fashion worn in suitable situations. As well as designers Umberto Brunelleschii, Leon Bakst and Paul Poiret, other talented artists included Armand Vallée, Roger Broders, Etienne Drian, Pierre Legrain and Gerda Wegener. One of the great illustrators of the early 20th century, George Barbier (1882-1932) made his debut as a fashion designer during the few years this periodical was published, and his illustrations have always been in demand. Only 186 different fashion illustrations (around five per issue) were produced for Journal des Dames et des Modes - Costumes Parisiens. As it was published for only a short time between June 1912 and August 1914 until the outbreak of World War I, it is not surprising that these wonderful little fashion pochoir are rarely seen today. Perhaps Poiret was over ambitious in providing so many labour-intensive illustrations; or perhaps he was made a better offer?
PROMINENT POCHOIR PERIODICAL Slightly larger, with an overlap in the date of publication, Gazette du Bon Ton included literary works, lifestyle advice, information on how and where the latest fashions should be worn, and also included beautiful pochoir illustrations. Paul Poiret was among the major couturiers who signed contracts, so that their designs could be introduced to the public by this magazine. Designers Madeleine Cheruit, Georges Doeuillet, Jacques Doucet, Jean Paquin, Poiret, Redfern & Sons, and Charles Worth all had a following. Designs by Worth were the first to be mass produced for the general public. The designer who is perhaps best known today is Jeanne Lanvin, whose wonderful clothing designs for children were also showcased in this magazine. Lucien Vogel published 10 editions of Gazette du Bon Ton each year from 1913 to 1925 (except during the war). The magazine was bought by Conde Nast in 1921, with Vogel as editor. The Gazette was published in the same paper format, but the pochoir were larger than those for Costumes Parisiens and there were eight hand-coloured fashion studies in each edition – sometimes including a double-size pochoir with its central fold attached by a slip of paper so as not to damage the image. The most beautiful fashion plate is undoubtedly the only one that folded out twice, to triple size. This superb pochoir displays 20 fashion designers’ latest evening gowns in a beautiful evening scene on a terrace in the south of France. (We have just sold this one to a lady in New York.)
PROMINENT POCHOIR ILLUSTRATORS In the Gazette fashions of prominent designers were illustrated by fashion narratives that included groups and settings – often accompanied by humorous captions that make the images even more enjoyable. In stark contrast, croquis (sketches), mostly illustrated by the David sisters, were based on the styles of the latest fashions, but were shown simply and elegantly, with no background scene. The most regular contributors to Gazette du Bon Ton were George Barbier, Pierre Brissaud, George Lepape, and André-Edouard Marty. Prominent artists presenting fashion with their individual distinctive styles included Charles Martin, Léon Bakst, Erté, Umberto Brunelleschi, Paul Iribe, Bernard Boutet de Monvel, and Fernand Siméon. Etienne Drian created pochoir that are sometimes slightly provocative; while the stunning, ethereal, geometric design swirls incorporated into the fashion studies by Thayart have ensured these remain eminently collectable. One of the more conventional Thayart studies is of a lady golfer – a particular favourite! But once again, those most in demand tend to be the fashion studies by George Barbier who conveys the mood of each subject so well. These delightful fashion illustrations captured the spirit of the era when they were painted. Many of the designs are still relevant today – and not as retro-fashion. The beautiful pochoir illustrations of Parisian fashion for Gazette du Bon Ton and Journal des Dames et des Modes - Costumes Parisiens will always be treasured, not only as fashion, but also for their artistic value, particularly when framed for the wall. Fashion is not the only subject at the Antique Print Club shop; choose from a thousand antique maps and antique prints, of most countries and most subjects – up to 300 years old, all with descriptions, and all mounted or framed with conservation materials to assist in their further preservation. Our shop at the Brisbane Antique Centre has a wide range of items, priced from $25 to $3,000. If you do feel like a drive into the country, you can still visit us at the Antique Print Clubhouse in Neranwood where refreshments are provided, or bring your picnic. We have thousands more fascinating antique maps and prints to choose from - and we’d love to see you, but please remember it is by appointment. Kathryn and Derek Nicholls ANTIQUE PRINT CLUB 07 5525 1363 / 0412 442 283 sales@antiqueprintclub.com www.antiqueprintclub.com
GOLD COAST
SANCTUARY
ANTIQUES
A GALLERY OF VINTAGE & CLASSIC JEWELLERY & ANTIQUES
MASTHEAD WAY, MARINE VILLAGE, SANCTUARY COVE GOLD COAST QLD PH: 07 5514 8070 Antiques and
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BRISBANE
Stage I of Brisbane Antique Centre
BRISBANE ANTIQUE CENTRE
canvas in their individual space. As more dealers team up with us, we encourage customers to come back regularly to find any elusive items they may be chasing.
The new old place to be
DIRECTIONS TO BAC
t has been just four months since we opened the doors and Stage I of Brisbane Antique Centre is all but full with a multitude of dealers. Visitors to the centre are amazed at the incredible array of stock, let alone the size of the premises. From humble beginnings with only a handful of enthusiastic dealers, we have rapidly expanded in a very short time frame to become a friendly centre for both dealers and customers alike. Currently we are drawing up the master plan to open Stage 2, which will incorporate another 1,000 square metres of dealer space. The diversity of stock on the floor ranges from a $5 comic to a $60,000 1927 Rolls
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Royce and anything in between. Perhaps a men’s Breitling wristwatch or a ladies’ Longines gold and diamond watch is more to your taste. The list just keeps on going: furniture, fine art works, antique lithographs, tools, petrol bowsers, kitchenalia, old bottles, Royal Doulton, Shelley, Art Deco, lighting, retro/vintage fashion, militaria, postcards – to name some of the collecting areas. We continue to be humbled by the positive and encouraging feedback received from our customers. They love our coffee and Frenchthemed Café Eiffel, where the boys will always greet you with a smile. They also love the sensible pricing offered on stock from our
many wonderful dealers and the fact that they can come to a regular auction venue that all falls under the one roof.
NEXT AUCTION 7 APRIL Brisbane Antique Centre held its very first auction this year in February, which was a resounding success, and they are continuing on the first Sunday of each month. Auctions commence at 10 am, with viewing on the morning of the auction itself and on the immediate Saturday before. There will always be a maximum of 500 listings per auction to allow everyone to have some normality in their day and still be home for dinner. We are already very excited by the interesting items coming through the doors so stay tuned to our website for updates.
DEALERS TEAM UP From a dealer’s point of view, the advantages are significant. Having one level for the entire hard floor space makes wheeling and carting a breeze. A five-metre roller door also gives easy access 24 hours a day, allowing flexibility for re-stocking. State-of-the-art electronic and physical security barriers are in place around-the-clock to ensure the security of valuable stock. Several internal partitions were erected at the request of incoming dealers to allow them to create their own
4014 Pacific Highway Loganholme QLD 4129
NOW OPEN
◊ 2300+ sq m one level antique super centre ◊ Dedicated antique auction centre (1st auction Sunday 3 Feb 2013
Take the time to browse
◊ French themed Café Eiffel as our entrance ◊ 140+ dedicated off-street car parking ◊ 24 hour on-site security ◊ Great Motorway (M1) visibility and very easy access immediately off EXIT 30
admin@brisbaneantiquecentre.com.au
07 3806 0118
www.brisbaneantiquecentre.com.au Monthly auctions at Brisbane Antique Centre
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It’s easy to locate the centre as our 14 metre wide billboard faces the south bound traffic on the Motorway (M1). You will find us at Loganholme, between Brisbane and the Gold Coast, just off Exit 30 on the Motorway, which is also the start of Beenleigh-Redland Bay Road. Look for the large building at the roundabout just as you come off the Motorway and you are there. We have more than 140 dedicated off street car spaces for convenient customer parking. With the highly visible M1 and other major arterial road exposure, we are seen by more than 200,000 vehicles a day according to recent Department of Transport surveys. This equates to an ever-increasing flow of customers through our doors. If you have not already paid us a visit, be prepared to be pleasantly surprised. You can visit us on our webpage, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or just drop by. Open daily from 9 am – 5 pm, the Brisbane Antique Centre welcomes any enquiries and looks forward to seeing customers and dealers alike. BRISBANE ANTIQUE CENTRE 07 3806 0118 admin@brisbaneantiquecentre.com.au www.brisbaneantiquecentre.com.au
BRISBANE
GLEN GILLARD A survey 1-25 May aving worked full time as an artist for more than 30 years, Glen Gillard has had almost as many solo shows. His current exhibition, being held at the smart, new gallery of the Royal Queensland Art Society (RQAS) in Brisbane, reflects his interest in, and love of simple traditional subjects: portraiture, floral studies and landscape as well as universal and timeless subjects developed over those years.
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Where practical, Glen paints onsite and he sees beauty in many things; much of ‘the everyday’ is a source of inspiration. Feeling no need to ‘invent’, he remains content working with simple subjects.
VARIETY OF THEMES Glen has been working to put together an extensive exhibition. He has prepared a significant body of work (around 80 paintings) exploring a variety of themes. Subjects include landscapes in both oil and watercolour; portraits in oil and pastel; basket studies in watercolour / gouache; and flower paintings in oil. Also being showcased is a series of works dedicated to the Kokoda Track Campaign held to be the most important battle fought by Australians in World War II. As Glen has had
the privilege of walking the track twice, he was able to gather material during those treks for these paintings. Among the subjects covered are village life, river crossings and significant events. Like so many people in recent years, he has developed an ongoing interest in Kokoda and related campaigns.
RQAS SUPPORT The new venue for RQAS – with its light, airy, open and inviting presence – is the perfect space in which to hold this exhibition. Paintings and other works of art are shown off to great advantage here, and the gallery is
gaining much attention as evidenced by the growing patronage and requests for bookings. Ten successful shows were held last year and at least that many are planned for 2013. Glen is the immediate past president of RQAS Brisbane and has also served in that office as well as other RQAS roles in previous years. He continues to work for the welfare of the members, bearing in mind the rich tradition and aims of the society. Glen Gillard 07 3367 1977 info@glensstudio.com.au www.glensstudio.com.au
unit 3/162 Petrie Tce, Brisbane
07 3367 1977 gallery hours 10am – 3.30pm TUES – SAT www.rqas.com.au secretary@rqas.com.au glensstudio.com.au Antiques and
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BRISBANE
Transition-cut diamond 2.68 ct, colour I-Si
Modern brilliant diamond 1.55 ct, colour H-Si
DIAMONDS
A good time to invest p until a few years ago De Beers controlled about 90% of the rough and cut diamond market by strictly controlling the supply. Consequently, this created a climate that could be either accurate or artificial. For many years the strategy worked well, but cracks developed in this stranglehold policy. The demise of the De Beers controlled Central Selling Organization (CSO) as it existed was due to several factors: plummeting share market, financial pressure caused by holding large diamond stockpiles, to the emergence of new companies such as Rio Tinto’s Argyle Diamond Mine. The company manages the direct marketing of their rough material independent of CSO.
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Other emerging smaller natural rough suppliers also operate outside of the CSO cartel. Additionally, the perfection of synthetic gem quality stones has also had an impact on the diamond market. Today, DeBeers, no longer controls the pipeline of rough diamonds. New sources of rough, from Australia, Russia, Canada and parts of Africa, have seen companies Rio Tinto, BHP Billiton and Alrosa become major players.
UNDERSTANDING THE PRICE GUIDE For the cut and polished diamond market there is a very good price guide compiled by US based organisation The Rapaport Diamond Report™ (Rap Report). For more than 30
Penfold Jewellers
Reg. No. 26
FOR ALL INSURANCE VALUATIONS ON JEWELLERY, GEMS, SILVERWARE INSURANCE • PROBATE • MATRIMONIAL
Callejia Jewellers designed ring featuring pear shaped diamond 3.80 ct, colour G, Purity VS 2
years this weekly publication is held to be the essential source of diamond price information in the diamond trade. Dealers use it as an approximate guideline for evaluating and setting diamond prices. It is the international standard used to establish wholesale (and retail) prices in all the major cutting centres and dealer markets. To adequately explain the system requires its own article, but I cannot stress enough just how important the Rap Report is to the market. You can be in the bowels of the Congo trying to buy a stone and out comes a tatted Rap Report list from a guy that you expect can hardly read or write let alone have a copy.
and probably can be repeated two or three times a year. Market research and predictions carried out by Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy, which has joined forces with De Beers to create De Beers LV, indicate that if all stays politically stable within China, then the peak of their demand will not be reached for another five years. Scary thought. The other common prediction is that China will ultimately implode from within if the speed of social reform and wealth generation is slowed to any great degree.
CUT AND POLISHED DIAMONDS
You are going to see a big increase in sales of stones under 1.00 mct and also a huge swing back to lower quality G-H stones as the other grades will price themselves out of the market. I also predict that if this market is not controlled the public’s acceptance of synthetic diamonds will become more palatable. As an exercise, do a check on world brand names and trademarks for synthetic diamonds. You will be very surprised as to who is there – yes all of the big name players are taking early market positions. The word in the market is that a 1.00 ct colour G, purity VS diamond is expected to double in price. So, recalling the words – he who hesitates is lost – perhaps now it is timely to get in while you can. Just imagine what will happen if and when the Australian dollar reverts back to under 90 cents against the greenback – disaster for our dealers!
In the past most Rapaport prices were listed then discounts were applied. Today, in most cases, it is a plus situation. For example, 0.85 point stones are selling at plus15%. Why? Because in China it is a lucky number and also engagements generally occur in the summer months. Working on a population figure of 1.3-1.5 billion, the figures are mind boggling, when you consider that 1.5% is 22,500,000! Prices have been creeping up each month and recently there were significant price rises. Diamonds less than one carat rose 8-10%, sizes under 0. 25 mct (million carats) increased 4-6% and stones over one carat went up by 5%.
ROUGH DIAMOND MARKET The rough market is also out for a kill, and is restricting supply. Added to this is that a huge amount of the rough supply now comes out of Canada, where mining is affected by weather conditions. I am finding this to be of concern, especially in regards to what may happen over the next two to three years. From what I see, the diamond market does not want or need the European or the American market as the Chinese and Indian retail markets are so large that they boggle the imagination. The size and affluence of China and India is such that these markets can comfortably tolerate just about any price demanded. Some of the price increases are due to dealers sitting on stock for say a month and then releasing it. Prices for some grades have gone up almost 100% in the last 12 months.
Brisbane’s Antique Specialists P: 07 3221 7516 F: 07 3221 7206 M: 0400 322 175 Shop 5 Anzac Square 206 Adelaide Street Brisbane QLD 4000 Australia penfoldjewellers@tpg.com.au
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INVESTING IN DIAMONDS Let’s face it, a 10% gain in three months is much better than the current 1-3.5% interest per annum that a bank will give on money in certain countries. Plus there is the advantage that investors control the deal themselves, and have no credit worries. It is all very clean,
FUTURE OF THE DIAMOND MARKET
Ken Penfold PENFOLD JEWELLERS 07 3221 7516 penfoldjewellers@tpg.com.au Intense fancy yellow VS diamond 2.35 ct with GIA Certificate
BRISBANE
PIQUÉ JEWELLERY
a centuries-old art I magine fine gold or silver strips contrasting with in tortoiseshell or ivory, creating a design and you have a picture of piqué jewellery. Part of the surface was removed and the precious materials inserted into the minute spaces. Tortoises and elephants are protected species now and so the art of making piqué jewellery has ceased. This in turn means that for an antique jewellery collector, it is becoming very difficult to find really lovely examples of piqué jewellery. Although the Italians began with this jewellery method idea in the mid-1600s, the French went on to develop the idea of inlaying not only tortoiseshell but also ivory with gold and silver decoration. The Revocation of the Edict of Nantes by Louis XIV in October 1685 banished French Huguenots who took their skills to many countries including England, where piqué methods adorned combs, small boxes, card cases, fans and fan sticks as well as jewellery. English silversmith Matthew Boulton mechanised the technique during the mid1760s, creating a dramatic change in the wider availability of piqué jewellery, and the types of designs that became more geometric. It was a popular decoration for outer cases of watches, especially English, in the late 17th century, applied to a tortoiseshell base. It was also used for decorating various types of boxes. Jewellers of the early 19th century adopted the techniques and it reached its zenith in popularity in Victorian times.
PIQUÉ JEWELLERY TERMS The following are important terms to learn and techniques to spot as you discover the beauty and style of piqué jewellery: • Piqué points are metal pins or wires that are driven into the tortoiseshell to make a pattern • Piqué posé refers to filling in an engraved design with metal strips, threads and flakes • Piqué clout refers to larger points arranged in a pattern
• Piqué d’or refers to really tiny gold figures or ornaments that are set into the tortoiseshell. Kellies Antiques always has a good choice of Victorian piqué jewellery. We see some 1920s items, so there must have been a bit of a revival in the 1920s. Sometimes, instead of gold and silver, the tortoiseshell was inlaid with mother-of-pearl.
VICTORIAN BUTTERFLY SUITE Illustrated is a rare Victorian matching butterfly necklace and earrings suite. I am very excited about this piece. It actually belongs in a museum and in all my years experience with antique jewellery I have never seen anything like this necklace and matching earrings. Firstly, I have never seen tortoiseshell in a butterfly form. Tapered in size, the largest butterfly is to the central front with five tapering butterflies on each side forming a magnificent piqué necklace. The butterflies’ antennae are made from gold wire and the wings are set with gold and silver inlay. Gold rings link one butterfly to the next. This stunning necklace is accompanied with a pair of matching drop earrings, also tapered with the smaller at the top. The smaller butterflies with shepherd crook fitting attaches to the larger butterfly with a gold trace chain. The set is absolutely amazing. This suite is an outstanding example of Victorian piqué jewellery. It is for sale at Kellies Antiques in the Brisbane Arcade. We have other pieces as well, so meander up to the Gallery Level and take a look at these striking museum quality pieces. Moira Drexler KELLIES ANTIQUES 07 3221 4825 www.kellies-antiques.com Blog: kelliesantiques.wordpress.com
Kellies Antiques
Magnificent Art earrings handmade in Israel
OUTSTANDING NEW CURRENT COLLECTION SOON AT KELLIES ANTIQUES
Gallery Level (Upstairs) BRISBANE ARCADE Shop 16, 160 Queen Street Brisbane Ph: 07 3221 4825 www.kellies-antiques.com Antiques and
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UPHEAVALS THAT BRING
new skills and talents to fresh shores A look at the tradition of change in the 20th century through the work of talented silversmiths and artisans nce upon a time in a simpler world, it was generally understood that for those accustomed to the finer things life offered, they would expect their leather goods were Italian, the wine French, the silver and preferably nannies, were English. For those who could afford such luxuries, this was the status quo. Then everything changed. The two world wars that ravaged Europe scattered artisans, in particular, far from the established centres of creativity and led to new growth and changes in what was once taken for granted. These craftsmen were mostly welcomed with open arms and their adopted countries and cultures inspired them with experiences that moulded and shaped the work they produced. This led to a flowering of creativity in the places in which these artists landed and often to new styles.
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DANISH TRADITION Far from a refugee but of similar pioneering spirit was Danish master silversmith Carl Poul Petersen (1895-1977). He began his working life as an apprentice under the great silversmith Georg Jensen (1866-1935) where he worked until the onset of World War I. Petersen drew his inspiration from Denmark’s rich folk tradition as well as its silver tradition – especially the restrained brand of Jensen’s modernist silver, Danish culinary silver and Danish silver plate. Petersen eventually married Jensen’s daughter Inger and continued to work and study under him after the war, when work resumed. However, as the prospect of another war on an even greater scale loomed, like many artists, Petersen decided to leave for a better life. Prior to World War II, Petersen and his wife immigrated to Montreal where he found work with Canada’s foremost jeweller and silver producer, Henry Birks & Sons. Working a great deal of his life for Birks and eventually independently, Petersen then set up his own workshop producing mainly handcrafted flatware and hollowware. Petersen’s pieces carry distinct hallmarks reminiscent of the Scandinavian and particularly Jensen style, and are highly
sought after. His work can be found in private and museum collections with one of his greatest claims to fame being his design of the Canadian National Hockey League’s trophy, the Stanley Cup.
MEXICAN STORY At about the same time as Petersen went to Canada, a great number of silversmiths and artisans settled in Mexico to take advantage of the resources there. Although most associate Mexican silver with turquoise jewellery and traditional ethnic patterns, Mexico is renowned as one of the finest sources of silver in the world, of having mines of great purity. Possibly one of the finest examples of such craftsmen was William Spratling (1900-1967) who relocated from New Orleans in the late 1920s to the town of Taxco in Mexico. This particular town had a long history of mining the metal, but very little known history of producing any fine goods. Spratling was deeply enamoured of the culture of Mexico and became instrumental in introducing its arts to the people of America. He was one of the first foreigners to circulate amongst the intelligentsia and artistic circles of Mexico and one of the first to introduce such greats as artist Diego Rivera to the galleries of New York. Spratling became an innovative and talented designer of Mexican jewellery, silver hollowware, tin, copper and furniture. Following Spratling’s designs, the design studio in Taxco grew and expanded to mentor the talents of local and international
apprentices as well as incorporate the skills of other fine craftsmen. He took inspiration from his surroundings and its history and in particular incorporated pre-Columbian elements of design and architecture, including original Aztec motifs, in everything he produced. During World War II, the European goods, to which America had become accustomed, were no longer available, which sent demand for the wares of Taxco through the roof and exposed Spratling’s talents to a much wider audience. More than that, it also brought valuable attention to Mexican arts and crafts and lead to the popularity of these wares throughout North America. Like Petersen, Spratling brought an established design sensibility to a new frontier and allowed his new surroundings to influence him while he also became the catalyst for a new paradigm and aesthetic to emerge. Chris Hughes THE ANTIQUE GUILD 07 3221 3112 www.theantiqueguild.com.au Further reading http://journals.hil.unb.ca http://www.smpub.com http://www.spratlingsilver.com
BRISBANE
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PADDINGTON
ROBYN BAUER STUDIO GALLERY PRESENTS
Martin Edge - A colourful journey 1-25 May n his upcoming show in May at Robyn Bauer Studio Gallery, Martin Edge presents an autobiographical account of his artistic journey. This new narrative-based collection includes highlights of his career to date and
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encompasses some quite amazing milestones for an artist to have achieved so early his career. Over the years he has forged artistic friendships with such luminaries of the art world as Ken Done, who has acquired several of Martin’s works. Most recently, as well as having had a major work purchased by Parliament House
Canberra, this year Martin received an Australia Day Award - a Dickson Community Award for the Arts. Martin works in a deceptively simple naïve style. He possesses an instinctive design sense and a natural ease with the use of strong vibrant colour. His subject matter is taken from his daily life (mowing the lawn, riding a bike, having lunch) and memorable experiences (chased by a coral cod, attacked by a magpie) and aspects of the Brisbane landscape that he finds appealing. His city cats on the Brisbane River are becoming his signature images. The impressive exhibition history Martin is building up reflects how his career is really taking off now. This will be his sixth solo show and he has participated in almost 50 group shows. He has been shortlisted for numerous awards including the Blake Prize and in 2008 his work was acquired by the Moreton Bay Regional Council at its 16th Annual Art Awards.
THE APPEAL OF NAÏVE ART
ROBYN BAUER STUDIO GALLERY AND SCULPTURE GARDENS 54 Latrobe Terrace Paddington Qld 4064 07 3511 6380 Gallery Hours: Wednesday – Saturday 10.30 am - 5 pm www.robynbauergallery.com.au www.robynbauer.com studio@robynbauergallery.com.au 24
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One definition of naïve art is that it is characterised by a childlike simplicity in the artist’s choice of subject and technique. While many naïve artists appear from their work to have had little or no art training this is usually not true. It is an art genre represented in galleries worldwide. Famous exponents include Grandma Moses (USA), Henri Rousseau (France) and closer to home, Brisbane-based Katy Edwards. Picasso once stated, ‘It took me four years to paint like Raphael, but a lifetime to paint like a child’. He was referring to the direct and unfettered approach of a child – a naïve approach. There is a near universal appeal to this
exhilarating art form, perhaps from the celestial joy-inspiring palette, perhaps the simplified forms or the timeless nature of the subject matter. Elements include a refreshing innocence, flattened perspective, strong use of pattern and the use of colour being equal on all parts of the composition. The naïve artist treats us to a uniquely literal, yet extremely personal and coherent vision of what their vision of the world is or should be. All this is what Martin has achieved. His work pulsates with colour and excitement, and is full of wry humour and candour.
ARTIST’S TALK Martin has a tremendous facility with paint. Far from being ‘childlike’ in the naïve definition, his works are extremely sophisticated. His canvases of brilliant saturated colours and patterns are bold and direct works. There is a clear logic to what Martin is doing, based not only on what he sees but on what he knows to be true. His unique expressive and stylistic alphabet and vision of his life are translated into art; Martin is an enormously talented artist. Martin is giving an artist’s talk at the gallery at 11 am on Thursday, 9 May. You are invited to come along and hear him elaborate on A Colourful Journey. Not everyone who wishes to be a naïve painter can do so. Robyn Bauer ROBYN BAUER STUDIO GALLERY & SCULPTURE GARDENS 07 3511 6380 studio@robynbauergallery.com.au www.robynbauergallery.com.au
PADDINGTON
Exciting activities ahead at PADDINGTON ANTIQUE CENTRE APPRAISAL DAY
FOYER FODDER he calendar of activities at Paddington Antiques Centre is filling fast as we plan out the year ahead. Top of the list is a rolling change of foyer displays. After a sale month during January to clear old stock, we kicked off our displays with a celebration of Chinese New Year in February. The interest inspired by Chinese antiques and collectables is quite fascinating. Jade, cinnabar, ivory, lacquer ware as well as blue and white ceramics all evoke the orient and seem to appeal to people’s sense of the exotic. During March, an industrial theme is the feature with a bit of steam punk feel. With its dramatic and theatrical aesthetic, steam punk is fun, romantic and fanciful – just what we all need in these interesting times! For further details on upcoming displays and exhibitions, go to our website.
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FOOTPATH SALES Over the final weekend of each foyer display we will be holding a footpath sale. Our first being held over the first weekend in March is a second-hand book sale. The next one in April will be silverware. See our website and Facebook page for dates and details.
CLASSES ON COLLECTABLES & ANTIQUES One of Paddington’s greatest attributes is the breadth and depth of experience we house. During this year we plan to harness this expertise by offering a series of in-house classes for those looking to expand their knowledge of antiques and collectables and collecting as a hobby. If this is something that may be of interest to you, watch our website for information as to when these classes will start and how they will be structured.
Many will be familiar with the column by one of our popular dealers, Stan Prickett, featured in The Sunday Mail. His weekly chat with collectors has become so popular that we have decided to hold an appraisal day in the centre. This will allow many more people to have their treasures appraised. A panel of three experts will appraise items from furniture (from photographs) to jewellery to ceramics, glass and miscellaneous collectables. Again, check out the website for details.
to create a shop specialising in quality vintage and designer menswear and accessories. That’s right – a shop just for the boys! If her trade since opening has been anything to go by, there are many men who are just as good at shopping as any girls I’ve met.
CHINESE PROPAGANDA POSTERS An interesting collectable that you don’t see much of is the Chinese propaganda poster. These document a fascinating social history of an important era in a country of tremendous international significance. One of our dealers, who has a strong and long-standing connection with China, is now offering a wide selection of these highly collectable posters for sale, both framed and unframed. Extend an existing collection, start a new one or just find a one-
A MONTH OF FASHION IN JUNE Paddington's annual fashion event will be held in June this year. Given that our popular Frocks, Docs & Diamonds vintage fashion parade is always a sell-out, we have decided to have a whole month of fashion orientation celebrations in June so that those who miss out on parade tickets still have something to look forward to.
off poster which appeals as a very interesting conversation piece to hang in your home.
WEEKLY DEALER DAY Customers frequently come into the centre hoping to find dealers en masse. Unfortunately, this is not always how it works. However, we have decided that we will have one day a week when we know that there will always be several dealers available to talk to customers. If you would like to have a chat to a dealer or receive extra special attention cruising the jewellery cabinets, talking furniture, or even choosing a button in the button shop, check our website for dealer day details.
STOP PRESS: MINI FAIR Given the cancellation of the QADA Fair this year, we thought we would step into the breach and host an in-house event to give our dealers the opportunity to share a range of their best stock with all the antique aficionados out there over a glass of bubbles and some canapes. The centre will close on Friday, 10 May for us to prepare the centre for a 6 pm opening. Tickets will be $20 a head. See our website for further details.
PAC NEWS Paddington Antique Centre is shamelessly fabulous! We are open every day from 10 am to 5 pm so come visit us, browse the extensive floor space, enjoy a brew in the Plaza Theatre Cafe and soak up the ambience of a place that is abuzz with its energetic approach to celebrating the very best of our heritage. To keep up with what's happening at Paddington, follow us on Facebook or check out our website.
BEST OF THE 20TH CENTURY There have been a few changes at PAC over the last couple of months, which keeps the centre dynamic and interesting for customers. A new dealer in mid-century Danish furniture has joined us. Mid-century furniture and collectables are now very popular, particularly with the younger market. Our dealer frequently travels to Denmark to bring back good quality furniture, glass, ceramics, and lighting. I particularly love the range of Danish chairs that were made during the 1950s and ’60s. Many of the sets of dining room chairs are both fabulous to look at and comfortable to sit in. In fact, I have kitted out our home office – quite a large space – in Danish rosewood furniture and we are delighted with the effect. It looks terrific. It’s functional and it makes for a space that is easy to work in. Another of our new dealers travels to the UK and France regularly to source Art Deco and Art Nouveau furniture and collectables. Yum! The 20th century has provided some marvellous decades design-wise and I am delighted to have specialist dealers representing some of the most exciting offerings of this turbulent century.
Suzy Baines PADDINGTON ANTIQUE CENTRE 07 3369 8088 info@paddingtonantiquecentre.com www.paddingtonantiquecentre.com
SHOP FOR THE BOYS! A long-time Paddington dealer with excellent presentation and quality contacts has expanded
Something old for something new Be seen to be green and adopt something old to become your something new ❖ ❖
Antique
Vintage
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English, Australian, French & Asian furniture • collectable costume and estate jewellery • vintage and retro clothing and accessories • Australian pottery • clocks & watches • china, glass, silver • linen • military • rustic European • arts & crafts • art nouveau • art deco • glamshackle • nana chic
MORE THAN 50 DEALERS
Phone 07 3369 8088 167 Latrobe Tce Paddington Brisbane 4064 www.paddingtonantiquecentre.com info@paddingtonantiquecentre.com
Trading 7 days a week, 10 am to 5 pm Antiques and
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BOUDIN & THE FRENCH
love of painting en plein air O ver the years Unique France has grown to become a destination for those who plan to travel to France. Many of our clients travel to our home country and, most of the time, stop in Paris. We are always very happy to offer recommendations, suggest interesting places and a time to meet for a visit of the city, a day in the flea market or a special exhibition. One such new exhibition which is well worth a visit showcases the work of Eugène Boudin (1824-1898), a key exponent of the famous Normandy painting movement – Les peintres de l’Estuaire – ‘The painters of the Estuary’.
INSPIRED MONET & BAUDELAIRE Initially Boudin worked for a printer then a stationer which gave him the opportunity of meeting passing artists. At the age of 22, he gave up his stationary and picture-framing business for painting at a time when classicism and romanticism in art were in conflict. He chose a new path, firmly directed towards outdoor painting and the search to capture fleeting moments. In fact, he wrote in his notebook that, ‘three brushstrokes outdoors in nature are better than two days’ work at your easel.’ In 1857, he introduced Claude Monet (1840-1926), to painting directly from nature. Later, Monet was to say: ‘I owe everything to Boudin.’ Preoccupied with the representation of figures in natural light, Boudin began painting beach scenes. His Beach at Trouville painted in 1863 is in the Phillips Collection, Washington. This new genre had an undeniable influence on the future painters of Impressionism. From 1870, at the request of art dealers, he moved on to paint marine scenes. This home lover, fond of the skies of the River Seine estuary,
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was thus obliged to travel; to Holland, Bordeaux, Berck or Venice, where the sky and light were his main subjects. Corot said of him that he was the ‘king of skies’. This study of light during the 1870s led him to introduce the principle of a ‘series’ of paintings.
A ROLE IN PAINTING HISTORY Boudin found it hard to have this art of freedom – based on evanescence – accepted by an audience fond of descriptive painting. In the 1890s, after years of struggling, obstinacy and poverty, he finally achieved relative recognition. For this artist who said that ‘independent means not belonging to established – and “sacred” – schools of painting…’, these tardy honours had less value than the awareness of the role he had played in the history of painting: ‘If several of the people I had the honour of setting on the right track, such as Claude Monet, were swept along further by their own temperaments, they at least owe me some recognition, as I do to those who advised me and offered me models to follow.’
Eugène Boudin (1824–1898)
After a lifetime devoted to his art, Boudin passed away in Deauville in 1898 in his modest chalet, looking towards the elements of his life-long quest – the sea, the sky and light. His breathtaking skies and delicate brushwork are elements for which Boudin remains renowned. If in Paris visit an exhibition devoted to Eugène Boudin running until 22 July at the Jacquemart-André Museum, which is a mustsee in itself. The museum, at 158 Boulevard Haussmann was once the private residence of Edouard André and his wife Nelié Jacquemart who devoted their entire lives to collecting works of art. Nelié gifted their collection and mansion to the Institute de France after Edouard’s death. The museum opened in 1913. We hope you enjoy this exhibition during your trip in Paris but for those who miss it we look forward to welcoming you to experience
French style from classical to modern at Unique France, the place in Brisbane for those who care about quality and savoir-faire. For more information, like us on Facebook. UNIQUE FRANCE 07 3254 0404 info@uniquefrance.com.au www.uniquefrance.com.au
Jacquemart-André Museum
BRISBANE
All the way
TO ALASKA he flight to Canada was long and we were glad to arrive in Vancouver which was the start of our journey through the Rockies, the West Coast of Canada and all the way up to Alaska. From Vancouver we were taken by coach to board the ferry to take us across the Georgia Straight to Victoria and our hotel, where we would spend two nights, which was most welcome. The next day we were taken on a tour of the famous Butchart Gardens to view the most wonderful floral display, set out in eye catching colours and every shape imaginable. Each twist and turn was a delight – sunken flower gardens and hidden walkways leading to landscaped features with unusual and rare plants. Everywhere we toured in the city we were impressed with the baskets hanging from every lamp post, with lovely arrangements of beautiful blooms. The next day a few of us went on a tour of historical homes and gardens with the most fascinating tour guide whose vast knowledge of her city was remarkable. At first sight her appearance was off-putting. She was a well rounded lady with a coat draped across her shoulders and on her head was a faded slouch hat (due to light showers), unlike our usually smartly dressed guide. As she drove us to various venues her intimate knowledge made us sit up and take notice. The most remarkable was to the home of a local artist born around the 1920s whose paintings are now highly sought after. The house, filled with furnishings of that era and all in original condition, was full of atmosphere. Apparently the artist was a bit eccentric and at one stage lived a rather nomadic life however her paintings are of a high quality. We spent the best part of the day with our impressive new guide and loved every minute. Dorothy took us all over the city, the houses and gardens and enthusiastically explained everything in fine detail. Her local knowledge was so immense and well-appreciated we were sorry to say our goodbyes. The next day we boarded the ferry for Vancouver, to start out tour of the Canadian Rockies and the Alaskan cruise. We only stayed one night in Vancouver and set off the next morning by coach to Whistler, Jasper, Lake Louise and Banff, and various other scenic places. At Whistler we took a sea plane over majestic glaciers, rugged peaks and the mile high Garibaldi Lake, which was awesome. Travelling on through the Canadian Rockies, we were met with vistas of glaciers, snowcapped mountains and wild life, and were advised to look out for wild bears. The road we travelled on, called the Icefields Parkway, is the route to over one hundred visible glaciers and considered one of the most scenic highways in the world.
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All the hotels we stayed in were well designed to take full advantage of those panoramic views, and of a very high standard. At Lake Louise another highlight of the tour was a ride on a specially designed Ice Explorer, to travel on the famous Athabasca Glacier – a tongue of ice six kilometres long and one kilometre wide. This coach had specially-made wide wheels for this venture and we could get off it and walk on the glacier which I have to say was really a wonderful experience. But unfortunately they say the glacier is slowly melting. From Banff we boarded the Rocky Mountaineer train with the glass roof which filled us all with great excitement. We would spend the next two days travelling through the Rockies in luxury. Comfortable seats, excellent food and ample bar service, observing those majestic mountains from every angle that would take us back to Vancouver and board our ship to take us on our seven-night cruise along the inside passage to Alaska. I was keen to visit the local towns with names like Juneau, Ketchikan and Skagway. What could be more intriguing to an antique dealer? These Alaskan towns had an old fashioned charm like those old photos of the gold rush days. What surprised me most was all the jewellery shops in these old style stores showcasing heaps of diamonds! In Skagway I was so impressed with the variety of the brilliant displays that I just had to make some purchases, which sold rather quickly on arrival back home. The time also went all too quickly and we were soon at the end of our wonderful tour of Canada’s West Coast. At least I was able to hold onto some of the sparkling ‘ice’ from our trip for a little while following our return! Eilisha Little EILISHA’S SHOPPE 07 3358 1448 / 0423 830 515
Member of QADA Proprietor: Eilisha Little
Antiques, Objets d’Art, Furniture, Porcelain, Sterling Silver, Old Jewellery, Collectables & Linen Experienced Hand French Polisher, Insurance Work Undertaken Open: Tuesday to Friday 10 am - 4 pm Saturday 10 am - 2 pm Sunday 11 am - 4 pm
109 James Street New Farm Qld 4005
Phone 07 3358 1448 AH 07 3844 3619 Mobile 0423 830 515
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QUALITY IS THE BEST POLICY
At Lavin Antiques we believe good quality is here to stay, surpassing all future fads and fashions urniture and decorative objects which were made with the best material of the day, design and workmanship at the very outset will still be admired and valued, and considered well-made and designed in another 100 years and more. In our showroom quality ranges in price and size from $60 for a copper miniature gallon hat to $55,000 for a plum pudding bookcase. We are always on the lookout for quality items to bring to our clients, so fresh stock is continually arriving at Lavin Antiques. Discover wonderful pieces that will enhance your home décor from among our most recent arrivals.
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MURANO GLASS SCULPTURE Homage to Botero is a handmade sculpture, amazingly made using traditional glass processing techniques by Oball in Murano, Italy in 2005. The subject, Fernando Botero (b. 1932) is a living Columbian artist known for his rounded exaggerated ‘plastic’ human figures and thus he is depicted. La Vetreria Artistica Oball was established by Luigi Onesto and then assisted by his sons Fabio and Michele over 30 years ago. The Oball hallmark is handmade, using antique and traditional glass processing techniques.
CARRARA MARBLE SCULPTURE Marble quarried from Carrara in Italy has a white hue and is translucent, making it highly desirable and expensive. David, the famous sculpture by Michelangelo, was created from Carrara marble between 1500 and 1504. It stands 5.17 metres high, created using millennia-old practices of chiselling, carving and then polishing. Lavin Antiques has an antique Carrara marble figural statue from about 1880.
Italy, Carrara marble statue, c. 1880
FURNITURE: MID 19TH CENTURY CANTERBURY Canterburies were made for holding sheet music and music books and are outstanding furniture. The material and workmanship in a burr walnut canterbury speaks for quality. The piece illustrated made circa 1860, is clearly the work of a highly skilled craftsman with its fretwork panels, bowed front, upper shelf on turned and spiral incised supports, lower shelf fitted with dividers and a drawer. The maker’s selection of burr walnut, with knotty whorls in the grain as a result of disease or injury on the trunk or roots of the tree, indicates that this piece was to be a superb example of the craftsman’s skills.
LAVIN ANTIQUES SHOWROOM Our showroom is located in a 1900s corner store with rear house attached, at the corner of Longlands and Stanley East Streets in East Brisbane. Here you may view interesting pieces not as in a shop but in a home-like setting. Lavin Antiques website, www.lavinantiques.com.au shows current stock and we are happy to answer questions by phone or email as well as in person. Our beautiful display showroom is now by appointment, so please call to arrange a time that suits you. We look forward to hearing from you.
La Vetreria Artistica Oball (Murano, Italy), Homage to Botero, 2005, glass
07 3391 2300 LAVIN ANTIQUES info@lavinantiques.com.au www.lavinantiques.com.au
GOLDSCHEIDER CERAMIC CANINE GROUP The Goldscheider Porcelain Manufacturer and Majolica Factory was founded in 1885 by Friedrich Goldscheider in Vienna. It was the leader in standard and style for ceramics through the Art Nouveau and the Art Deco movements, manufacturing for over 50 years. Their works, such as this group of Borzoi or Russian wolfhounds, have remained in demand and holding their value through to the present. Artists to have worked for this famous manufactory include Walter Bosse and Demètre Chiparus. Goldscheider Porcelain Manufacturer and Majolica Factory (Vienna, Austria), Canine theme ceramic group
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Maker unknown, English burr walnut canterbury, c. 1860
Continental Majolica glazed mantel clock, 20th century standing on commode (Sweden, c. 1900) after Georg Haupt (Swedish cabinetmaker, 1741-1784), marble, sycamore, satinwood, mahogany, kingwood and rosewood veneer, and ormolu panels
TENERIFFE
COMMERCIAL ROAD ANTIQUES and Decorative Arts waves in a new era C ommercial Road Antiques and Decorative Arts in Teneriffe, formerly known as New Farm Antique Centre, celebrates its coming of age; turning 21 in May. It continues to grow from strength to strength, supplying more decorative arts for a broader collecting audience.
ANTIQUES ON THE AIRWAVES Commercial Road Antiques has also taken to the airwaves, sponsoring the weather on radio 4MBS classic FM. This not-for-profit community station actively promotes many local musicians and actors. General manager Gary Thorpe was awarded an OAM for his services to broadcasting. The station coordinates the largest annual classic music festival in the Southern Hemisphere, Shakespeare in the Park,
Cathedrals’ week and classic music tours and cruises. Hence, we are very proud of our association with them. We also donated a radio to their unique radio museum.
GROWING POPULARITY The Commercial Road centre has also been enjoying an ever-growing family on Facebook and great reviews from customers and tourists alike. These are a selection of some of the comments and compliments from our visitors: ‘Brisbane’s best antique store,’ writes Nadia B. In February, Andrew T wrote, ‘I usually hate antique stores but I have just spent an hour here and am reluctant to leave.’ ‘I’m a first timer and it’s such an amazing range I’ll be back. I love it,’ from Loris. ‘I never know what I might find in this sprawling space.’ ‘Lose a Sunday afternoon in this bargainhunting heaven.’ ‘We come here in our lunch hour. We love everything, including the music.’ ‘It’s as good as any in Melbourne.’ ‘I came across oh so many things that I wanted to take home that it is probably a good thing that a) my credit card was at home and
Lynzay Antiques
Exciting new showplace with fine furniture, antique & estate jewellery, silverware, ceramics and glass PETER MARTIN • 0412 599 299 AT COMMERCIAL ROAD ANTIQUES • 07 3852 2352
Au s t ra l i an An t i q u e a n d Art Deal e rs A s s oc iat i on
b) none of the bigger items would fit through my tiny apartment’s front door.’ ‘The staff are lovely and are happy for you to browse for as long as you want. You’ll want to put plenty of time aside, because the store goes on and on and on and everywhere you look you’ll find another little corner to explore.’ ‘I was amazed and utterly awestruck when I walked up the ramp and found myself in this absolutely spectacular shop. The real drawcard for me here was the books. Oh my goodness. I bought a work of Sir Walter Scott's poetry with an inscription from 1871. The book is in incredible condition and the lovely gentlemen who run the centre obviously take great pride in preserving and selling these beautiful works of art. ‘Speaking of works of art, they also have a few of those splattered across the walls. Near the entry you’ll find one wall with framed pictures on it (of which, yes, I did buy one) and in the back you’ll find a range of prints without having to pay through the nose for them,’ wrote Asiya M. ‘Hundreds and hundreds of items are on show… each more exquisite than the last. My favourite does have to be the furniture on
display. (Handsome wardrobes, dainty side tables and incredibly detailed dining suites...). ‘If you’re ever around Commercial Road, this place is well worth a visit,’ commented Sun E. ‘This place is HUGE! … It is teeming with amazing items and as soon as you think you have seen everything you turn a corner and voila! There’s more! You can find everything here from antique jewellery to oriental furniture, from hat boxes to dining sets. Everything is in immaculate condition and the staff are very knowledgeable and were happy to answer any questions I had when I was browsing. ‘The perfect place to rummage if you're after a particular item for period piece for a theatre or film project, finding a signature item for your house, or just to add a splash of vintage joy in your life.’
MORE DECORATIVE ITEMS FOR MORE COLLECTORS Whether you are a connoisseur, a decorating or design professional, a new collector or a houseproud person of any age, you can change your house into a home and your office into a gallery through purchases from Commercial Road Antiques and Decorative Arts. Ian Thomson COMMERCIAL ROAD ANTIQUES AND DECORATIVE ARTS 07 3852 2352 www.commercialroadantiques.com
“THE BEST CENTRE IN BRISBANE” IS ALSO A HAPPY, HAPPENING PLACE
Commercial Road Antiques & Decorative Arts
85 Commercial Road Teneriffe QLD 4005 Open 7 Days 10 am – 5 pm 07 3852 2352
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A CLOCK COLLECTOR REMINISCES t age 18, I purchased my first clock – a black cast iron Ansonia with rams’ heads and side mounts. It cost me $45 in a second-hand shop at Mooloolaba. I also purchased a lovely Australian colonial chair for $1 and I still have both of them today. A few years later my grandparents decided to return to England and to sell all of their antique furniture and goodies as my grandmother said they had spiritually outgrown all these material things. It was 1970 and they invited four of Brisbane’s top antique dealers – Ian Still, Bill and Betty Hinds and Arnold Morrow – to price it all up. That’s when I came in and purchased – at age 22 – 21 pieces of furniture, art and four clocks for a total of $3,000, and that got me started. The latter – a large carriage clock, small carriage clock, small Waltham ship’s deck clock in a gimballed case, and a wall mounted Westminster chiming clock – are still in my collection.
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LONG ASSOCIATION WITH ANTIQUES I have long been associated with the antique trade, spending years preparing probate estates for trustees and insurance companies. This gave me entree to many homes. In order to determine the value and history of many items, I then called on local and surrounding antique shops and outlets to learn the ins and outs of the trade. An early purchase was 20 gingerbread Ansonia and other clocks for $3 each from a clockmaker relocating to Mackay. I then sold half to a clock trader for $20 each, and this was how trading started for me. On seeing his new selling price for my Ansonia clocks – then $45, I decided to start collecting. Now I’m 66 and have never stopped.
FAMOUS PIECES I get a lot of pride out of owning these famous pieces which have all been pre-loved and wound in other homes all over the world. It would not be as much fun if you couldn’t share your collection with others, so I’m thankful for an understanding partner in Jennifer – who shares my passion at times – even if sometimes she thinks our place is getting a little cluttered. As you can imagine these clocks all hold a lot of stories and happy memories. Another collecting passion has been vintage cars. Over the years I acquired 16 cars in all. When I started to sell them I reinvested some of the money into clocks, another growing asset. I call it my retirement fund; my super is hanging on the walls. I have found that buying clocks is all governed by the purchase price. If we buy well it stands us in good stead. If it is something you just have to have, just pay the price I say and enjoy it. The price paid is long forgotten and the enjoyment lasts forever.
A SPECIAL PURCHASE Once I was offered an interesting lighthouse clock. I established the price over the phone before I made the long drive and, as the asking price was $300, it seemed worth the trek. When I got there the seller had changed his asking price to $3,000 after seeing a picture of it in a 1987 Antique Trader publication where it was advertised for $2,700. Three years later, I paid them their asking price, after offering ever-increasing amounts each time we saw each other. I still enjoy it and its street value is around $10,000 now. So the point is, stick at it if you feel the quarry is worthwhile.
DRIVEN BY THE HUNT I’ve always said collecting is governed by disposable income, but some of us are driven
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by the hunt and we find – and learn – what might be on offer in a forthcoming auction. I attend most of the auctions and consistently do the rounds or visit antique shops and centres. So I find out who has got what and the asking price. I must say that it’s been a lot of fun and some heartache when you miss out on that purchase, but you can’t have them all!
COLLECTING ADVICE Acquiring a little knowledge from the horological club, reference books, auction prices, antique shops and other like-minded club members will always help you know your clocks and their worth, so happy hunting. In Brisbane we have a very good clock club with a large library. We meet on the first Sunday of each month and hold workshops on clock repairs, woodwork and marble polishing as well as social days and an annual club auction. My collection stand testament to those clever clockmakers with the many varied styles, one maker trying to outdo the other in fashion and design and hoping to make a profit. I have amassed some 500 clocks – including 30 longcase, 25 or so bracket clocks, turret and others by some of the world’s best makers from all walks of life and countries. They are all very dear to me but I sometimes wonder – how did I end up with all of these clocks? Alan the Clock Man BRISBANE ANTIQUE EMPORIUM 07 3862 1600 www.brisbaneantiqueemporium.com.au
CLAYFIELD
BRISBANE ANTIQUE EMPORIUM at Discovery Junction Cnr Sandgate & Junction Road Clayfield Qld 4011
07 3862 1600 info@brisbaneantiqueemporium.com.au
Chinese famille rose vase, c. 1880, h: 35 cm
* Valuations * Restorations * Off street parking * Air conditioned * Coffee * Personalised Service * Friendly Atmosphere * Knowledgeable Staff
Pair piano babies designed and made by Gebruder Heubach (Sonneberg, Germany), c. 1890, h: 27 cm x l: 27 cm
Join us for the Rare Clock Display and Sale
1 June to 30 June
Aquamarine and diamond dress ring
Victorian mahogany Wellington chest, c. 1890, 210 x 86 cm
Parian Ware figurine group ‘The Three Graces’, c. 1880, h: 32 cm
Art Deco diamond and sapphire brooch
Scottish mahogany longcase clock made by James Davidson, c. 1880, h: 218 cm
OPEN 7 DAYS 10 AM – 5 PM Discovery Junction incorporates Buy Design Clayfield & Atomic Martini Vintage
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avin ntiques
FURNITURE · CHANDELIERS · CERAMICS · PAINTINGS · RUGS · TEXTILES
Importers of fine quality antiques
Marquetry and ormolu commode after Georg Haupt
242 Hawthorne Road, Hawthorne QLD 4171 Phone 61 7 3391 2300 Email: info@lavinantiques.com.au
Fax 61 7 3391 2331 Website: www.lavinantiques.com.au
BY APPOINTMENT ONLY
GOLD COAST
The Gold Coast Antique Centre is an exciting gallery in Miami with over 25 dealers displaying an ever changing range of rare antiques and collectables. It’s an Aladdin’s cave of treasures including the finest glassware, antique furniture, jewellery, clocks, toys, movie memorabilia and much more.
The Gold Coast Antique Centre is a must see venue located at
2076 Gold Coast Highway, Miami • Phone 07 5572 0522 • Mobile: 0414 338 363 More than a website – shop online @ www.goldcoastantiquecentre.com.au OPEN 7 DAYS 10 - 5 Sun 10 - 4 Antiques and
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CLAYFIELD
Discovery Corner Established in 1976 and proudly run by the Phillips Family Trading from Brisbane Antique Emporium Member of Queensland Antique Dealers Association
Pair plates made by Spode, c. 1830, hand-painted chinoiserie decoration, diam: 15 cm
French bronze and ormolu mantel clock by Vincent Et Cie, c. 1860, of rococo design, h: 44.5 cm
Meissen cup and saucer, 19th century, gilt decoration, hand-painted hunting scene on black ground
English rosewood library table c. 1850 fitted with two drawers
Pair English rosewood chairs, c. 1865, tapestry upholstery
We specialise in furniture, silver, porcelain, glassware, statuary and Rosentengel furniture Always wanting TO BUY Quality, rarity and presentation are of prime importance
Sèvres porcelain figurines, c. 1870, h: 33 cm
Discovery Corner @ Discovery Junction 794 Sandgate Road, Clayfield. Telephone: 3862 2155. Email: discoverycnr@bigpond.com
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BENTWOOD FURNITURE
another 19th century revolution B entwood furniture will always be an interesting addition to home decor because of its simplicity of design and lightweight construction. Such furniture showcases wonderful shapes so as well as being used to great effect with antique furniture, it can add grace to any modern interior and a touch of class to any room.
HISTORY OF THE REVOLUTION The person who perfected the process and one of the most prolific furniture innovators of the 19th century was Michael Thonet (1796-1871). Thonet learned the trade of carpentry in his home town in the Rhineland and started a workshop in 1819. In 1830 he began experimenting with making furniture parts from glued veneers as well as with bending wood to form various shapes and long curved rods for chair frames by turning the wood under high pressure steam or boiling it. In 1841 Thonet took out patents for his bentwood process in France, England and Belgium and in 1849 launched his first bentwood factory. Thonet fashioned chairs noted for their curvilinear forms, and exploited all the possibilities of steamed bentwood – such as the curled rocking chair – to such simple models as the Vienna café chair.
tables, chairs, sofas, bed heads, wash stands, hallstands, mirrors, to towel rails, wardrobes, magazine racks and valet stands. Both technically and in design, Thonet was far in advance of his time. Today Thonet Furniture is still a familyowned business and is managed by the fifth generation while bentwood furniture generally (mainly chairs) is still being made but in my opinion they lack the fineness of the originals which can be easily detected. It’s not too late to start buying bentwood furniture. It is affordable, practical and very appealing and the wonderful original pieces do occasionally turn up. The moral of the story is to go antique hunting regularly so you can find that interesting piece before someone else does. Jill Phillips DISCOVERY CORNER 07 3862 2155 discovertcnr@bigpond.com Further reading F de Dampierre, Chairs: a history, HNA Books, New York, 2006 J Fleming & H Honour, The Penguin Dictionary of Decorative Arts, Viking, London, 1989 H Hayward (ed.), World Furniture: an illustrated history, Hamlyn, London, 1972
REVOLUTIONARY DESIGN PROCESS Making chairs with steam-bent parts led to great simplifications, both in manufacture and design as well as low costs combined with durability, lightness and flexibility, thus revolutionising the chair-making industry. Bentwood made it possible to produce chairs without complicated carved joints and contours, paving the way for the first mass production of standardised furniture. This furniture was shipped in pieces and then screwed together. Thus Thonet managed to bring chair-making from the realm of the handicraft into the industrial age, almost single-handedly. Although primarily a European product, bentwood was imported in great quantities into the United States. After its showing at the Great Exhibition in London in 1851, bentwood also became popular in England. The international exhibitions in Munich in 1854 and Paris in 1855 further increased the market. In 1869 Thonet’s patents for the process of bending wood expired and henceforth other manufacturers joined in the lucrative market. Michael Thonet died in Vienna in 1871; his sons then took over the company. By 1900 Thonet’s workshop was recognised as the largest mass producer of furniture in the world.
MODERN CLASSICS During the 1930s, the Thonet workshop was committed to the construction and technology of tubular steel furniture, manufacturing designs by Breuer, Mies Van der Rohe, Le Corbusier and others. Millions of bentwood chairs – some of the lightest, strongest chairs ever designed – have been sold by Thonet’s company Gebruder Thonet throughout the world. In addition, several Thonet chairs have become classics and have been in continuous production for over a hundred years. The best look extraordinarily modern, almost as if they’d been designed by an early 20th century ‘functionalist’. Significantly, Le Corbusier recommended the use of one of Thornton's classic chairs in his own buildings. Comprehensive catalogues that were produced also reveal the astounding diversity of furniture made by Thonet – ranging from Antiques and
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BRISBANE
CHELSEA ANTIQUE LIGHTING
39 Brookes Street Bowen Hills Brisbane 4006 07 3852 5500 email sales@chelseaantiques.com.au web www.chelseaantiques.com.au (for lighting dimensions please visit our website)
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BRISBANE
PACK & SEND
art and antique specialists A rt and antique dealers, galleries and museums are now realising that using Pack & Send for their logistics is a means of providing a superior level of service to their customers and actually saves them time and money. At Pack & Send we specialise in transporting art and antiques, which means that we stock an extensive range of packing supplies – including bubble wrap, acid-free films and tailor-made boxes made of cardboard, pine or plywood – for both shops and individuals who choose to do their own packing. Museums, art galleries and antique dealers Australia-wide are finding our service truly valuable and ask us to take care of the entire logistical process – from pick-up to packaging to paperwork, freighting and safe door-to-door delivery. No other company in Australia does this. By letting us take care of all the details, curators, dealers and collectors are free to concentrate on their core business. At Pack & Send we will personally manage the entire job and even computer-track the item en route until it arrives safely and in pristine condition at its destination. We are the only freight company that will send as well as pack antiques and art for you. When you consider the price of packing the item yourself on top of another company’s freight charges, Pack & Send’s price – as well as its hassle-free, one-stop shopping convenience and total service solutions – makes it a very attractive option.
antique item. Protection against loss and damage is available through all Pack & Send stores, giving you peace of mind when sending valuable items and one-off pieces.
NO JOB TOO BIG OR TOO SMALL When you call Pack & Send, regardless of whether the job is large or small, we can professionally pack it and co-ordinate its delivery to anywhere in the world. Anything from an envelope, archaeological artefacts, to large oversize paintings and 100-year-old antique chandeliers, Pack & Send have the expertise to transport it safely. Pack & Send Albion is open 5 days a week, from 8.30 am to 5.00 pm Monday to Friday. The team at Pack & Send look forward to the opportunity to offer their services in solving any packaging or freight problem you might have. Stephen & Janet McCartney PACK & SEND 07 3262 9742 albion@packsend.com.au www.packsend.com.au Packing for The Antique Guild, Stamford Plaza Brisbane
PEACE OF MIND With our specialist knowledge and our experience in the packing and freighting of fragile, large, awkward and valuable items, we are able to cover even the most fragile art or
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Lance Bressow (Australian, b. 1942), Portrait of Elvin Harvey
Traditional bookbinding and restoration
GN Olsson photograph restoration (before)
Traditional upholstery and fabric
GN Olsson photograph restoration (after)
Specialty glazing, restoration and repairs
Hand-painted, decorative and faux finishes
Inlay restoration, French polishing and colour matching
MASTERCRAFTSMEN LEGACY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS
Trades, Artisans and Technicians Relining cutlery canteens and boxes
n days of old, a 15 year old would commence an apprenticeship under a mastercraftsman and learn a trade under close guidance. By the age of 22, as a journeyman he might have remained in employment or would commence a business. He would not pass into the ranks of mastercraftsman until the appropriate guild assessed his workmanship as worthy of the title. Gary Olsson commenced his trade with renowned mastercraftsman, Elvin Harvey (b. 1913-2009) of Harvey Bros in Woolloongabba. Upon completing his trade with honours at 19 years, Gary chose to stay with Harvey Bros as a modern journeyman. He fine tuned his skills and expanded his knowledge base with guidance from
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his great teacher Elvin, son of the internationally famous artist, woodcarver, teacher and mastercraftsmen, L J Harvey (1871-1949). After an adventure-filled period on an outback cattle station near the border of the Northern Territory and Western Australia, Gary returned to establish his own fine furniture and antique restoration practice in Brisbane in 1983. Years of hard work and continual improvement have seen him evolve into a mastercraftsman of distinction and exemplary skills, accepted into the highest ranks by guilds, both formal and informal. He is recognised nationally and internationally as a mastercraftsman.
Gary bears a solid reputation as an antique restorer and conservator, cabinetmaker and joiner (architectural features) with expertise in timber, veneer, inlays, leather and metal. However, such success does not happen by one man acting alone. Opportunity is a pre-requisite to growth. Gary is very grateful and pays homage to those who provided such opportunities: his teachers, antique dealers, interior designers, architects, builders and private clients. GN Olsson Mastercraftsmen (Brisbane, Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast) values the past and acknowledges its traditions. Skills of yesteryear are sustained through teaching the next generations. These skills are available for clients’ projects, whether building or restoring.
Box restoration and gilded leather inlay Card table English Strachan baise (refelting) Gilding and ornate frames
Leather embossing, monograms and logos Armour conservation and restoration
Blacksmith and metal restoration
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Locksmith, micro engineering and metal casting
Exact replicas and reproduction furniture
Intricate joinery and architectural features
Woodturning, wood carving and veneer inlays
Wicker work and hand woven cane
Strategic relationships with artisans and trades people in allied trades have been forged and maintained. These mastercraftsmen and artisans collaborate at Olsson’s in a modern equivalent to the workshops of old. The best in each field, usually their own masters, are brought together as a highly skilled team. With Gary Olsson’s orchestration, they collaboratively restore and create unique and superlative works including furniture, clocks, artefacts and architectural features. At the hub, he manages each project, taking full responsibility for each outcome. This creative synergy, fostered and developed by Gary, has strengthened over the 30 years of his private practice. It brings advances in design, craftsmanship, conservation and restoration, and even in reproduction, with exactness that astounds. This ingenuity brings out the best in people, ensuring the very best outcome for clients. To access the Olsson team of dedicated men and women, to utilise traditional skills and authentic materials for your restoration or custom work, simply ask by phone or email. We are here to offer old-fashioned service, and to create a legacy for the future. Fostering traditional craftsmanship and artistic skills is every bit as vital as making and conserving cultural material for our future generations. Our motto is Today’s Investments... Tomorrow’s Antiques and Heirlooms.
Barometer restoration
Custom railing
Bentwood
Floor inlay
Gramophone restoration Horologist, clockmaker and restorer
Pietra dura (decorative stonework) and marble masonry
For further information about Gary Olsson and his accomplished team, visit the pages ‘About Us’ and ‘Our People’ on www.gnolsson.com.
GN OLSSON MASTERCRAFTSMEN 07 3888 1549 gnolsson@bigpond.com www.gnolsson.com
Brass bed restoration
Music box restoration
Brass lettering and metal casting
Silver and goldsmiths
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WOOLLOONGABBA
BOWED STRING INSTRUMENTS
Shaping and planing the fingerboard
Very often, we have to find a compromise for the best fingerboard adjustment to suit the special types of music for which the individual player needs the instrument. very instrument’s fingerboard needs work done to it. A well-adjusted fingerboard can make your playing so much easier than you ever imagined, while a poorly adjusted one will make it harder to play than necessary. I firmly believe that even a beginning student deserves an easy to play instrument. I talk to many players everyday who do not know about the importance of a well-adjusted fingerboard and are playing on a poor one, not knowing it can be better. If you own a bowed stringed instrument and you experience any of the following difficulties, you should bring your instrument in for a check.
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SYMPTOMS OF FINGERBOARD DIFFICULTIES
Tuesday~Friday Tuesday~Friday 10 10 am~5 am~5 pm pm Saturday Saturday 10 10 am~2.30 am~2.30 pm pm
1. Finding it hard to press strings down 2. Feeling shoulder, arm, hand and neck pains 3. Having difficulties playing high up on the middle strings or in thumb positions 4. Finding it hard to separate strings 5. Hearing a buzz or noise on a certain tone 6. Difficult to play in tune 7. Strings breaking often. If you experience any of these troubles, you might need to have your fingerboard adjusted.
FINGERBOARD ADJUSTMENT The fingerboard needs to have a very particular curve across the strings and has to be very slightly hollow along the strings. Most fingerboards are ether too hollow or too round
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lengthwise, or are wobbly. Usually the curve across is too flat. The only way to correct this properly is with a plane to give it the right shape. Constant checking of the fingerboard curve is very important to achieve the right result. After everything is all right, I work with a scraper to make it smooth. To polish it, I use sandpaper and oil or a polishing agent.
The fingerboard needs to have a very particular curve across the strings and has to be very slightly hollow After all my work is done I have to check again with the curve template as well as with the straight edge to make sure everything is in order for easy playability. The curve of a fingerboard varies between cellos, violins and violas. Double basses need special attention, because of so many different styles played on a bass. For classic and bowed jazz, you need a certain curve; for pizzicato jazz you need a flatter curve to gain plucking speed; while for rockabilly music, an even flatter curve is better. Very often, we have to find a compromise for the best fingerboard adjustment to suit the special types of music for which the individual player needs the instrument. This applies to double bass and to folk, jazz, country or bluegrass violin. Please talk to me about these special adjustments. I am open Tuesday to Saturday in centrally located Woolloongabba, where ample parking is available. ILJA GRAWERT Violin Maker Freecall 1800 882 468 ilja@grawert.com.au www.grawert.com.au
WOOLLOONGABBA
BOHEMIA’S HEART OF GLASS Elegant glass pieces produced by Bohemian craftsmen since the Renaissance established a reputation for fine glassware which is highly sought after today. ohemia in central Europe was a kingdom until the early years of the 20th century, ruled by the Hapsburgs, becoming part of Czechoslovakia after World War I. It is also an area of Europe which established an identity and reputation strong enough for it to still mean something to most people today.
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GLASSMAKING TRADITION Records of glassmaking in Bohemia date back to the 14th century. Abundant supplies of wood for fuel and raw materials for glass meant the craft soon established itself here. There were many families who created the tradition and one of them, the Schürer family, continued in the trade for nearly 300 years, from 1530 to the early 18th century. Glassmaking became such an important part of the industrial life of Bohemia that, by the end of the 19th century, Hartshorne states that there were 56 glasshouses operating.
INNOVATION IN CUTTING & ENGRAVING Bohemian glass started to acquire its individual character in the late 16th century with the introduction of cutting and engraving. Façon de Venise (glass made in the Venetian manner) spread northwards through Europe, and among the techniques that came with it was the art of cutting glass as if it were rock crystal. This style caught the imagination of the Bohemian glassworkers, Casper Lehmann (c. 1570-1622) being credited as the first
native worker to adopt the technique. It was from this beginning that the famed Bohemian tradition of cutting and engraving arose. The early 17th century saw another innovation by the Bohemians which, combined with their engraving skill, resulted in the production of some of the most remarkable examples of this technique ever seen. This was the development of a new metal which required the addition of lime to the potash-silica mixture then being used. The result was a hard clear glass which retained its clarity even when thick walled vessels were made. Not only did the new metal produce more attractive vessels but it enabled the engraver to indulge in deeper and more impressive engraving.
technical quality using Bohemian craftsmen.
ART NOUVEAU The new spirit of Art Nouveau was expressed in the Moser glassworks at Karlsbad, Bohemia, which was influenced by the ideas of Emile Gallé. The pieces are noted for their deep cut curvilinear floral designs. The firm of Loetz also produced pieces that reflected outside artistic influences, notably that of Tiffany. The company’s iridescent glassware however, was affordable and directed to popular taste.
By the turn of the century there was a move away from the organic forms of Art Nouveau and glass artists based in Vienna turned to more geometric designs. Know as the Vienna Secession movement, the firms of Loetz and Lobmeyr made simple, unadorned functional pieces that even today appear very modern. Today in auctions and antique shops, Bohemian glass commands high prices. Its elegant beauty and design will always attract collectors. Jason Bridge COLONIAL COLLECTABLES 0431 403 897 colonialcollectables@msn.com
DEVELOPMENT OF A NEW STYLE Towards the end of the 17th century the taste for à la façon de Venise declined and was replaced by a new style which made use of the qualities of the improved metal goblets with round funnel bowls and knopped stems cut with facets. These goblets were well proportioned but less ornate than the Venetian equivalent. The glass was thicker and the bowls were often cut with vertical panels and had domed covers to match the bowl. The cover and sometimes even the foot would be profusely covered with highly ornate baroque decoration interrupted by coats of arms or formal scenes. Later in the 18th and during the 19th century more naturalistic themes were introduced which included woodland scenes with deer. So highly regarded was this combination of glass and engraving that Bohemian artists were persuaded to go to Venice and Spain to introduce the techniques there. Although cutting and engraving were among the most important of the decorative arts to be developed in Bohemia, several other techniques well known to antiquity were revived by Bohemian glassmakers and given a distinctive quality which makes them much sought after by collectors today.
LEADING GLASS MAKERS IN THE 19TH CENTURY Bohemia’s chief contribution to glass in the 19th century was their development of new colours and decorating techniques. Bohemian glass engravers lead the world at this time. In the second half of the century, there was a return to the classical style and the most noted exponent in Bohemia was Ludwig Lobmeyr. His Viennese glasshouse produced glass of a high artistic and
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COLONIAL COLLECTABLES
ANTIQUES • JEWELLERY • OLD WARES BOUGHT & SOLD
9 Logan Rd Woolloongabba 4102 M: 0431 403 897 email: colonialcollectables@msn.com Antiques and
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WOOLLOONGABBA
New directions for WOOLLOONGABBA ANTIQUE CENTRE & CAFÉ n recent years, modernism has cemented itself a place as an important and unique design epoch. The Woolloongabba Antique Centre is a key destination for buying with a number of dedicated dealers specialising in this genre. With Australian and English sourced pieces and imports of the best of American modernism we offer a vast range of sought-after items.
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ANNIE SLOAN PRODUCTS & WORKSHOPS Woolloongabba Antique Centre is proud to be the first ever Australian stockist of the wonderful Annie Sloan decorative range of chalk paint and soft waxes. This celebrated American paint range is made specifically for painting furniture, floors and walls, giving them that completely matt, velvety finish. The ease of use as well as qualities unique to this paint will be invaluable for restoration enthusiasts and their décor projects. The full range is now in
store so be sure to look out for special workshops on application and uses which we will be offering this year. For times and details, check our website and like us on Facebook.
THE EAMES – MODERNIST ICONS Charles and Ray Eames, pioneers of modern chair design in the 1940s and ’50s, were responsible for some of the most innovative chairs of the 20th century. Fabricated from wood, fibreglass, plastic and metal mesh, Eames chairs have been widely imitated but
originals are still highly sought-after by collectors because they are considered breakthroughs in both design and technology. A huge range of such original 1950 – 1960s era moulded fibreglass Eames chairs is currently available. Featuring timber, rocking and metal bases, with or without arms, these chairs come in a wide range of colours and are sourced directly from the USA. Drop by for your chance to buy a modernist icon.
exhausting getting around to all of the store’s nooks and crannies. So, mid-shop, our customers often put their feet up in one of our 1950s inspired booths and feast on a wide selection of savouries and indulgent sweets – including our famous Mars Bar cheesecake. With fresh juices, malted milkshakes, great Merlo coffee, toasted wraps and Turkish bread sandwiches, you can be re-fuelled and reenergised in this charming space.
POP UP GLAMOUR SALON
EXCLUSIVELY FOR MEN
Dedicated to the revival of the golden age of glamour, Lindy Charm School headmistress Miss Chrissy is bringing her rollers and hairspray to the centre with a pop-up salon. If you fancy a makeover or are keen to delve into Miss Chrissy’s world of red lipstick, sky high heels, victory rolls, pin curls and finger waves, this is your chance. Be sure to book in advance as numbers are limited for these one-on-one makeovers. Help Miss Chrissy keep the traditions of our foremothers alive. Let her enhance your natural inner and outer beauty through the best of vintage style and etiquette. Go to our website and like us on Facebook for details over spring.
On the last Sunday of every month, Lochlan the ‘Locks Smith’ barber is back in the house quiffing and chopping up a storm for the discerning gent; a convenient way for guys who are a little short on time to get a trim. While waiting, our vintage pinball machines and James Dean movies in the cinema will keep you entertained. Don’t forget to keep your hair in order with Bare Bone’s awesome Upper Cut Deluxe range of pomades and hair-care products.
WAC CAFÉ – THE MID-SHOP PIT STOP Described by The Courier Mail as one of Brisbane’s best ‘secret’ cafes, our milk bar café is at the heart of the store. With over 65 dealers and 1500 square metres, it can be a bit
NOSTALGIA, STYLE & KITSCH Formerly occupied by Copeland & Pickers for 30 years, the Wellington Road edifice which now houses Woolloongabba Antique Centre has undergone an impressive one million dollar renovation to bring the building back to its original ‘saw toothed’ industrial glory. Visitors and collectors will be charmed by the fresh and thoroughly modern approach to an old idea of presenting antiques, collectables, jewellery, furniture, clothing and kitchenalia in an air-conditioned and vibrant space. The centre’s diverse range of ‘shops’ sees surprise sit next to nostalgia, style next to kitsch. And the same goes for the tunes you will hear, with the likes of Dolly Parton, Etta James and Muddy Waters as well as some good old-fashion Slim Dusty weaving their magic in your ears. In a snapshot, some items of provenance may include an exciting range of modernist mid century furniture and home wares. Vintage fashion of the Hollywood glamour genre, a fine collection of Australian antiques, estate jewellery, industrial design and up-cycled antiques, French brocante, rural antiques and shabby chic, rockabilly, kitsch and collectables such as militaria, ceramics, glassware, toys, kitchenalia and garagenalia, prestige vintage with items from Chanel, YSL, Hermes, Dior, Valentino and Tiffany are a must see.
JAZZ BUFFS This place has also become a jazz ‘destination’ with the Butter Brothers now attracting a growing group of loyal admirers most weekends as they play smooth tunes in the foyer. The centre is open every day from 9 am to 5 pm and for the convenience of patrons there is plenty of parking in our car park at the rear of our building. Like us on Facebook. For more information contact WOOLLOONGABBA ANTIQUE CENTRE 07 3392 1114 info@wolloongabbaantiquecentre.com www.wolloongabbaantiquecentre.com
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THE FASHION
for collecting N
ot all collectors admit to themselves that they are collectors. They often say ‘I’m only furnishing the house’, or ‘old things are better made than new ones; they last longer’. Some collectors begin early, others later on in life. A man marries a woman who collects china and then gets interested himself. Someone moves near an antique shop and calls in occasionally out of curiosity – then becomes hooked. There are all sorts of antiques and bygones and all sorts of collectors. Men often look for old tools: axes, planes and chisels, or old fishing rods, reels and lures. Old machinery (especially retro or vintage vehicles) is always collected. Some people collect dolls or teddy bears, toys or linen, coins, pictures or sculptures, comics or bottles. Many collect second-hand books. Brisbane is blessed with dozens of bookshops and thrift shops selling books as well as offering an enormous book fair. It does the heart good to see people of every age and all walks of life hauling bags and strollers full of books away from the book fest held at the Convention Centre.
MORE VENUES NOWADAYS In Brisbane, the first ‘market’ began 35 years ago at Clayfield. Antique collecting was a more restricted activity than it is now and tended to be a much more formal affair. Now people have many more venues in which to shop for antiques. There are an endless number of books about collecting and programs of the roadshow variety on TV – and of course now we have the Internet. It is comparatively easy to get information about the most esoteric objects via computer as well as using it to buy, sell and check prices. There are collectors who content themselves with collecting items for their homes, including buying rugs, pictures, glass, furniture, fabrics, or specialise in kitchenalia or Rosenstengel furniture – you name it, it is collected and collectable. They do this with more or less knowledge of, or interest in styles and fashions. These poor victims of a fascinating and ancient trade have to develop some idea of what they are doing. Is an item
really old or in good condition, complete, genuine, or worth the asking price? Professional dealers are usually reliable guides. However, the know-how must also be acquired by putting in the hours. Comparing items is a big part of becoming knowledgeable in an area of collecting interest. This means one has to handle many items. Trying to find out about things is part of the thrill. Collectors, when they come to a new country or town, are never at a loss for something to do. They look for antique shops, second-hand shops and thrift shops. Of course these are allied areas of collecting. Gem shows are a must for those interested in jewellery and there are several of those held each year around the country.
A general knowledge of history is a big help. If collecting items originating from England, it is important to know, for example, whether an item was made during the Georgian or Victorian period. Silver collectors need to be as well informed as possible about hallmarks. It is all interesting and instructive. Don’t be misled by the minimalists. Buying antiques is the only truly fashionable activity
— a fact that is borne witness to by the everexpanding auction and retail trade as well as internet antique activity. So, if you want to join in the fun, start collecting something now! Kym James JAMES & BELL ANTIQUES 07 3891 5233 / 0438 677 788 www.jamesandbell.com.au
James & Bell Antiques
COLLECTING TIPS One of the tantalising features of collecting is that we don’t often get to know the history of the things we acquire. Most antiques have had quite a number of owners. Provenance adds to the interest and value. When you buy, do look for quality rather than quantity. Hold out for the best piece that you can afford, and don’t be afraid to ask for a discount if you are spending a substantial sum of money. By the way, if you are a porcelain collector don’t be afraid to acquire the occasional damaged piece. These days, collectors often buy at auction or on the Internet, but don’t forget that dealers often buy house lots or over the counter and they also offer goods that are competitively priced. Plus you have the advantage of seeing and holding the piece rather than relying on a computer image.
Kym James and Wayne Bell have opened their new 500 sq m SHOP AND WAREHOUSE FULL OF ANTIQUE, DECO & VINTAGE FURNITURE PLUS COLLECTABLES A large selection of imported and quality Australian furniture and collectables to please everyone
OPEN WEDNESDAY – SUNDAY 10AM – 4PM 199 Logan Rd Woolloongabba QLD 4102 t: 07 3891 5233 m: 0438 677 788 e: info@jamesandbell.com.au convenient entrance & parking at rear for 30 cars
www.jamesandbell.com.au Antiques and
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ANNERLEY
ANNERLEY GLASSWORX LEADS THE WAY
in leadlight design & restoration CITY HALL PROJECT UPDATE nnerley Glassworx is proudly associated with the recent restoration of Brisbane’s City Hall – we have just completed stage four of the project. Being entrusted with such work demonstrates how, since opening in 1991, the company has rapidly become the major leadlight centre in Brisbane.
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RESTORATION EXPERTS Specialising in new leadlights for homes, both renovated and new, our excellence in the repair and restoration of broken and old leadlights is well recognised. We are renowned state-wide for our expertise in repairing Tiffany style lampshades.
VARIETY OF DESIGNS & PROJECTS Annerley Glassworx is also very proud of its wide variety of leadlight designs which encompasses traditional, Art Nouveau, Art Deco, contemporary and Australiana themes. Any challenge is welcomed – for example, we were happy to have been invited to create a memorial doggie window for ‘Charlie’ the King Charles spaniel. Another well-known skill at Glassworx is our ability to design lampshades in the traditional style of Louis Comfort Tiffany. Literally thousands of shades have been specifically
manufactured in the 21 years of trading with thousands more being expertly repaired. Glassworx has also been involved in the installation of leadlight in architectural sites, hotel renovations, churches, a resort in Papua New Guinea as well as with a door panel being specially created and shipped for the King of Tonga’s residence.
SHOWROOM SHOWCASE With an amazing selection of new lampshades and bases, and an even greater array of gift
items in our showroom Annerley Glassworx offers even more nowadays. We are continually complimented on the beauty of the displays so next time you are wondering where to go for that special piece or decorative element come to Annerley Glassworx. Look out for the spectacle of myriad beautiful lampshades in the windows and a big fat piggy on the footpath – soon to give birth to six piglets – can’t wait! Denise Allen ANNERLEY GLASSWORX 07 3892 5352 www.glassworx.com.au
Annerley Glassworx LEADLIGHTS, LAMPSHADES, TUITION, SUPPLIES, REPAIRS 770 IPSWICH RD ANNERLEY QLD 4103 PH: 07 3892 5352 www.glassworx.com.au
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CLEVELAND
STARTING YOUR COLLECTION
at Bayside Antique & Collectables Centre ollectors and collections all have a beginning somewhere. Ask a collector how they got started and some will say they stumbled into it with no specific recall of their initial introduction to collecting, while others will have a vivid memory of how and where it all started and why their collection was born. The Oxford Dictionary describes a collection as ‘a group of accumulated items of a particular kind’, ‘a group of objects or works to be seen, studied or kept together’ and a collector as ‘a person who collects things of a specified type, professionally or as a hobby’. Collections come in all types, shapes and sizes and can be quite specific or more eclectic in nature, but one thing collectors have in common is they know their subject and are always on the hunt for a new addition. It’s fair to say they become quite passionate about their collections which is rewarded with endless hours of fun and interest. Finding that item to collect can be as simple as a childhood memory, such as toys, dolls or books; something that caught your eye while holidaying or travelling, for instance, postcards, coasters, matchbooks; something
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associated with your working life, for example, old tools, medical equipment; or simply something that takes your fancy for no apparent reason. While it’s obvious that some collections can make for an expensive hobby, there are certainly many others which are either relatively inexpensive or even free.
stock constantly changing, there is always a great selection and something new to collect. The centre’s spacious layout ensures access for wheelchairs, motorised scooters, walkers and prams. Relax and enjoy a complimentary cuppa. Well-behaved pets are also welcome to visit with their owners.
TRADITIONAL & NEWER COLLECTABLES
GETTING THERE
Today’s collectors have so much to choose from. Not simply the more traditional china, glass, silver and the like – which always maintain their popularity – but also a huge range of items such as books, coins, banknotes, medals, militaria, toys and teddies, cameras, jewellery, art, vintage; the list is endless. Then there are the newer collectables to consider. Increasing in popularity is the early electronic era, for example old computers such as the Commodore 64, old computer games, play stations like Sega and Nintendo and their cartridge games, as well as the entertainment era of record players, vinyl records, cassette tapes, eight track tapes. ‘If you can name it, someone collects it.’ How true! And perhaps an understatement based on some of the weird and wonderful items that are the inspiration for amazing collections, many of which are displayed in museums and virtual museums around the world. So, if you want to join the ranks of the avid collector and haven’t found your niche yet, perhaps your interest could be spiked by one of these – celebrity hair, navel fluff, burnt toast art, burnt food, toilets and toilet seat art, handcuffs, back scratchers, odd socks, chocolate wrappers, sugar packets, scratch it tickets, banana memorabilia, airsick bags, toilet paper, unusual x-rays, McDonald’s burgers, soap bars or asphalt. No doubt, there are many more such unusual items being collected out there. You may not discover anything quite as eccentric at Bayside but the centre’s dealers certainly offer a wonderful and interesting variety of collectable items that could become the next addition to an existing collection or the one discovery that puts you on the road to becoming a collector. Pop in and say hi, we love meeting other collectors. Remember, most dealers started with their own love of collecting and we are always happy to assist with any enquiries you have.
BAYSIDE – ONE VISIT AND YOU’LL BE HOOKED! Combining many years of experience, our staff aims to assist wherever possible as well as provide a relaxing and friendly atmosphere for customers. With over 30 shop spaces, our dealers bring together a wonderful array of antiques, collectables and old wares and, with
Located in scenic Redlands at 162 Bloomfield Street Cleveland, Bayside is just a 30-minute drive from Brisbane City or a short flat walk from Cleveland Railway Station and the bus stops at the door. There is ample parking, both onsite and on the street. We are open every day, 10 am to 5 pm.
NEWS AT BAYSIDE Bayside is a stockist for the very popular Howard Products for wood care and furniture maintenance, such as Restor-A-Finish, Feed’N’Wax, Orange Oil, Wax sticks, and #0000 steel wool. Check out our website for a glimpse of what the centre has to offer. Remember to Like Us on Facebook to keep up to date with fresh stock and news. Rob & Di Metcalfe BAYSIDE ANTIQUE & COLLECTABLES CENTRE 07 3821 0936 baysideantique@optusnet.com.au www.baysideantiqueandcollectablescentre.com
Over 30 shop spaces catering for a wide range of antiques, collectables and old wares, including furniture, ceramics, glass, silver, decorative arts, jewellery, books, coins, medals, ephemera, art, toys, photographics, militaria, tools and much more. Includes a mezzanine floor dedicated to vintage, retro, pre-loved and labels fashions and accessories.
BAYSIDE ANTIQUE & COLLECTABLES CENTRE 162 Bloomfield Street, Cleveland Queensland 4163 (UBD map 185 p.18) Open 7 days 10 am - 5 pm • Ph: 07 3821 0936 • Mobile: 0419 671 279 • Like us on Facebook • Email: baysideantique@optusnet.com.au • www.baysideantiqueandcollectablescentre.com • On site and street parking • Approx. 30 mins from Brisbane CBD • Complimentary tea and coffee • Easy access for wheelchairs, mobility scooters, prams • Dealer enquiries welcome re spaces and cabinets Antiques and
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Paddington Antique Centre
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Offering Professional Service On Site or in Rooms Antiques • Art • Furniture • Silver • Ceramics • Glass • Jewellery • Collectables • Clocks • Old Toys • Militaria • Speciality Items Complete estates or single items through AUCTION or on CONSIGNMENT Quality and interesting items bought and sold For an independent Licensed Auctioneer with many years of specialised experience in the Antique and Collectable Trade contact Mark Nott 0419 703 886 mgnott@optusnet.com.au
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ANTIQUES 184 Mooloolaba Road Buderim QLD 4556
07 5445 4033
DAZE
MANSON FRAMERS MFG PTY LTD
• RESTORATION OF OILS, PAPER ART AND FRAMES • CONSERVATION FRAMING • TAPESTRY AND ART SUPPLIES • CUSTOM MADE STRETCHERS • SPECIALISED MATT CUTTING
Mon-Fri 8.30 am - 5 pm • Sat. 8.30 am - 12 pm
ANDREW & RONALD STS WYNNUM QLD 4178
07 3396 4251
Cnr Junction and Sandgate Rds, Clayfield Open 7 days, 10 am to 5 pm P: 07 3862 1600
Woolloongabba Antique Centre 22 Wellington Road, Woolloongabba (Cnr Nile St) Tues to Sat 9 am to 5 pm, Sun 10 am to 5 pm P: 07 3392 1114 F: 07 3392 1116
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Bayside Antique & Collectables Centre
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Nudgee Road Antiques & Design Centre
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Ipswich Antique Centre
162 Bloomfield Street, Cleveland Open 7 days 10 am to 5 pm P: 07 3821 0936 277 Nudgee Road, Hendra Mon to Fri 9 am to 5 pm, Sat 10 am to 4 pm P: 07 3268 2869 86 East Street, Ipswich Central Thurs to Mon 10 am to 5 pm (closed Tues & Wed) P: 07 3281 2330
Brisbane Antique Centre 4014 Pacific Highway (crn Beenleigh-Redland Bay Road, Exit 30 off the M1), Loganholme Open 7 days 9 am to 5 pm P: 07 3806 0118
26 Nudgee Road (cnr Stevenson) Hamilton, Brisbane Antique and estate jewellery, porcelain, linen, silver, silver plate, glass, crystal, collectables and furniture bought and sold Shipments of sterling silver constantly arriving
Phone 07 3268 6778 Member of QADA
Australis of Montville Antiques
OF GYMPIE
2 MINUTES OFF THE BRUCE HIGHWAY, 15 CALEDONIAN HILL GYMPIE 07 5482 4571 Open Wed - Sun 9 am - 4 pm www.dazegoneby.com.au
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Brisbane Antique Emporium
CHAMBERS & CROSTHWAITE ANTIQUES
GONE BY
See our website www.dazegoneby.com.au for a small selection of our stock
Antiques and
85 Commercial Road, Newstead Open 7 days 10 am to 5 pm P: 07 3852 2352
Commercial Road Antiques & Decorative Arts
We have a regular turnover of stock and there is always something different & interesting coming through our doors. Just arrived: stunning burr walnut wardrobe, Royal Doulton Dutch Harlem tea set, Royal Winton set of 3 graduated rosebud jugs, Hebdomas Swiss silver pocket watch on chain & Gympie & Brisbane advertising buttons.
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167 Latrobe Tce (Cnr Collingwood St), Paddington Open 7 days 10 am to 5 pm P: 07 3369 8088
We buy & sell quality antiques & collectables including a large range of • jewellery • fine china • silver • pottery • furniture • investment pieces
The largest range on the sunshine coast 162 Main St, Montville, Qld 4560 Ph: 07 5442 9400 shireantiques@bigpond.com Days of business: OPEN 6 DAYS • CLOSED TUESDAYS
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As not all rugs are woven identically, different weaves and dyes require custom cleaning techniques
BEAUTIFUL RUGS
deserve the best care C areful maintenance of your rugs is essential. At RugWash we are experienced in this work and encourage discussion to reach a clear understanding of what can be expected to keep your rugs in the best possible condition.
CHOOSING A RUG CLEANER ISN’T EASY Whether you bought a rug, kilim or carpet for decorative, practical or investment purposes, cleaning begins with finding the right rug cleaning company. At RugWash we all share a common love for the pieces of woven art that clients bring through our doors. Weavers have spent months and sometimes years to weave that rug that you have placed in your home, so we continually hone our skills and knowledge to ensure that we provide the very best services to protect these textiles. We are regarded nationally as one of the premier rug cleaning and repairing facilities in the country. At RugWash, cleaning a hand-woven rug is a multi-step process from vacuuming, to washing and drying. Care is taken in every step to ensure your investment is maintained and your rug is brought back to its original beauty. As not all rugs are woven identically, different weaves and dyes require custom cleaning techniques – but sadly, not all rug cleaners know these important differences. We recommend having your rugs professionally cleaned by an experienced rug cleaner.
KEEP IT CLEAN! The best way to keep a rug clean is to keep it from getting dirty in the first place. If everyone removes outdoor shoes when entering the house, as people do in most rugweaving countries, it will save your rugs from most dirt, provided this practice accords with your lifestyle. Bare-foot or sock-foot traffic is much gentler to a rug than a hard outdoorshoe sole or spiked heels. Have your rug cleaned only when really necessary. Rugs in main areas may need a yearly cleaning. Rugs in other areas can wait several years for professional cleaning. To judge how dirty a rug is, pick up a corner and while holding it, kick the back of the rug sharply. If a cloud of dirt flies out of the pile, the rug is dirty and is begging for a good cleaning. Take heart, some loose dust and wool fibres are normal. RugWash offers a pickup and delivery service throughout the Brisbane metropolitan area. We are open every Saturday morning from 8:30 to 11:30 am for convenient drop off and pick up of your rugs.
REPAIRS AND RESTORATION Rugs often lead a very tough life. Pets, insects, flower pots and the wear of daily use all take their toll. There are always times when something has to be done to maintain your rugs. Many different stabilisation, repair and restoration techniques are available to treat these weavings done by hand. Likewise it requires skill, experience and the right
materials to repair and restore your rugs. • Holes and damage can be rewoven with nearly undetectable results, or simply sewn to prevent further loss • Fringe repair and edge repair is one of our frequent minor repairs • Worn areas can be restored, though extensive overall wear can be cost-prohibitive to treat. Good results require materials with the closest match of colour, fibre, and spin. We dye the majority of our materials ourselves, using both synthetic and natural dyes. Yarns are spun, or re-spun to provide the best match.
STORAGE TIPS The first and most important piece of storage advice is to always store rugs clean. Have them washed properly and then prepared for storage. We highly recommend applying our moth-repelling agent which makes the wool less appetising by changing the taste of the wool. Otherwise there’s a chance you’ll wrap hungry little rug-snacking insects in with your rug in a nice protected environment, and a year or more later when you open it up again you could be in for an ugly and expensive surprise. It is so important that each rug be wrapped
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in material that allows air to pass through, but nothing else. Cotton or linen is recommended. Avoid plastic at all costs. With changes in the weather, moisture must not be allowed to become trapped inside air-tight plastic wrapping. The results will be a mould problem, that will likely next become dry-rot and finally, you may find irreversible damage to your rug. It is important that the integrity of the package is intact. Avoid storing wrapped rugs directly on a floor. Always keep them elevated, at least on a very low shelf or rack to allow better access to air circulation. Should there be a flood or unnoticed leak, this elevation will keep your rug sitting above a puddle, avoiding the risks of slowly absorbing water. Finally, it is wise to open your wrapped rugs once a year or so, just to enjoy a look and to run a vacuum over them. Check both the front and back sides. You don’t need to have them re-washed. Stephen Muncey RUGWASH QUEENSLAND 07 3375 9896 stephen@rugwashqueensland.com.au www.rugwashqueensland.com.au
Est. 1957
• Immaculate traditional rug washing • Expert repairs • Restoration • Conservation • Custom cut non-slip underlay • Moth repellent
Unit 24-315 Archerfield Road, Richlands Qld 4077
Phone: 07 3375 9896 Email: stephen@rugwashqueensland.com.au www.rugwashqueensland.com.au
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BIRKDALE
F.J.MOLE – SILVERSMITHS
celebrating a centenary of service .J.Mole – Silversmiths commenced operations in Brisbane in 1913 across the whole spectrum of silversmithing and the skills developed within the company over a period of 100 years of continuous manufacture have resulted in its tradesmen being able to repair just about anything made of metal, using traditional methods and tooling. Today most of the work of F.J.Mole – Silversmiths involves the repair of antique metal ware, repairing everything from antique cast iron garden furniture to sterling silver teapots.
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CUSTOMISED CHURCH WARE A SPECIALTY For a period of time, from the 1920s through to the 1980s, F.J.Mole – Silversmiths specialised in ecclesiastical metal ware, manufacturing and undertaking repairs until declining demand from Churches resulted in the company once again broadening its customer base to encompass all areas of silversmithing. However, whilst church ware manufacture may have declined significantly, F.J.Mole prides itself in maintaining a dominant position within the Australian silversmithing trade as manufacturers of customised church ware.
SPECIAL COMMISSIONS One recent commission was to design and manufacture a wall mounted sanctuary lamp utilising a trident shell that had special significance to the parishioners who were donating the lamp. As with any commissioned work, the first step was to understand the
purpose of the piece and the requirements of those commissioning the work. In this instance the lamp was to be mounted on the front wall of the church with the light internally mounted within the shell. At the time of installation a power cord would be required with provision to enable hard-wiring through the wall in the future. After examining the shell we proposed a simple design incorporating a cross mounted on top of the shell and a brass mount to attach the bottom of the shell. To facilitate an understanding of the design the shell was photographed and the design overlaid on this picture. An important criteria with an F.J.Mole design is that the item must be able to be easily restored if necessary at some stage in
the future. Hence components are designed to be separated and capable of being polished and repaired without creating the need to remake any pieces. We see these works as permanent additions to the church and take this factor into consideration at both design and manufacture stages. The shell sanctuary lamp was completed and has been mounted in the church. It includes an engraved brass plaque recognising the parishioners who provided the funds for the work.
INTERESTING RESTORATION PROJECT
F.J.MOLE – SILVERSMITHS EST. 1913
Also trading as Silversmiths and Platers F.J.Mole Silversmiths celebrating 100 years of silversmithing in Brisbane in 2013. Manufacturers and Restorers of Silverware, Trophies and Churchware SPECIALIST RESTORERS OF ANTIQUE METALWARE Sterling Silver items • Brass and Copper Wares Pewter • Bronze and Spelter figures • Silverplated items BRASS AND IRON BEDS RESTORED AND FOR SALE
Free Pickup and Delivery throughout Brisbane and the Gold Coast region or make an appointment to visit our Birkdale workshop
Please see www.silversmithsandplaters.com.au for details Phone 07 3822 8563 • Mobile 0419 700 069 sales@silversmithsandplaters.com.au Mail Orders welcome to PO Box 3320, Birkdale QLD 4159
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Another interesting commission was to restore two bells and manufacture stands to hold them. One of the bells was the original ‘hair brushing’ bell in the boarding house of a prestigious Queensland school. The bell was rung in the evening to alert the girls to commence brushing their hair, and again to signify that hair brushing time was over. The original tongue from one of the bells was missing, and holes had been drilled into the bell. We manufactured a tongue to match the one in the other bell and filled the holes with brass plugs alloyed to match the original metal colour. The stands were to be matching and we proposed a design in silky oak, dark stained, which would be able to be carried by students for ringing at special events. We found lovely old silky oak table legs from a damaged table and turned them down to an appropriate size for the stands we were making. The remaining parts required for the stands were made from an old sideboard and the remains of the damaged table. To tie the stands to the bells we provided brass mounts including feet and finials and brass plaques for engraving. To complete the stands we hung tassels in the school colours from the tongues of the bells, to be used to ring them.
IN THE F.J.MOLE COLLECTION Often we are asked about things that we like to collect. Our collection of antiques is fairly eclectic with, understandably, a bias towards items made of metal. Most weekends will find us wandering around swap meets, antique shops or markets looking for spare parts for jobs or anything that catches the eye. One recent purchase from a Sunday flea
market was a large spelter sculpture of two dogs attacking a deer, mounted on a wooden base. The piece was in poor condition. The antlers, tails and some of the legs had been snapped off. Pieces had been glued together, and some well-meaning person has spray painted it. Nonetheless, we appreciated the work for what it is – a huge late Victorian spelter with a high level of detail. We have commenced repairs and restoration, after which it will occupy a place in our collection.
MORE WORKSHOP ADDITIONS To complete the additions to our casting set-up, we have now installed a melting furnace to be used alongside our new kiln when we undertake lost wax casting. With a capacity of 11 kilograms, we can now evenly melt metal quickly and efficiently as part of the casting process. In addition we have upgraded our spare parts storage, enabling quicker access to the thousands of bits and pieces we keep in stock. For example, we have over 500 decorative rosettes, 200 porcelains, hundreds of casters and knobs for old beds. Our new storage has allowed us to consolidate all of these parts into one area, making it easier to supply parts to customers.
ONLINE INTEREST IN HISTORY Since our last article in Antique & Arts in Queensland, we have been overwhelmed by the response to our request for information as we compile our online history of F.J.Mole – Silversmiths in this, our 100th year of operation. We are still working through all of the information we have received. However, although there is an October deadline looming, we still welcome any further contributions from readers. Our aim is to compile a comprehensive history not only of the items manufactured by the company but also a history of what it was like to operate a small business in Brisbane over the past 100 years, and the impacts of various events on the history of the company. F.J.MOLE – SILVERSMITHS 07 3822 8563 / 0419 700 069 sales@silversmithsandplaters.com.au
KILKIVAN
CLOSING DOWN SALE 30% OFF ALL STOCK Regrettably Kilkivan Fine Arts and Antiques are closing down. All stock must be sold so come along and purchase a bargain
| FURNITURE | PAINTINGS | JEWELLERY | CHINA AND COLLECTABLES There are many pieces of Royal Worcester, Royal Albert, Moorcroft, Mary Gregory, Royal Doulton and others
OPEN THURSDAY TO SUNDAY FROM 10AM TO 5PM
PRESENT THIS COUPON IN STORE AND RECEIVE A FURTHER 10% OFF THE DISCOUNTED PRICE
✄
OCK T S L L OFF A % 0 3 N SALE W O D NG CLOSI
OPEN Thursday to Sunday 10 am to 5 pm 6 Bligh Street, Kilkivan, Queensland 4600 Ph: 07 5484 1602 Fax: 07 5484 1603 Email: info@kfaa.com.au Website: www.kfaa.com.au Antiques and
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The regeneration of ROGER SALT’S AT CROWS NEST he Salt family has traded continuously from its Crows Nest store since 1980. During this time the late Roy Salt (Salt’s Antiques) traded from 1980 to 1993 and, thereafter, Roger and Steven Salt traded under their own names in the building which had now become affectionately known as ‘Salt’s’. More recently Steven Salt relocated to the Staging Post Inn in Esk where he still continues to trade. Roger Salt, who took over the entire floor space at the Crows Nest store, welcomed his father back (Salt’s Antiques) to join with him in an independent section of the store in 2009. With Roy’s passing in 2011, his wife Valerie and daughter Jane continued trading in this store until they ran a Salt’s Antiques closing down sale. This section has now been totally wound up. The original and entire building is now run once again by Roger and his wife Natasha, who are moving forward in a strong and passionate manner. The store at Crows Nest is being repainted and undergoing a cosmetic regeneration and will now trade under the name Roger Salt, Antique Furniture Specialist, International Importer.
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SECOND GENERATION OF SALT’S ANTIQUES Being a true Salt and a second generation antique dealer, I will continue to offer the largest antiques emporium of the Darling Downs, as I have for 20 years. The store currently boasts more stock on hand than I ever remember seeing in the building and we always offer customers friendly and helpful advice when purchasing as well as being able to arrange to have goods delivered anywhere. My background revolves around an entire lifetime of interest and involvement in the antique trade business. From my time in a pram I have sat in antique stores and warehouses. As a toddler I played in the back rooms of shops my father Roy owned. At the age of seven, my family immigrated to Australia from England, to antique deal ‘at the other end’. Our time was consumed around warehouses, antique fairs and shops.
MEMORIES, MECCANO & MILITARIA Having been brought up around these antique stores and fairs as well as auction houses gave me a valuable working knowledge of antiques and trading. Conventional schooling may have
suffered – but I didn’t mind! By the time my school days were over I had already spent much of my youth on buying trips, having flown to the UK 20-plus times. As my father Roy always encouraged me to save and collect things, while I was there I started collecting steam engines and Meccano. Later I moved onto collecting a wide variety of militaria. My fondest memories are when I would scavenge the bottom shelves of stores we visited for old gas masks and army helmets at a couple of pounds each. At the age of 20 I became a sole trader, importing containers of antiques myself from around the globe. During this time I met my wife Natasha, became a Principal Licensee Auctioneer and a Principal Licensee Motor Dealer. Now with Natasha, who is heavily involved in the business, and our son Judah, we go on overseas buying trips together. It hasn’t always been easy; we have had our share of roughing it as well as selling pieces we would have liked to have kept.
MAGNITUDE OF STOCK TO HAND I want to convey the magnitude of stock I carry and the best way I can do so is to take a stroll through my own store. I’ve counted Victorian and Edwardian hallstands – 20 in
total; Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian bureaux, and bureau bookcases: there are 49 in mahogany, oak or walnut. I’ve heard that roll top desks are scarce, there’s only 10 to choose from! And if you fancy a pretty china cabinet there is 56 in mahogany or oak dating from 1900 to the 1930s. Of the large Victorian chests of drawers – the sort that short people can't see inside the top one – there are 19 sets. Dining tables from 4 to 12 seaters, we have 36 and there is no shortage of sets of chairs, with more than two dozen good sets. Maybe you need a big Victorian or Edwardian mirror back sideboard? Pick from 33 or the low back type, I must have 50 or more of these. We also have cocktail cabinets, corner units, church pews, blanket boxes, washstands, hall chairs, tea trolleys, bedsides, dressing tables, wardrobes, occasional tables, parlour chairs and, I almost forgot, 56 gate leg tables. There is a wealth of everything else you would expect to find in any good antique store. As our impressive Edwardian building houses all of these goods with over a kilometre of rows of stock, be sure to give yourself plenty of time to browse, and I want to remind you that we are very approachable and I like to do deals… Our store is open Wednesday to Sunday, 9 am to 4 pm but I suggest to those who are travelling from afar – in case of any unforeseen closure – to ring ahead to save any disappointment. ROGER SALT ANTIQUE FURNITURE SPECIALIST INTERNATIONAL IMPORTER 07 4698 1266 / 0438 469 812 rogersalt@bigpond.com
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CROWS NEST
RO G E R S A LT A N T I Q U E F U R N I T U R E S P E C I A L I S T I N T E R N AT I O N A L I M P O R T E R Wed to Sun 9am – 4pm Please ring first 1 Thallon St Crows Nest QLD 4355
Phone 07 4698 1266 Mobile 0438 469 812 E rogersalt@bigpond.com
S TILL THE BIGGES T AND BES T ON THE DOWNS
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TOOWOOMBA
LANCASTER’S TOOWOOMBA ANTIQUE CENTRE
17 years old and going strong L ancaster’s Toowoomba Antique Centre is now celebrating its 17th anniversary. Located in Queensland’s garden city, nestled on the Great Dividing Range, Toowoomba is one of Australia’s leading centres for antiques and is home to more than a dozen antique shops. Lancaster’s Antique Centre is a must see when visiting the Darling Downs. After 17 years of trading from their Railway Street address, Lancaster’s has never been more progressive. The Christison family have owned and operated the antique centre since June 2002 when Jan and Barrie purchased the business from Graham and Gary Lancaster, the original owners who traded for the first five years. Since then, Jan and Barrie’s daughter, Sharon, and her team have successfully managed and orchestrated the workings of this bustling centre. Located opposite the historic Toowoomba Railway Station, it is easily reached from Brisbane or the Gold Coast, both less than an hour and a half away. Lancaster’s has certainly come of age and is regarded as one of the leading Australian antique centres with 14 dealers displaying their wares; a showcase for the best of what southeast Queensland has to offer. Toowoomba, the gateway to the golden west, has always boasted a relatively large and wealthy population. This is reflected in the quality antiques and collectables this city continually yields. Whether you are looking for Australian furniture, cedar, pine or silky oak, or even that
one-off piece in English oak or mahogany – Lancaster’s always has an excellent range to choose from. But the real ‘jewel in the crown’ of this centre is the myriad of showcases and cabinets housing thousands of small antiques and collectables. There is fine china, quality glassware, jewellery, sewing paraphernalia, blokey stuff, metal ware, coins, medals, militaria, books, ephemera, toys, dolls, teddies, pottery, the list goes on. Whether you are an established collector, a beginner or just a browser, you are sure to enjoy the enormous range. There is a definite leaning to Australian and locally found pieces, a trend that has emerged and replaced the shiploads of antiques imported in the 1980s and 1990s. Lancaster’s is always buying and paying top prices for antiques and collectables. Whether you are a local or a visitor to Toowoomba, appraisals and valuations are most welcome. Lancaster’s is open seven days a week, 10 am to 5 pm. Come and enjoy the huge range and fantastic display. LANCASTER’S TOOWOOMBA ANTIQUE CENTRE 07 4632 1830
Lancaster’s
TO OWO O M B A
ANTIQUE
CENTRE
Australiana, Books, Collectables, Dolls, Ephemera, Furniture, Glassware, Hatpins, Inkwells, Jewellery, Kitchenalia, Linen, Metalware, Noritake, Oriental, Pears prints, Qld pottery, Royalty ware, Shelley, Toys, Unique pieces, Venetian glass, Wembley Ware, Xylonite,Yo-yos and Zithers
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With 14 specialist dealers under one roof, we carry a full range, from A–Z, of antique and collectables, with fresh stock arriving daily. Drop in for a browse, or chat with our friendly staff.
OPEN 7 DAYS 10 am - 5 pm
3 Railway St,Toowoomba Queensland 4350 Phone: 07 4632 1830 Mob: 0403 372 054
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TOOWOOMBA
Graham Lancaster Auctions
We are now accepting Quality Collections & Single Items for our Forthcoming Sales
3 Railway Street TOOWOOMBA QLD 4350
Ph: 0418 730 904 Email: info@gdlauctions.com
Colour Catalogues are available @ $15.00 each
View Catalogue & Photos One Month Prior to Each Sale: www.gdlauctions.com.au
Make Cheque/Money Order payable to G. Lancaster
Fax: 07 4613 1111
Presents A Major Australiana, Pottery & Glassware
AUCTION Sunday 28th April 2012 View 8:00am, Sale 9:30am Including a Quality Collection of Kerosene Lamps, Antique Ceramics & Glass, Aboriginal King Plates and More From the Collections of: Ronald & the Late Ces Thompson & Other Vendors
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TOOWOOMBA
Victorian lady design
Porcelain numbering
Short squat blue porcelains
The magic and beauty of BRASS BED PORCELAINS I ron beds were new inventions in the early 1800s and in time artisans introduced brass to their original iron designs. Gradually designs became grander by adding porcelain, mirror and mother-of-pearl decorative features. Almost 200 years later they still capture the heart and imagination of many. In the years since they have been recreated and reproduced but whilst there have been good quality reproductions, they will never meet the quality of hand workmanship of the original brass and iron beds from the pre 1930s. The invention of the internet has allowed access to a vast amount of information to help us research almost anything, including brass beds. However, we are always concerned
about claims to being antique against modern reproductions. To earn the title of antique, technically the item needs to be over 100 years old. However items from the 1930s/1940s appear as such.
BUYER BEWARE Our particular concern is the resale of the decorative brass bed porcelains. Many a time we have seen cheap reproductions being described as beautiful antique brass bed china pieces or porcelains and many unsuspecting buyers have purchased under the belief this is true. On several occasions we have contacted the seller advising them of their mistake and they have amended the description, advising
TIMELESS
Antiques
Mark & Lynne Bennett
us they were also of the belief these were original porcelains.
IDENTIFYING ORIGINAL BRASS BED PORCELAINS
Whilst there are many convincing reproductions of almost everything these days, there is a vast and obvious difference when comparing original porcelains to reproductions. The main difference is the weight of the porcelain. Original porcelains were solid with only a round hole measuring approximately 16 mm through the centre for the threaded rod to be fed through. Then brass/nickel porcelain holders were placed on either end before being fitted into the brass bed. In comparison, cheaper reproductions are lightweight and have a very thin ceramic frame with a very large centre cavity hole. Next is the way they were decorated. Original porcelains were hand-painted and often you are able to feel the raised surface where colour areas have been highlighted by accentuating the paint colour and one of the best signs is that each porcelain had a serial number painted on the bottom of each one. Whereas reproductions usually have a mass produced decal style picture.
Our knowledge has been gained over 30 years of specialising in antique brass beds and our exposure to all types of brass beds in all types of conditions. We have seen dozens of original porcelains in all shapes, and sizes. From odd singles to complete sets; the variety of colours and patterns is a joyful part of the trade. They are part of what makes an original antique porcelain bed – a beautiful family heirloom. We would like to be able to catalogue as many of these porcelain bed features as we can, but a picture paints a thousand words, so we will let the accompanying photo images tell their own story. We would love to have readers email us with photos of their own porcelain or medallion centre, together with a photograph of the top or bottom with the number. This will then help us to collate all the threads of information and write another article based on what we receive. We look forward to receiving your emailed comments soon and making this an interactive collaboration. Mark and Lynne Bennett TIMELESS ANTIQUES 07 4633 1195 / 0412 071 160 timeantq@bigpond.net.au www.timelessantiques.com.au
Specialists in Original Brass Bed Restorations
Phone: 07 4633 1195 Mobile: 0412 071 160 117-119 McDougall St Toowoomba QLD 4350 Lots of designs
Email: timeantq@bigpond.net.au www.timelessantiques.com.au
Taking care of furniture for generations of tomorrow Brass bed centres
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Faith and Freedom design
IPSWICH
IPSWICH ART GALLERY
The faces of Ipswich up close in a portrait exhibition 20 April – 2 June ho are the faces of Ipswich?’It is a question bound to spark debate about likely contenders
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and their merits. Photojournalist Rob Williams has joined the conversation with his debut exhibition Faces of Ipswich which opens at the Ipswich Art Gallery on 20 April. Rob knows people’s views will be divided. ‘I’m sure there will be plenty of debate about the faces selected for my exhibition’, Williams said. ‘Opinions will be varied regarding whose faces should grace the walls of the Ipswich Art Gallery and there are plenty of people who have done great things that haven't been included’. Rob Williams moved to Ipswich eight years ago and said Faces of Ipswich came from ‘a love of photographing people’ and the interesting stories his subjects could tell. ‘I met many of the people featured in the exhibition through my work as chief photographer for the Queensland Times’, he said. ‘They have either made Ipswich what it is today or made their name in Ipswich before moving on to bigger things. They all love Ipswich and will do anything they can for the town’. Faces of Ipswich features large-scale, colour portraits of current and former locals from a variety of fields including sport, business, politics and advocacy. The photographs were taken at extreme close range to achieve the
artist’s aim of showing people ‘as they really are.’ ‘So often you will see a familiar person and they are always smiling in a cheesy fashion towards the camera however I wanted this project to be different’, Rob Williams said. ‘There are no smiles and no real emotion and the images show every feature on the subject’s face; a real close-up view with every wrinkle and crease telling a story about this person's life without the distraction of a smile. The effect was achieved by using a macro lens which shows amazing detail when used as a portrait lens’.
memorable moments as a photographer in my day job but this exhibition would have to be the highlight for me. Most of the people featured came into my own little house, to have me take their photograph, which is absolutely mind-blowing really’. For more information about the exhibition contact IPSWICH ART GALLERY 07 3810 7222 info@ipswichartgallery.qld.gov.au www.ipswichartgallery.qld.gov.au
Williams said there were times when his living room resembled a waiting room of the ‘who’s who’ of Ipswich. ‘I have plenty of Antiques and
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J.M.W. Turner, Venice, the Bridge of Sighs, exhibited 1840. Photo © Tate, 2013
J.M.W. Turner, Peace – Burial at Sea, exhibited 1842. Photo © Tate, 2013
J.M.W. Turner, A Disaster at Sea, c. 1835. Photo © Tate, 2013
AT THE NATIONAL GALLERY OF AUSTRALIA
Tate’s Turners: an unrivalled collection 1 JUNE – 8 SEPTEMBER oseph Mallord William Turner was born in London in 1775, during the reign of George III. He came from humble origins, his father working as a hairdresser in Covent Garden. By the end of Turner’s life – he died in Victorian times, in the year of the Great Exhibition in 1851 – he was famous, even infamous, for his transformation of the art of painting. Now he is known as one of Britain’s greatest artists, a key figure of the Romantic generation, and is celebrated as a pioneer of modern painting, his work much admired for its experimental character. This year the National Gallery of Australia is to host 40 of Turner’s oil paintings as well as 70 drawings and watercolours. Almost all are from the unrivalled collection held in trust by the Tate for the British nation. The Tate holds the largest collection of Turner’s works in the world because of his bequest to the nation. It was originally limited to finished paintings exhibited in his lifetime, many of which the artist retained or reacquired with a view to his legacy. The settlement of Turner’s will in 1856 – after the gift was contested by his family – meant these works were supplemented by the contents of his house and studio.
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A PRODIGY OF THE TIME Turner from the Tate: The Making of a Master reflects the diversity of the Tate’s unique collection. It provides a comprehensive overview of Turner and his artistic development, offering extraordinary insights
J.M.W. Turner, Regulus, 1828, reworked 1837. Photo © Tate, 2013
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into his working life and practices. Seen as a prodigy, Turner enrolled at the Royal Academy at the age of 14 and was introduced to possible patrons and fellow artists such as the great portraitist Sir Joshua Reynolds (1723-1792). Several of Turner’s student figure studies and sketchbooks are included in the exhibition. Also on show in Canberra are ambitious early oils such as landscapes of northern England and the Lake District, featuring hills, rocks, water and other natural elements used to convey moods and emotions. Turner was rightly renowned as a great watercolour painter, and many of his commissioned works were studies for portfolios of engravings. Scarborough, c. 1825, a preparatory sketch for Ports of England 1826–1828 watercolours, is filled with glowing light, showing his beloved English coast and people’s lives harvesting the sea’s bounty under the rocky domain of Scarborough Castle. Included in the exhibition are dramatic Romantic events such as The fall of an avalanche in the Grisons exhibited in 1810. Turner, who had visited this region of the Swiss Alps in 1802, reshaped his memories in the light of press reports of a tragic storm of 1808, in which 25 people died. Through the power of his imagining, we become witnesses to the pitiless force of nature. The avalanche smashes puny human artefacts such as the small hut surrounded by churning snow and rocks under relentless wind and rain.
THE ENGLISH CLAUDE LORRAIN Elsewhere in the exhibition are the fruits of Turner’s greatest ambition: he wanted to be regarded as heir to the European Classical landscape tradition, to become the ‘English Claude’. He was familiar with the works of Claude Lorrain (1600-1682) through private collections and aspired to travel to Italy during the long decades when Britain was mainly cut off from the Continent by the Napoleonic Wars of 1792 to 1815. He finally reached Italy in 1819, and his canvases blazed with the cerulean blue of Mediterranean skies. He essayed history paintings with heroic or poetic themes, idyllic pastorals and atmospheric, light-filled glimpses of nature’s most beautiful ephemeral effects. Turner travelled widely in Europe in the 1820s and 1830s, to France, Germany and Switzerland. Lake Lucerne was a particular favourite, and he made thousands of drawings on his journeys. He could make eight or nine pencil sketches in the time it took to make one colour study. He almost never painted in oils en plein air, and rarely in watercolour, waiting until his return to his studio to execute his paintings. Famously, his addition of layers of paint on ‘varnishing day’ at the Royal Academy was seen as a bravura attempt to outdo all the other artists. Unlike many of his landscapes, the exact location of Sun setting over a lake, c. 1840 has not been identified. It is thought to be a recollection of a sunset at Lake Lucerne. The
J.M.W. Turner, The Fall of an Avalanche in the Grisons, exhibited 1810. Photo © Tate, 2013
Engraved by W. Holl, Portrait of Turner, published 1859-61. Photo © Tate, 2013
sun’s burning orange rays reverberate over water and sky, spreading golden yellow light into the distance. The whiteness of the clouds and land suggests snow-capped mountains, while the texture of the paint surrounds us until we almost drown in its effect of shimmering beauty. Turner’s skill, obsessions and range of subjects can be seen in this extraordinary exhibition derived from the best and most comprehensive collection of his art. It showcases his genius on paper and canvas, ranging from tiny sketches to gigantic oil paintings that demonstrate brilliantly how a master was made. Christine Dixon Senior Curator International Painting and Sculpture NATIONAL GALLERY OF AUSTRALIA 02 6240 6411 http://nga.gov.au First published in Artonview no 73 © National Gallery of Australia, Canberra, 2011
J.M.W. Turner, Waves Breaking on a Lee Shore at Margate (Study for Rockets and Blue Lights), c. 1840. Photo © Tate, 2013
CANBERRA
TURNER FROM THE TATE
THE MAKING OF A MASTER
PRESENTING PARTNERS
MAJOR PARTNER
ORGANISED BY
SUPPORTING PARTNER
JMW Turner Regulus 1828 (detail), reworked 1837, Tate, London, accepted by the nation as part of the Turner Bequest, 1856. Photograph © Tate, 2013
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Dull table
Pre-treatment with Restor-A-Finish
Maintaining the high-gloss look ON MODERN AND TRADITIONAL FURNITURE urniture surfaces featuring a high shine have been popular down through the ages. Although a large number of people have been experimenting with matte or low-sheen finishes since the 1980s, many have found that these surfaces are very difficult to maintain as it is almost impossible to find waxes or cleaners that will work on such surfaces. The high gloss look has returned in a big way which can be seen in new-look kitchen surfaces right through to recently designed tables and chairs. When dealing with these super hard and glossy finishes, firstly clean away any dust or build-up with Howard Wood
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Cleaner & Polish, which is perfect for dusting, cleaning and polishing modern surfaces. Then, using a soft T-shirt like material, apply Howard one-step Restor-A-Shine to polish the surface to an amazing high shine. It may take a little extra elbow grease and if any residue remains, it can be easily polished away with a little more Wood Cleaner & Polish. Both the Restor-A-Shine and the Wood Cleaner & Polish are non-chemical and non-toxic. In this article I describe the ‘one-step solution’ then touch on the need for combining Restor-A-Shine and Restor-AFinish when dealing with antique or retro furniture surfaces.
ONE-STEP SOLUTION Restor-A-Shine was originally designed by the technical team at Howard Products to achieve French polish-style sheen on traditionally shellacked surfaces. Originally it came in two separate containers, one called Polishing Compound and the other called Burnishing Cream. These products worked amazingly well but needing two products to get the right finish was a bit too complicated and a tad too costly for some. That situation has now changed with the introduction of One Step Restor-A-Shine Polishing Compound – and it is truly amazing!
This new one-step compound has been created for both single and two pack polyurethane surfaces. To demonstrate, I located a very dull and damaged laminated wood dining table which would have originally been presented in the 1990s with a glossy finish. See pictures at top of the page.
THE PROCESS
A new lease on life for your faded furniture
Two indispensable products for anyone owning or dealing with furniture...antique, Retro or modern. Howard Products have a focussed range of products for every aspect of furniture care
1 800 672 646 Find a stockist or buy online www.howardproducts.com.au 58
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The first step was to bring some colour back to the extremely hazy and lifeless surface by rubbing some Restor-A-Finish lightly onto the surface and going with the grain with saturated super soft steel wool as my applicator. • After wiping the surface completely dry I waited for a couple of hours before the next step. • I then applied the new one-step Restor-AShine by hard burnishing it into the finish using a soft, clean cloth. • Once this was done the shine was finessed by polishing out any residue or unevenness by using a little Wood Cleaner and Polish sprayed onto a cloth. The final result… brilliant! • By the way, it may be helpful to know that Restor-A-Shine renews the look of guitars, violins, high gloss pianos… and yes… floors. As far as I can tell, Restor-A-Shine is the only product of its kind on the market which does not contain silicone. My advice? Get some! David Foster Director HOWARD PRODUCTS (AUST) 1800 672 646 advice@howardproducts.com.au www.howardproducts.com.au
NEW SOUTH WALES
A REFLECTION IN TIME Finding Victoriana Arts & Literature in Sydney’s Queen Street Woollahra ewis Carroll did speak of many things in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland where his romanticism, observations of power, crime and punishment became entwined in the fantasy world of Alice down the rabbit hole. Today it is a children’s classic, like many of the classic works of Victorian writers including Charles Dickens, Rudyard Kipling, Louisa May Alcott and Mark Twain, who wove social justice within their children’s and adult books.
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SPREADING OF THE EMPIRE The Victorian era (1837-1901) saw the proliferation of many great literary and poetic works from writers such as George Eliot, Joseph Conrad, William Butler Yeats, Emily and Charlotte Bronte, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Robert Browning, Thomas Hardy and Oscar Wilde. It was a time where artists explored classicism, neoclassicism, romanticism and impressionism, inspiring the works of such luminaries as Rossetti, Holman Hunt, BurneJones, Leighton, Poynter, Watts and Waterhouse. The power and affluence of the Industrial Revolution, technological change and urbanisation, marked the dramatic rise of an increasingly powerful middle class, unleashing dynamic movements of social justice and search for knowledge – suffragette, anti-slavery, rights of children, challenges to class structure, the vote, the origins of life with Darwinism. During the Victorian era, British culture, science, philosophy and trade spread across the globe. More than 25 per cent of the population were under British rule during this time where – ‘The sun never sets on the British Empire’.
PUBLIC FIGURES DRAWN TO WOOLLAHRA Over in the far flung colony of New South Wales, the Sydney suburb of Woollahra was established in 1856 during Queen Victoria’s reign. An Aboriginal word meaning camp, meeting ground or a sitting down place, Woollahra, combined with Queen Street, was named in honour of Queen Victoria in 1880. Today, Woollahra-Paddington has the largest expanse of Victoriana architecture in the Southern Hemisphere. Australian poet Banjo Patterson, opera singer Dame Joan Sutherland, former Prime Minister Paul Keating, media personality John Laws, Australia’s first philosopher Barzillai Quaife and his son Dr Frederick Harrison Quaife who brought the first x-ray to the colony and built Queen Street’s historic hotel The Hughenden as well as actors, artists and writers are part of the history of life in Queen Street, Woollahra and surrounds.
FAMOUS RESIDENTS Of special note, famed winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature who lived in the area, Patrick White, had his ashes scattered in Centennial Parklands. Another famous literary figure associated with Centennial Parklands is Charles Dickens whose statue resides there. Only this statue and another in Philadelphia, USA, exist in the world although Dickens requested that there be no monument or memorial to him. The Australian statue was commissioned by Sir Henry Parkes in 1889 and installed in the Parklands in 1891. A great celebration was held for the 200th birthday of Charles Dickens in Queen Street, Woollahra on 12 February 2012.
The exquisite kalaga enhances the foyer with its gold and silver thread, sequins and beading. A reminder of British exploration to South East Asia, weaves Buddhism’s Jataka tales and the Hindu epic Ramaya into the tapestry. The fine materials came from trade with British merchants which were hand worked by the local people of Myanmar (Burma). The art exhibited in the Reading Room includes the works of Academy Award winning filmmaker, artist and illustrator Shaun Tan, illustrator, painter and designer Pixie O’Harris (the aunt of well-known Australian painter and entertainer Rolf Harris), multi award winning illustrators Donna Rawlins, Sarah Davis, Nina
Rycroft, Anna Pignataro and Cathy Wilcox. Children’s literature and the arts are integral to heritage and life of The Hughenden, home of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators Australia and New Zealand (SCBWI). Wandering along this Victorian-era street with its wrought iron terraces, tea houses and galleries with a literary and artistic respite at The Hughenden, is one of its quiet pleasures. Susanne Gervay THE HUGHENDEN Freecall 1800 642 432 reservations@thehughenden.com.au www.thehughenden.com.au
ARCHITECTURAL HIGHLIGHTS Queen Street has retained the heritage of the past while embracing the intellectual, creative and commercial pursuit of new ideas. Victor Churchill - Fine Family Butcher (est. 1876), is a visit into Victoriana with a modern day experience of innovative meats, cuts, demonstrations and processes. Wandering past the gracious home of former Prime Minister of Australia Paul Keating, St Kevin’s at 117 Queen Street, Woollahra is an experience in restored Victorian heritage. The house was built in 1892-93 for Dr Patrick Collins to the designs of John Bede Barlow and is the only known building by this architect surviving unaltered. It was restored in the 1970s by Leo Schofield. The sprawling property at 115 Queen Street, known as Vine Cottage, was the Sydney home of Joan Sutherland during her formative years from 1932 to 1951. The house belonged to her aunt and uncle who, following the death of Joan’s father, took in six-year-old Joan, her mother and sister. The original house was a single-storey sandstone cottage built between 1856 and 1863, with a second storey added around 1891 by Richard Alston, Joan’s grandfather.
THE HUGHENDEN: A REPOSITORY FOR THE ARTS At the gateway to Queen Street is The Hughenden Boutique Hotel. Entering this Victorian mansion captures the spirit of the creative life today. There is an eclectic mix of art in the Victorian rooms including Archibald winner Wendy Sharpe’s small self-portrait, Laurent’s 1930s classic nouveau women, portrait of a young Victorian girl, circa 1850s, artist unknown, comedian Barry Humphreys by portrait artist Jules Sevelson, Stephen James’ imposing portraits of renowned Australian author Amanda Lohrey and Director of the Brandenburg Orchestra Paul Dwyer hang on the walls of the grand staircase.
Your boutique Sydney escape • LITERARY EVENTS • ART EXHIBITIONS • RESTAURANT, PRIVATE DINING, CONFERENCE & FUNCTION ROOMS
FROM
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PER NIGHT IN A COSY ROOM
The Hughenden c. 1870, associated with Australia’s first philosopher Barzillai Quaife, is home to literature & the arts. Discover the works of Archibald artist Wendy Sharpe; 1930s Laurent works; c. 1850 painting of the Victorian girl, artist unknown. Jazz & musical evenings, art exhibitions and books are part of Hughenden life.
HUGHENDEN BOUTIQUE HOTEL 14 Queen Street, Woollahra, Sydney
www.thehughenden.com.au 02 9363 4863
facebook.com/thehughenden Antiques and
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NEW SOUTH WALES
ART GILDING BRINGS
you the Midas touch promise ‘It is our passion to pass on our considerable skills to anyone who wishes to learn this age old craft of gilding.’ ave you ever wished to have the skills to apply gold and silver leaf to your furniture, frames, and artwork? Or embellish your cornices, columns, walls and ceilings with metal leaf? Work for yourself from home at your own pace? Master gilder Karl Eggert can make your dream come true – and you need no prior knowledge of gilding. In the past, this ancient craft with all its secrets was passed from father to son. But in 1999, Karl Eggert, together with his wife Brigitte, founded a unique teaching establishment to make the wonderful craft of gilding available to anybody who wants to learn in Australia. Learning the art of framing and church restoration in Germany from master gilders, Karl has a broad knowledge and more than 45 years’ experience in gilding. This knowledge
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and experience is reflected in his teaching program at the Art Gilding Academy. Class sizes are kept to a maximum of six students to ensure the best learning experience.
MASTER GILDING CLASS BUILD YOUR OWN BUSINESS AND WORK FROM HOME The Professional Master Gilding class is fully hands on and runs over a nine day period, starting Saturday and finishing on the following Sunday, from 10 am to 4 pm daily. During these nine days, students learn more than they could in a three-year apprenticeship. We provide a relaxed and fun atmosphere and attendees are always like-minded people.)
SMALL CLASSES For the benefit of students classes are restricted to a maximum of four students, guaranteeing personal attention. Completing the Master Gilding training course allows students to add skills to their chosen profession and offers the freedom to build up a business and work from home. On completion of the professional Master Gilding Class, students receive a certificate.
HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE FOR STUDENTS Master Class students are invited to join the Art Gilding team on our many outside commissions. Translating theory to practice under the watchful eyes of experts is a
Gilded French clock
valuable learning experience for students as they apply their newly learned skills to practical situations. This is a win/win situation for everybody.
GOLDFINGER CLUB We cannot teach you ‘experience’, but being a member in our Goldfinger Club will give you the support to tackle every project with confidence. We have a policy of full commitment to assist members of the club to build their ‘very own golden dream.’ For those who’ve completed one of our gilding courses, this free ongoing advice for any project is supported through phone and email. In addition generous discounts of 1020% are available on all materials and supplies.
WEEKEND CLASSES Sydney: Sat/Sun 10 am – 4 pm This class has been especially designed for people unable to attend week-day classes and is held once a month. We know how difficult it is for small business owners to find time during the week, so our intensive weekend class may suit you perfectly. The classes run from 10 am – 4 pm Saturday and Sunday and participants are taught, step-by-step, gilding techniques that are applied to furniture, picture frames and mirrors, cornices and even walls. The weekend class is very reasonably priced at $795. This includes the project – an Egyptian plaque (value $345), flat boards and a canvas – and all tuition and materials. Students are able to purchase materials on completion of class. In certain circumstances this fee could be claimed as a tax deduction. Those able to benefit by acquiring this skill include artists, painters, framers, restorers and French polishers; in fact, anyone who wants to add new skills and a new source of profit to their business. In 1999, Karl Eggert, together with his wife Brigitte, founded a unique teaching
Golden Opportunity Learn gilding the easy way No prior knowledge nessary
MASTER GILDING CLASS Professional course over 9 days straight GOLDEN WEEKEND Sat & Sun 10 am – 4 pm
Only 6 places per class
Master Gilding class 2012
For friendly advice and to check availability Call Brigitte on 02 9310 3007
Art Gilding Academy 99-101 Buckingham St Surry Hills NSW 2010 (5 minute walk to Central Station)
Watch the gilding video on our website
www.artgilding.com.au Carl working on a church restoration project
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Brigitte with the weekend class project
establishment to make the wonderful craft of gilding available to anybody who wants to learn in Australia. Learning in Germany from master gilders the art of framing and church restoration, Karl has a broad knowledge and more than 46 years’ experience in gilding. This knowledge and experience is reflected in his teaching program at the Art Gilding Academy. Class sizes are kept to a maximum of four students to ensure the best learning experience. Art Gilding is based in Sydney and today’s readily available cheap air fares create a ‘golden’ opportunity to combine a weekend away or holiday with learning the art of gilding. We can recommend quality accommodation close by from $35 per night. For students wanting to stay longer, I have arranged a special low rate in a lodge nearby, two minutes walk from the academy.
Please check our homepage for the video on gilding a plaque and details about our 2013 class schedule. For more information contact Brigitte at ART GILDING ACADEMY 02 9310 3007 artgilding@artgilding.com.au www.artgilding.com.au
VICTORIA
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ORIENTAL ANTIQUE GALLERY WELCOMES
showroom and browse through our extensive range of traditional Chinese furniture. Here you will find furniture that evokes the timelessness of fine antiques combined with contemporary convenience, creating the perfect blend of East meets West.
collectors and purveyors of fine furniture to their new Brisbane store
For more details contact Phillip Guan ORIENTAL ANTIQUE GALLERY phillip_kwan@hotmail.com 07 3257 3889
riental Antique Gallery, a family business, was established in 1997 and is a specialist importer of Chinese furniture. The first store was in Armadale, Victoria, and from there the business grew, opening showrooms in New South Wales and Queensland. Our exclusive antiques are sourced from all parts of China including major cities such as Shanghai and Beijing, and outer provinces such as Ningbo, Shanxi, Mongolia and Tibet. Each piece is hand selected with particular attention to its design, character and quality. Our stores carry a wide range of Chinese furniture, from antique and restored pieces to custom designed items with new shipments coming from China every eight to ten weeks.
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TRADITIONAL DESIGNS ADAPT WELL TO CONTEMPORARY SETTINGS Qing period (1644-1912) furniture is a popular choice for enhancing homes, offices and public buildings. The designs – including lacquered, natural finish, carved and painted exterior scenes – are easily adapted to a
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multitude of uses. They come in a range of forms from wardrobes to trunks, chairs, tables and desks. If looking for entertainment units, bedside tables, coffee tables, etc, we carry modern solid timber pieces specifically designed to meet these functions. To complete a room’s design there are ceramics, carved wood, stone and bronzes – wonderful accessories for that decorative element.
REVITALISING THE FAMILY BUSINESS From 2005 to 2009 Oriental Antique Gallery ran a very successful store in Newstead. After the shop’s closure Queensland customers patronised the NSW and Victorian shops for their oriental antiques and furniture. This continued support has led to Phillip Guan, brother-in-law of founder Wen Qing Li to re-open a showroom in Queensland, choosing a Brisbane location – 41 Brookes Street in Bowen Hill. The celebratory opening event attracted many registered customers to the store. We invite you to visit our Brisbane
Oriental Antique Gallery Fine Chinese Antique Furniture Porcelain and Bronze Pieces, Chinese Jade through the ages, Temple Statues, Decorative Objects
41 BROOKES STREET, BOWEN HILLS QLD T 07 3257 3889 F 07 3252 1889 SHOP 1, 479 PACIFIC HIGHWAY, CROWS NEST NSW T 02 9906 8588 F 02 9906 1788
OPEN: 10am – 5pm 7 DAYS email: phillip_kwan@hotmail.com www.orientalantiquegallery.com.au
482 Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley QLD 4006 - 07 3254 0404 - www.uniquefrance.com.au