FABRICS: for children

To complement The Story of Babar, these fabrics from my archive, designed for me by Eric Boman [now a successful photographer living in New York], will gladden the hearts of your small loved ones! 

ART: Motya Charioteer

I first saw this stunning statue of a charioteer when on loan to the Museum of Cycladic Art, Athens.  Sensuous and beautifully carved, I had planned to see it again at Mozia, a small island off the Sicilian coast*  The charioteer was at The British Museum during the Olympics this summer – any news of its arrival and display was swamped by the egocentric spoutings of ardent  Olympic winners!
*the island belonged to the Whitaker family who made their fortune selling Marsala wine. A descendant, Billy Whitaker, lived with his sister Penelope in Edwardian splendour at Pylewell Park near Lymington in Hampshire].

The British Museum, London

Made by a Greek sculptor in Sicily about 460-450 BC.
 Found on the Sicilian island of Motya (Mozia) of the western tip of Sicily in 1979.

Museo Giuseppe Whitaker, Marsala, Sicily 

BOOKS: Luxury Minimal

LUXURY MINIMAL

MINIMALIST INTERIORS 

IN THE GRAND STYLE

Published by Thames & Hudson

A book just out.  Fritz von der Schulenburg's incomparable images follow one after another from very grand to grand, simple to very simple, showing impeccable discrimination - interspersed with quotes and 'Conversations' with Karen Howes and nine different designers - a feast for the most developed eye.  I am privileged to be included.   

POETRY: Paradise Lost [excerpt] by John Milton

Farewell happy fields
Where joy for ever dwells; hail horrors, hail
Infernal world, and thou profoundest Hell
Receive thy new possessor: one who brings
A mind not to be changed by place or time.
The mind is its own place, and in itself
Can make a Heav'n of Hell, a Hell of Heav'n.
What matter where, if I be still the same,
And what I should be, all but less than he
Whom thunder hath made greater? Here at least
We shall be free; th' Almighty hath not built
Here for his envy, will not drive us hence:
Here we may reign secure, and in my choice
To reign is worth ambition though in Hell:
Better to reign in Hell, than serve in Heav'n.

from Book I

TRAVEL: Portugal

  

 Going south across the Tagus river, Lisbon

Vasco de Gama Bridge

designed by Armando Rito 

and opened in 1998 

...soon after, pine and cork forest and vineyards

 and endlessly long beaches...

PEOPLE: Loulou de la Falaise

The irreplaceable Loulou de la Falaise
- how to wear a hat!

   The Rifat Ozbek decor is suitably dashing..

Robin Birley, her first cousin,  named the nightclub of his stylish new club LouLou at 5 Hertford Street, London, W1.

LIVING BY DESIGN: Hints

A London office with JS designed oval desk in wenge with a pig skin inset top [see oak version in I.M. Pei designed pavilion in my blog entry of October 14, 2011 ].   Eames designed swivel chairs are covered in suede.  The wall panelling - also in wenge - is randomly matched and mis-matched.

POETRY: Life Saving by Josephine Hart

Josephine Hart will always be missed by anyone who knew her - luckily the poetry readings continue.


http://www.poetrylibrary.org.uk/events/readings/?id=176

GARDENS: A video of my garden in Patmos filmed on an iPhone--better next time!

                                                                                                                                                                                   

ART: Marsden Woo Gallery, London

I very much like the architectural mix in Clerkenwell, how new and old buildings are juxtaposed: Smithfield Market for its ironwork; paintings by Hogarth filling the walls in the James Gibbs Northern Block staircase of St. Bartholemew's Hospital.  Nearby is - the ancient 14th century St. Bartholemew's Church [right], one of the few to survive The Great Fire and which featured in the film, 'The Four Weddings and a Funeral'.

If in the area, do not miss the Marsden Woo Gallery, 17-18 Great Sutton Street, London EC1V 0DN -- great shows by Owen Bullett Force Field , Nao Matsunaga, and an extraordinary installation by Rupert Ackroyd, Inn, Inn, Inn: www.marsdenwoo.com

A piece by ceramic artist Dawn Youll

Above: This piece by Nao Matsunaga has just been bought by The Victoria & Albert Museum in London

     Below: An installation Force Field by Owen Bullet

FOOD: The River Café, London

For reasons unknown, I have not been to the deservedly famous River Café since it has been re-done.  The kitchen is a very, very long bar - it is a brilliant design.

I was bidden to this culinary temple of delicious food to celebrate the birthday of a gregarious friend of mine whose intimate friends must add up to 180 souls and since the private room seats only 18 I felt most privileged!