Author Archives: Editor

In praise of Candle Power

Posted on March 11, 2014 by Editor

A good friend of mine, married to a professional fireman, lives without candlelight. Indeed she lives in a house from which all forms of naked flame are exiled. Her husband has, somewhat sadly, seen too much melancholy evidence of what … Continue reading →

Posted in inspiration, original surfaces, practical matters, Uncategorized | Tagged candles, firemen, smoke | Leave a comment

taking care of tapa cloth

Posted on February 27, 2014 by Editor

Tapa cloth has always played a big role in New Zealand decorating due to its ready availability. Go back thirty years and there was barely a student flat in which someone didn’t have a large tapa (or at least a … Continue reading →

Posted in auction finds etc., collecting, practical matters, Uncategorized | Tagged Alexander Turnbull Library, Auckland Public Library., auction, bark cloth, Bishop Museum, cat, ethnology, New Zealand, tapa, Tapa cloth | 5 Comments

an oft-heard tale of silveriness

Posted on February 22, 2014 by Editor

I keep telling myself that is it is time to move on and stop posting about items made of silver – their neglect, ridiculous cheapness and how to clean them. The problem with this all-together sensible thinking, is that I … Continue reading →

Posted in auction finds etc., practical matters | Tagged auctions, black basaltware, cleaning silver, maidens & foster, RINSO, sheffield plate, silver, trays, Victorian tiles, Wedgewood | Leave a comment

The Balloon-back chair (1830-1850)

Posted on February 8, 2014 by Editor

No other piece of furniture has had quite the same fall from grace among collectors as has the balloon back dining chair. Once the most highly sought after piece of colonial furniture – a set of ballon-backs, however pert, not … Continue reading →

Posted in furniture, Uncategorized | Tagged auction, auctions, Balloon back, colonial, decorating, dining chairs, Prince Albert, Queen Victoria, Willaim IV, William & Adelaide period | 1 Comment

On Lustreware Teapots

Posted on February 1, 2014 by Editor

This is a piece called ‘English Silver Lustreware Teapots’ of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, I wrote it for another blog but thought Decor Extremus readers might also like it. Lusterware is one of those materials desirable for its ability to … Continue reading →

Posted in collecting | Tagged Arthur Hayden, Brislington, Chats on English China, Dixon & Co, drawing room, earthenware, Eturia, kitchen, Lusterware, Moore & Co, old English pewter, silver lustre, silver plate, Sunderland, Wedgewood | Leave a comment

Shine on Hester Bateman

Posted on January 22, 2014 by Editor

Because I’m lucky enough to have birthday and Christmas close but not so close that the presents are combined, I have recently been on the receiving end of a few small silvery items gifted by thoughtful friends. Together they tell … Continue reading →

Posted in auction finds etc., collecting, Uncategorized | Tagged decanter labels, decanters, F.Schultz silver, fruit knives, H. Robertus, Hester Bateman, Paul Revere, port, Sheffield silver, silver, Thomas Marples | 2 Comments

Interesting things with lamps

Posted on January 19, 2014 by Editor

When I first moved into this house I really only occupied one room – now the Studio – which was then somewhat exposed to the street. This more so once we took out the aluminum joinery and put in enormous … Continue reading →

Posted in furniture, practical matters, Uncategorized | Tagged John Gloag, lamps, lighting | 3 Comments

The secret power of RINSO

Posted on January 11, 2014 by Editor

As the season of entertaining approached, it was becoming increasingly obvious that the family silver was getting itself into something of a state. Without an army of footmen to keep the silver clean, pieces were slowly descending into a certain … Continue reading →

Posted in practical matters, Uncategorized | Tagged Bess Wells, candelabra, candelabrum, Cleaning old textiles, cleaning silver, RINSO, sheffield plate, silver, slver trays, trays | 2 Comments

Merry Christmas from Normie

Posted on January 2, 2014 by Editor

I have always had an ambiguous relationship to Christmas cards. This may date from the competition I had with my best childhood friend about whose parents were most popular and she effortlessly won. Or it may have been those weird … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Christmas card, Christmas cards, Norman Hartnell | 1 Comment

The Gloags – twenty five forever

Posted on October 16, 2013 by Editor

I recently acquired a small book called Simple Furnishing and Arrangement (1921) by Helen & John Gloag. I’ve seen the Gloags’ books in second-hand bookshops over the years but I’ve never really bought them because they seemed a bit fusty. … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged John Gloag | Leave a comment