'Iridescence
fascinates.Think
of the lustrous
sheen of mother
of pearl
(otherwise known
as nacre); think
of lusterware
pottery (the
result of metal
oxide in the
glaze); think of
the vibrant blue
of a butterfly’s
wing (the colour
produced by what
scientists refer
to as ‘multiple
slit
interference’
but which, you
will be relieved
to learn, I am
not going to
attempt to
explain here)...'
This year is the 60th anniversary of the launch
of Miss Dior so what better time to look at the
history of glass PERFUME BOTTLES? By Margaret G
Powling.
'Feathered and
furred, web-toed
and hoofed, long
tailed and snub
muzzled, the
multitude of
animal figures
that poured out
in an exuberance
of creativity
from the
Austrian bronze
workshops from
the 1850s
onwards would
have had Noah
scratching his
head as he
puzzled how to
fit them all
into his ark...'
Stuart and Linda Smithson are so passionate
about Frank Thrower’s DARTINGTON GLASS that they
made it a family affair and together published
their own book .
'In some people
inspiration is a
mere trickle, in
others a raging
torrent.
Dartington glass
designer Frank
Thrower’s
fertile mind
teemed with
ideas – strong
bold designs
with pure
flowing lines,
glass patterned
with classical
Greek keys or
flamboyant
daisies,
ingenious dual
purpose items
that magically
transformed,
elegant shapes,
and dazzling
modernistic
forms. It was
this seemingly
limitless
imagination
combined with an
eye for beauty
and originality
that made
Thrower probably
the best
post-war English
glass designer...'
Exploring CORNWALL; On the
antiques trail with Karyn Sparks.
'If you're
looking to
combine a summer
break with a
little antiques
hunting, look no
further than the
treasures of
Cornwall. The
county offers
visitors an
endless supply
of historical
sites and
beautiful
scenery, steeped
in tradition,
and the perfect
setting for an
antique shop in
a charming
seaside town ...'
