Tim Ross on ABC Televion program Streets Of Your Town, 2016. When we look closely at classic mid-century homes, we often see carefully curated spaces that convey the tastes, values, and aspirations of their owners. But there is much more to these interiors than furniture and lighting. Whether it be paintings, ceramics, glass, textiles orContinue reading “Australian Art for Mid-Century Spaces”
Category Archives: Collectors Tips
The Kalmar Chair Affair
The Mid-Century Modern: Australian Furniture Design exhibition at NGV Australia has come to an end. But in its final weeks an interesting event occurred. One of the chairs (see above) in the exhibition was found to have been incorrectly attributed to prominent Australian mid-century furniture designer Stephen Kalmar, who owned and operated Kalmar Interiors inContinue reading “The Kalmar Chair Affair”
A Powerhouse of Post-War Design.
The Powerhouse Museum in Sydney has one of the most diverse collections of poat-war design, including examples of furniture, lighting, textiles and graphic design from the period. The collection features Australian and international designers, including many rare pieces by Grant Featherston, Gordon Andrews, Clement Meadmore, Fred Lowen and Francis Burke. The Powerhouse is an excellentContinue reading “A Powerhouse of Post-War Design.”
To be or not to be: Identification vs. Attribution
When it comes to identifying mid century Australian furniture, a little knowledge can go a long way. So often we rely on reference materials, original manufacturer labels, or provenance to correctly identify post-war designs. But in lieu of such important information, it may not be possible to make a clear identification, and it is in these cases that theContinue reading “To be or not to be: Identification vs. Attribution”
Strategies for identifying Australian post-war design.
The desire to build knowledge around the design of Australian post-war design objects drives a lot of my research. When it comes to locating the designer and/or manufacturer of a design, it can be a simple or a lengthy process, sometimes resulting in a successful identification and sometimes a sketchy attribution with little documentation toContinue reading “Strategies for identifying Australian post-war design.”
New Zealand Modern: A Different Angle
The modern movement in New Zealand, like Australia, is arguably one of the design world’s best kept secrets. I have featured NZ modernist designs before on the blog and the more I research the NZ Modernist Movement, the more examples I find of innovative design objects and architecture. Whether it’s the exceedingly beautiful and innovative furnitureContinue reading “New Zealand Modern: A Different Angle”
Why you shouldn’t buy replica vintage furniture.
The interest In post-war design, especially furniture, continues to grow and with this comes demand, and with that demand comes higher prices as buyers haggle over rare and original pieces. In a market where vintage pieces have become status symbols for ‘designer couples’ and savvy urbanites who want to show off their design literacy, theContinue reading “Why you shouldn’t buy replica vintage furniture.”
Conservation or Restoration?
Buying a piece of vintage furniture is a great way to enjoy the designs of the past and it’s also good for the environment, but how do you look after these pieces so they can be enjoyed by future generations? When it comes to restoration and conservation, you really need to know what your doingContinue reading “Conservation or Restoration?”
How to find Australian Modern furniture
You’ve seen all the home magazines and you know what you like, but how do you land that beautiful vintage piece? Well, there are a number of ways to go about it. Whether it’s an auction, ebay, op shop, Sunday market, or one of the many many secondhand dealers who specialize in mid-century modern, itContinue reading “How to find Australian Modern furniture”
Australian Modern: Mid-Century Architecture and Design 