"Chandeliers- So Stylish It Hertz"

This week we're switching to a rather enlightening topic- Chandeliers...

Chandeliers are “branched, decorative lighting fixtures which hold a number of bulbs or candles and are hung from a ceiling”.

The word chandelier came from the Latin word for candle, candela.

The Latin candelabrum was later adopted by the French, who adjusted the word slightly, to chandelabre. From this came the new spelling for Chandelier, when borrowed directly from the 12^th century Old Castilian language.

The first record of a chandelier used in interiors is during the Medieval era (5th-15^th century) and only by the wealthy.

An old flame- During medieval times, the chandeliers were simple wooden crosses with vertical spikes which would hold candles. The chandelier was suspended from the ceiling using a rope-pulley system for easy lighting of the candles.

The chandelier later became a symbol of status and wealth during the 15^th century when its design changed from a simple wooden cross to a more costly wrought iron crown-like design. This design featured largely in the homes of nobility and clergymen.

Towards the 18^th century, merchant class homes showed off their more ornate gilt cast metal and carved and gilded wood chandeliers, with long, curved branches and plenty of candles. Some of these showcased Neoclassical motifs.

Modern replica of an 18th century chandelier

The crystal chandelier was introduced after further developments 
in glass-making and cheaper production of lead crystal developed.

So stylish it hertz- During the mid 19^th century, many candle chandeliers were converted to gas lighting and towards the 1900s, many people used a combination of both gas and electricity. It was from then on that electricity became standard for these homes.

The current situation - Due to the availability of electricity in the modern world, the measure of status which the chandelier represents has lowered slightly and has become more available to the masses, with many replica and cheap variations available on the market.

However, there are some very impressive modern chandeliers available today. Check out the 24 light glass chandelier by National Lighting below.

Did you know?

The world's largest crystal chandelier hangs in the Ceremonial Hall of the Dolmabahce Palace in Istanbul and weighs a massive 4.5 tonnes and has, count em, 750 lamps!! 

AMP-le amount, wouldn't you say?

Got on your wick yet?

Have I lost my spark? 

Ciara Eloise Nolan.

"The Delftware Explosion"

This week we're looking at Delft pottery, something which was introduced in the 16^th century & which is very popular today.

We'll start by taking a quick glance at the city of Delft- the city is located between Rotterdam & the Hague in the Netherlands.

Delft is famous not only for its pottery but also for its canals & for the famous artist Johannes Vermeer who painted domestic interior scenes seen in middle class living at the time (mid 1600's).

In 1572 William Of Orange took up residence in Delft during the Eighty Years War. Delft, with its city walls for protection served as headquarters during this time & became one of the leading cities in Holland. 

"The Delft Explosion" or "Thunderclap" occurred in 1654 when a gunpowder store exploded & killed over 100 people. Many Delft potted pieces depict the devastation of the Delft Explosion. 

Delftware pottery or ceramics primarily include tiles, crockery & ornaments which have been glazed (the white portion) & decorated with metal oxides.

Delft blue would possibly be the more collectable range although there are many Delft colour schemes hugely sought after today.

Delft pottery was inspired by the Chinese porcelain imports of the 17^th century. 

At the time, only the very wealthy could afford this porcelain. Delft potters began imitating Chinese pieces when there was an interruption of trade imports around the time of the death of the Wanli Emperor of China.

The city of Delft, being a home port of the Dutch East India Company, had adopted these inspirations very early.

Tin glazed pottery came about during the early 16^th century (tin glazed pottery is valued by its ability to be easily coloured). Simpler pieces were manufactured in Rotterdam & Amsterdam (amongst other cities) but the finer, more elaborate pieces were created in Delft.

Delft manufacturers and potters introduced personal Delft markings during the 1640s. It was during the next 100 years which Delft made its finest pieces and the industry saw quite a lot of demand for such fine creations.

From approx 1615, potters started coating tin glaze on their pieces and covered this in a clear glaze. This gave depth to the cobalt blues seen in Delft, which resembles the blues seen in Chinese porcelain pieces.

Delft designs range from plain and uninteresting to elaborate and beautiful. Some plates may have only had a very small motif in their centre. Others had detailed hunting or fishing scenes seen in every day Dutch living.

Some plates were even embellished with music notes and lyrics on them and at a party when the food was eaten and the notes could be seen, the guests would sing this song together.

Many Dutch houses still have tiles on their floors and walls which were fitted during the 17^th century.

Delftware manufactured in the Netherlands after 1750 is widely considered to be inferior to that made during the 17^th century.

By the end of the 18^th century, British porcelain had taken over the market and as a result many Dutch Delft manufacturing businesses closed down.

For a bit of fun- A British Airways Delft inspired tail fin! 

If you are looking for an original piece of Delftware, look for the Delfts Blauw symbol (found underneath the base) to indicate authenticity and rarity. These originals are collectibles and can sell for surprising amounts.

Martin - Hudson & Gibson Interior Designers have an interesting collection of Delftware which may be viewed by appointment. To arrange for a private viewing, call us today on 01 284 3486.

Ciara Eloise Nolan. 

Oldschool Tools

This week we will be taking a glance at some tradesmen's tools which were used back in the Golden Days...

Three of these tools have been in our possession for a long time- the first was dropped in to our showroom just a week ago with suggestions of using it in our “Industrial” themed window display.

The Airlyne Rugmaker is quite a curious looking contraption – proclaiming to have once been “The World's Fastest Home Rugmaker”, it was invented by William Edward Humphreys Jones whilst at Airlyne Products, Abergele in the 1950′s.

The device is clamped to the edge of a table and one uses the foot strap to run the machine so their hands are completely free to manoeuvre the rug on the table.

There is a small screw which you move to determine how far the needle pushes through the base cloth, thus creating a long or short pile.

The thread is pulled up through the eye and shank of the needle with the aid of a wire which is provided with the Airlyne.

Getting your hands on one of these Airlyne Rugmakers won't set you back an awful lot at all. I'm sure it'll cost you more than the 28 and 6 pence that it originally went for, but chances are you could pick up one for less than the price of an Ikea rug and you are guaranteed to have a lot more fun making this!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VINTAGE-AIRLYNE-HOME-RUG-MAKER-MACHINE-KIT-1950s-/370772233327

The next little contraption we'll show you is our Robert's Cookie Cutter, a nifty little carpet repair tool.

This may have been used if say for instance cinders had left a scorch hole in your carpet- the Cookie Cutter is basically a blade fixed in to a circular handheld cutter with a pin fixed to its centre.

You press the pin into the centre of the offending area and twist clock-wise in a full circle.

You then remove the damaged piece and cut another piece for repair using the same method and once adhesive is applied to the exposed floor you line up the rows and insert the newly cut piece, smoothing over with you r fingers.

The Morgan Lee Trimmer is a wallpaper trimmer and it has been stored with its original instruction leaflet.

The leaflet claims that this invention will “make profits for enterprising decorators” and “will last a lifetime”.

I have no doubt about it. The tool came in handy when wallpapers were sold with a salvedge edge , which had to be cut away by the decorator before application.

See the instruction leaflet below for detail on use.

Roberts' Ankorite Tool is a British made headless pin machine for tacking down carpeting into place.

You place a tack into the opening and with the pin entered in to the Ankorite shaft, you hold it gainst the area of carpeting you wish to tack down and hammer the top of the tool. Using headless tacks means you are not left with great tack heads rusting your carpet and it also means you won't feel them so much underfoot. 

Each and every one of these tools could still be used today and would still be as functional and as efficient as they were when they were first introduced. 

Do you know anyone who still uses these tools today? If so please share this post and let us know, we would love to hear about their experiences with them! 

By Ciara Eloise Nolan.

The ReenRoe Hotel (Ostan Rinn Roe)

Sadly, some projects don’t last as long as others.

While on a recent journey to the Ring of Kerry we visited a hotel we furnished in 1971. 

The hotel would have depended heavily on the influx of American tourists and as may have been due to the troubles in the North at the time, tourism suffered and unfortunately the hotel closed down in the late 1980's.

Located on Ballinskelligs Bay, across from Waterville in a glorious but isolated location, the building has not been boarded up or closed off from curious wanderers and remains of some of the carpeting and underlay supplied by Martin – Hudson & Gibson Ltd are still visible.

Carpeting on a passageway which would have once been laid by Martin - Hudson & Gibson Ltd.

Underlay lays rolled and folded in one bedroom

Today the building stands alone on the hill, admiring the views that surround its ruins.

Bathroom tiles which would have been fitted in the new hotel, can still be seen today

One can still see what would have once been handsome red velvet buttoned seating

The beautiful stonework still stands amongst the debris on site at the ReenRoe Hotel

By Ciara Eloise Nolan

Damask for your Interiors

Damask for your Interiors!

I never really knew what damask was, not until recently. Another intern in the shop was explaining to me that the client she's assigned to work with has changed her mind from having owls on her bed posts to getting damask wallpaper, so that her bedroom would have some kind of detail (perhaps she has imagined the owls staring at her while she's sleeping?).

For you that doesn't know what damask is:

"is a reversible figured fabric of silk, wool, linen, cotton, or synthetic fibres, with a pattern formed by weaving. Damasks are woven with one warp yarn and one weft yarn, usually with the pattern in warp-faced satin weave and the ground in weft-faced or sateen weave. Twill damasks include a twill-woven ground or pattern".

'[It] is a weaving style or technique that originated in the early Middle Age near Damascus, Syria. This particular style typically produced very ornate and decorative patterns in the fabric... wonderful to use in a design that needs to have a vintage or ornate look.'

Since the damask was invented, the pattern has been used with different kinds of fabric; and by designers, adding their own touch to the original pattern.

Prolific designers such as Nina Campbell, Manuel Canovas, as well as the companies Osborn & Little and Cole & Son, have used computerized Jacquard looms (mechanical loom machine) to create their monochromatic weaving masterpieces.

Here are some examples of Damask design available for purchase by the people and companies I have named above:

Although there are many colour variations to choose from above, I still can't decide which I like the best.

While chatting to John Gibson the other day about damask and many things about it (I'd say he is a walking encyclopedia), he has mentioned a very beautiful and imaginative damask design by the company Osborne and Little: a very modern design, in my opinion yet shows that it has been influenced by the damask pattern. 

3. Osborne and Little - Chinese Dragon (Wallpaper Album 5 Collection)

Purple

 Black

Below are links to wallpaper books on websites where you can check out more vintage wallpapers - particularly one with damask touch on them:

Cole & Son:
- Fornasetti Collection
http://www.cole-and-son.com/collection_detail.asp?collectionid=104

Manuel Canovas:
- Papier Peint Bellegarde
http://designs.manuelcanovas.com/

Osborn and Little:
- Vintage
- Vintage II
- Stanza
- Komodo
- Folia
http://www.osborneandlittle.com/products-and-collections/wallcoverings

Nina Campbell
- Birdcage Walk Autumn 2006 http://shop.ninacampbell.com/luxury-wallpaper/autumn-2006

For more information about these wallpapers visit or contact:

Martin-Hudson & Gibson Ltd
http://mhg.ie/martin_hudson_gibson.asp
(contact details in the link above)

-Gera

Old Company Documents

Vintage Wednesday- 

Old Company Documents

Over the last few years, we here at Martin - Hudson & Gibson Ltd. have been compiling a little archive, detailing the history of the companys work since its establishment in 1958. 

These documents have come from all kinds of nooks & crannies, from all kinds of locations- including, most glamourously, being found in a skip & returned to John by a thoughtful customer.

As a company newcomer, it was interesting for me to study these old letters, invoices & photographs & appreciate the hard work that has been done over the last 55 years in order to build & maintain the good name of Martin - Hudson & Gibson Ltd.

Four locations later, in 1996, John Gibson moved to our current location beside the sea in Sandycove Road. With him came his extensive collection of fabrics, wallcoverings, antique furniture & most importantly his expertise in the field of interior design.

Here we have some documents taken from John’s nifty little archive. Note the varied paper sizes & the hand-typing. We came across one which even had a sewing pin in place of a staple. 

In so far as contact details, things sure have changed. An unfadeable telegram code & four-digit phone number sit nicely in the top right-hand corner.

Who knows, maybe in another 55 years this blog entry might make the company archive?!

-Louise Dockery-

Batiques

The company Martin Hudson & Gibson is full of wonders like these fabulous batiques.

 It is a method of decorating fabrics practiced for centuries by the natives of Indonesia. It consists of applying a design to the surface of the cloth by using melted wax. The material is then dipped in cool vegetable dye; the portions protected by the wax do not receive the dye, and when the wax is removed in hot water the previously covered areas display a light pattern on the colored ground. Remains of clothing found in Java indicate that the same or similar patterns have been in use for about 1,000 years and are handed down in families. Certain designs were traditionally reserved for royalty and high officials. Motifs are geometric or are based on conventionalized natural objects. Cotton cloth is generally used, and some silk. Batik was first brought into Europe by Dutch traders. In the 19th cent., Western artisans adopted the art.

 Although the word's origin is Javanese, its etymology may be either from the Javanese amba ('to write') and titik ('dot' or 'point'), or constructed from a hypothetical Proto-Austronesian root *beCík, meaning 'to tattoo' from the use of a needle in the process. The word is first recorded in English in the Encyclopædia Britannica of 1880, in which it is spelled battik. It is attested in the Indonesian Archipelago during the Dutch colonial period in various forms: mbatek, mbatik, batek and batik.

 Bernadette Madden works mainly in batik (wax resist on linen) and also makes screenprints on paper. She is born in Dublin, Ireland, Bernadette Madden studied  in the School of Painting at the National College of Art and Design , graduating in 1970. You'll can see on her website some batiks very beautiful like the following batique:
http://bernadettemadden.ie/ 

 Others artists have got websites with their batiks same as this one: http://www.batikartbybeth.com/