Martin Ritchie Sharp did not have a close relationship with either of his parents, but his mother still encouraged his early leanings towards art. Martin attended his first art exhibition at age nine. His art teacher recognised his talent and recommended that he study at the National Art School in East Sydney. Sharp’s first solo exhibition was held in 1965 at the Clune Galleries in Sydney and was hugely successful, being almost a sell-out on the first night. Sharp also produced posters for musicians including Bob Dylan and Donovan. Having never married or had children, his will specified that his home Wirian become ‘a hub for art education and that it should foster awareness of his work’.
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Raphael, also known as Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino, was a renowned Italian painter and architect of High Renaissance. He was popularly called The Divine One (‘Il Divino). He was renowned for the spatial geometry and perfect grace of his High Renaissance drawing and painting. He formed the traditional trinity of great masters of that era with Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo. Quite a lot of his works are deposited in the Vatican Palace. Despite his short life, he contributed immensely to the development of art in Italy and the whole world. Raphael’s works are available and can be seen in the best art museums all over the world.
The Barossa Germanic furniture craft explained the historical settlement blueprints of the Barossa Valley and also gives more than a few chapters on diverse types of craft practice. Barossa German is the German language mainly spoken in the Barossa Valley region of South Australia, where it got its name from. Barossa Germanic furniture collection is available in side tables, stool, and wooden armchairs used by a 19th-century immigrant German family in South Australia. The furniture pieces are quite exceptional and are an excellent way of decorating your apartment. Some of the Barossa Germanic furniture collections can still be found at the National Museum of Australia till today.
Giovanni Bellini was a Venice new beginning painter and the brain behind the Venetian School of Painting. He was acknowledged as one of the greatest and foremost Old Master of resurgence art. Giovanni lived and worked in Venice and his career lasted 65 years. He was distinguished for his groundbreaking portrayal of natural light, tender and graceful pictures and his altarpieces. His painting techniques had a great impact on his students and colleagues. He continued to be active in the works he was commissioned to do up till his 70s. These days, as when he was alive, he is generally honored for his originality, skill and essential role in taking Renaissance to Venice.
Robin Day possessed a talent for drawing from an early age and his birthplace was also a great influence on his chosen career path as High Wycombe was a place renowned for its furniture making. Day may have produced a wide range of furniture but perhaps the most well-known of his creations was the polypropylene chair, fondly known as the polyprop chair. It was a game-changer and its phenomenal success made it a landmark in modern design. His designs prioritised durability, function, and comfort. His furniture was an inspiration for many modern furniture designers. Robin Day devoted himself to creating high-tech, mass-produced, budget furniture believing it would contribute to the betterment of the world.
Leonardo da Vinci was an excellent Italian painter and polymath. He was considered to be one of the three great originators of High Renaissance art in Italy. Leonardo was also distinguished as a master of oil painting such as the painterly methods of using shadow to make a 3-D effect (chiaroscuro) and using glazes in slightly different tones of colour, making an almost imperceptible transition from light to dark (sfumato). These two methods are noticeable in the Mona Lisa. Aside from being one of the greatest painters of all time, he is respected and appreciated for his technological cleverness and resourcefulness. Even to this day, the interest in Leonardo and his work has never reduced.
Schulim Krimper was an Australian furniture designer and cabinetmaker who took the local Melbourne furniture market by storm during the 1960s and 70s with his modernist pieces. His furniture and cabinets during that time had exceptional materials and artistry making them instant collector’s items. His cabinets usually had simple designs, with a focus on clean, smooth lines and ergonomically curved edges. He was also quite partial to low profiles. So in awe were the clients of his work that they afforded him the kind of respect that was usually reserved for artists such as sculptors and painters. His pieces are still highly sought after today and often fetch high prices in auctions and sales.
Among the seven designers inducted into the Design Institute of Australia’s Hall of Fame on June 15, 2018, was a posthumous inductee—furniture, interior, industrial and exhibition designer Lester “Bun” Bunbury. Bun is recognised as a pioneer and leader in establishing Mid-Century Modern design locally, but there is not much information about him. His practice covered not only furniture and exhibitions but products and corporate branding as well. Aside from private practice, he passed on his knowledge by teaching and writing on design. He was passionate about design even in personal life. His contributions to design continue to be appreciated today.
Wedgwood is porcelain, fine China, and Magnificence Company established by Josiah Wedgwood. In 1765, Wedgwood came up with a new type of creamware, which overwhelmed the then British consort who gave formal authorisation to name it Queen’s Ware. This new product sold very well all over Europe. Wedgwood developed some other industrial innovations for his company. The Jasperware, made to look like prehistoric cameo glass, was the best-known product of Wedgwood, which is now a museum piece. The designs were extremely influenced by the prehistoric cultures being rediscovered and studied at that time to please the enormous business demand. Wedgwood has honoured many individuals from America and corporations also, both in the past and in recent times.
Gordon Arthur Andrews is known as one of Australia’s greatest designers. His first inspiration was his father who was also an inventor and designer. The early 1960s saw a lot of Gordon’s interior design but the year 1963 was perhaps one of the most notable for him. It was in this year that the Advisory Committee chose Andrews’s designs for Australia’s new banknotes. He designed furniture as well. The designer believed that furniture should not only be aesthetically pleasing, but also comfortable and efficient. Gordon’s furniture designs are sought-after and even copied by others. Andrews is seen by some as a “cultural hero” deserving of a place with those represented in the banknotes he had designed.
Royal Worcester has always been known for the very high quality of the artists’ painting. Perhaps the best known are the members of the Stinton family. They started working at the Grainger factory before it came under the auspices of the Royal Worcester in 1905. Throughout the years of their association with the Worcester Pottery, they have produced fine artwork, particularly in each of their chosen specialities. While the theme of cattle, game birds and scenic castles runs through the Stinton dynastic artwork, each has its own individuality. Some of the colouring is quite ethereal and very lovely to see. The Stinton family has made a huge contribution to the Royal Worcester Porcelain factories work.
From Thomas Edison’s first attempt to create a music recording and playing device in 1877 to Alexander Graham Bell’s graphophone, inventors had been trying to find an effective way to record sound. Fortunately, Emile Berliner invented the first-ever sound recorder, which was called the gramophone. The gramophone proved to be more practical than its earlier counterparts and made it possible to mass-produce records. Berliner then formed the Gramophone Company to sell and distribute his products worldwide. Only a few of these once popular gramophones are in existence now, so they are a good investment. The invention of the gramophone is a testament to how science can do great wonders for the arts and vice-versa.
George White studied art in London before becoming the chief specialist figure painter on vases, plates, cups and saucers at Doulton’s Burslem Studio. He painted figures, usually maidens in romantic scenes and wearing diaphanous garments. He uses soft and delicate colours and was able to depict the translucent quality of these robes in realistic and very lovely detail. He also decorated Luscian ware, one of Charles Noke’s many specialties. It is an enamelled pottery and tended to be decorated in the Art Nouveau style from around 1900. George’s vases and plates must have taken hours of painstaking work to decorate, and together with the rarity value of these finest pieces, it’s no wonder they are much sought after now.
English silver has, for centuries, been accepted as the finest in the world. This is due to the unique system of Hallmarks, the zeal and zealous traditions of the Guild of English Goldsmiths. The birth of the industrial revolution and the introduction of tea as a national drink in the 18th century provided wealth for the common person. They could buy silver and the crafting of silver became a major art form. It must be noted that most English Silversmiths concentrated on good quality and design, instead of price. The high quality is the reason why English silver has lasted so long and will continue to be enjoyed by many future generations.
When James Hadley started his apprenticeship, Royal Worcester was still known as Kerr and Binns of Worcester. Such was his skill that by 1870, he became the chief designer in the factory. John Sandon, a well-respected British authority on glass and ceramics, described James Hadley as “probably the finest English modeller of all time”. He was said to be able to work in any style or form but is best known for his decorative figures. Perhaps one of his most famous models was the “Aesthetic Teapot”. In 1875, he left the Worcester factory and set up his own. James Hadley had a somewhat turbulent career. Yet, he left some of the finest models ever produced.
Marc Newson may well be one of the most influential and groundbreaking designers of the present generation. He has delved into aircraft design, product design, furniture design, and even clothing and jewellery. He is known for collaborating with a number of big corporations including Apple, Montblanc, Nike and Louis Vuitton to name a few. Newson has quite a number of solo exhibitions under his belt including his very first one in 1986 where he unveiled his Lockheed Lounge chair. He is known for smooth geometric lines with an absence of sharp edges. As he is still quite young and active, we can only speculate as to how impactful his legacy would be.
William Hawkins started working at the Royal Worcester when he was 16 years old. Like the other Royal Worcester artists, William had his own speciality. In his case, it was portraits, figures and still life work. Many important changes took place during the times William worked at the Worcester factory. These years also saw many changes in the British way of life. The Royal Worcester Company has been renowned for the skill of its artists and none were more respected than William Hawkins. He worked during a time of great change, and his unique, wonderfully decorated items are a collector’s dream, though not easy to find now.
Fred Ward was considered a pioneer by fellow designers. He was creating furniture that took ergonomics into consideration way before it became a fad. He demonstrated the beauty of unstained native Australian timber when others were imitating the look of European wood. His designs have been described as having a simple beauty, pleasing to look at yet streamlined and functional, which seemed to have reflected him. After the war, Fred applied his innovative mind to meeting the needs of the era. Australians could have affordable yet stylish furniture. Two decades after Ward’s death, collectors and antique lovers are rediscovering his work.