Lumiere London - See the City in a New Light

London Lumiere is a free festival exhibiting 30 dazzling light displays in locations across London every night from 14 until 17 January, 6.30pm to 10.30pm. They include some of London's most iconic spots; King's Cross, Piccadilly, Mayfair, and Trafalgar Square. Enjoy a spectacular array of illuminations from animated projections, LED installations and giant animal sculptures, to beautiful multicoloured martyrs that decorate Westminster Abbey.

Garden Of Light by TILT

London by Janet Echelman/ Studio Echelman

Dresses by Tae Gon Kim

Neon Dogs by Deepa Mann-Kler

At Alfies we have an extensive range of beautiful and colourful lights available, with over 75 dealers to choose from. In honour of the festival we have picked out some of our favourite pieces:

Pair 1950s blue Val St.Lambert lamps, offered by Louise Verber Antiques

From top left to bottom right: 1970s German hand blown table lamp by Doria. A Vistosi Pipe Lamp, Italy 1960s. A large Mid-Century chandelier of brass and spun and lacquered aluminium, and a wonderful pair of 1970s fan-shaped lights of Italian Murano glass. All offered by Matt Mitchell London

From top left to bottom right: Holmegaard ‘Kreta’ Pendant mauve glass light by J. E. Bang for Fog & Morup 1964, Table lamp design by Aldo van den Nieuwelaar 1967, Danish 1950s orange glass ceiling light, and a 1950s chrome floor lamp. All offered by Thirteen Interiors

Pair of round moulded glass lamps, 1950s, offered by Steven Lazarus

Murano Lamp offered by Louise Verber Antiques

Stunning yellow, blue and red Murano glass horn shaped lamp from the 1970s/1980s.
Offered by Eclectic Antiques & Contemporary

Pair of Italian Black & White Glass Pendant Lights, 1970s. Offered by Thirteen Interiors

Pair of table lights Romeo, Italian 1970s. Offered by The Moderns

Stunning hand blown glass lamps designed by Tapio Wirkkala, produced by Ittala, 1957-1965. Offered by The Moderns






 

Vintage Christmas Party Style

It's Christmas party season! Time to slip into your most ravishing dress and wear your dazzling accessories. Don't worry if your wardrobe lacks such festive glamour, at Alfies our vintage clothing dealers stock beautiful evening wear that would ensure you're the belle of the ball!

Vintage Jean Muir metallic jacket, offered by June Victor 

1980s black lace blouse by Voyage, offered by Carole Collier

1940s crepe dress with contrasting scalloped neck and fluted sleeves, offered by June Victor

1950s Silk chiffon dress, offered by Carole Collier & June Victor

1930s floral white paste clamper bracelet, offered by Carole Collier

1930s Jacob Bengal machine age bracelet, offered by Carole Collier

1920s chrome and green paste drop necklace, offered by June Victor

1970 Bracelet watch, glass stones, deadstock, fully functioning, offered by Carole Collier

1950s black lace shoes, offered by June Victor

1960s metallic silver shoes by Harrods, offered by June Victor

Robin Day - Chair Man To Modern Design

Robin Day is recognisably one of the most influential furniture designers of the 20th century. In 2015 he would have celebrated his 100th birthday, and with a remarkable career spanning almost seven decades it is almost impossible not to be aware of, or have sat on one of his designs. Most globally known is Day's 1963 polypropylene stacking chair, seen in almost every school or office worldwide.

Born 25 May 1915, Day grew up in High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire, known for its furniture making. He attended the High Wycombe Technical Institute and had close links with the local furniture industry. Being gifted at drawing, Day progressed to High Wycombe School of Art in 1931 and won a scholarship to study design at the Royal College of Art in 1934.

On graduating the Royal College of Art in 1938, there were no suitable openings in the furniture industry, so he made architectural models and took a teaching post at Beckenham School of Art, where he developed an innovative, groundbreaking course in 3D design, where he also met fellow design lecturer Clive Lamiter. Day's 'big break' came when he, together with Lamiter, won first prize in the 1948 International Competition for Low-Cost Furniture Design organised by the Museum of Modern Art in New York (MOMA). Their ingenious concept for a range of multi-purpose storage units, composed from a tube of preformed moulded plywood, received international acclaim. This led to the start of a world acclaimed career in furniture design and to his collaboration with the London furniture manufacture Hille.

1963 Polypropylene chair. Image from www.hille.co.uk

In 1951, Day was approached and commissioned by the Festival of Britain to design all the seating for London's Royal Festival Hall. His prolific work for Hille included 1950s ranges in moulded plywood and the incredible polypropylene chair created in 1963, which to date has sold in tens of millions. Designs for other clients included seating for the Barbican centre, televisions and radios for British company Pye, and the interiors for aircrafts for the British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC).

To celebrate his centenary year, the Victoria and Albert Museum is showcasing a display dedicated to Robin Day during the London Design Festival 2015 with the Day In London exhibition, a series of events all across the capital.

Robin Day display at the Victoria & Albert Museum.

At Alfies we are hosting our own London Design Festival event throughout Thursday, 24 September, from 10am to 6pm, and we are fortunate enough to have an original Robin Day 'Leo Chair' offered by Matt Mitchell of Matt Mitchell London. The 'Leo Chair' was designed in 1965 and famously used by Sean Connery in the 1967 James Bond film 'You Only Live Twice'. The chair and matching footstool are in complete original condition with two sets of different feet and upholstered in quality black leather.

1965 'Leo Chair' by Robin Day, offered by Matt Mitchell London

During the London Design Festival, Alfies hosts talks, workshops and displays including Thirteen Interiors,  Tin Tin Collectables, Paola & Iaia - The Originals, and Matt Mitchell London. 

Clockwise from top left: Matt Mitchell London, Tin Tin Collectables, The Originals and Thirteen Interiors
  

The Hall Of Frame

The trusty picture frame is often a neglected partner to its painted focal point, but the Frames in Focus: Sansovino Frames exhibition at The National Gallery, running until 13 September 2015, hangs the frame as its main attraction, celebrating the most elaborate and beautifully crafted ones.

  Early-baroque style frame. Image from the National Gallery

The collection of 30 frames concentrates on one particular type, the Sansovino, which gained its name in the 19th century from the Italian architect and sculptor Jacopo Sansovino, (1486–1570). Sansovino was responsible for some of Venice’s finest Renaissance buildings, including the Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana. The design of the frame marked a change in the way they were conceived, as frame makers experimented with traditional architectural forms, carved overlapping scrolls, garlands of fruit, masks, broken pediments, and cherubs, comparable to Sansovino's own elaborate style. These works show us that, in fact, the frame itself is a work of art in its own right.

The Biblioteca designed by Jacopo Sansovino

At Alfies we have our very own skilled picture frame craftsman, William Campbell of William Campbell Fine Frames and Framing. William is an artisan with an infectious passion for frames and framing, an uncompromising eye for detail and a comprehensive knowledge of the subject. He has been at Alfies since 1992 and has a wide collection from stunning period gilded frames to more vintage designs with simple lines and block colours.

19th century carved and gilded Florentine frame. Offered by William Campbell

18th century carved and gilded Louis XV frame. Dating 1725 to 1760.

Late 19th century carved oak folk art frame.

Not only do Alfies' dealers offer beautiful handmade picture frames, we also have a stunning range of gilded, beveled and Art Deco mirrors, antique embroidered, wooden and glass photo frames, and vintage illuminated and perspex frames.

A selection of mid century sunburst mirrors. Offered by Louise Verber Antiques

A detailed vintage micro mosaic picture frame. Offered by Hayman & Hayman

1970s pair of Italian mirrors framed in brass with coloured mosaic tiles. Offered by The Moderns

Italian perspex and metal table back-lit mirror 1950. Offered by Thirteen Interiors

A beautiful Art Nouveau mirror with silver mounted frame, Birmingham 1906. Offered by Goldsmith & Perris

An early 20th century easel back gilt wood mirror. Offered by Louise Verber Antiques

Happy New Year!

 

Wishing you all lots of happiness and success for the new year! With all the wet weather we've been having here are a couple of ideas to smarten up your hallways for 2012.

Vintage Umbrella Stands:

Fun 1950s Brass Umbrella Stand. From Thirteen Interiors

Elegant Art Deco Umbrella Stand with Nutwood Veneer. From Lorna Lee Leslie.

Alfies is the perfect market to visit during the wintery weather.  All four floors and over 75 shops are all under one roof so you can avoid the blustery showers.  On the top floor visit our cosy Rooftop Cafe where you can warm up with hot drinks or a glass of wine and a hearty lunch.

Time for tea!

London is a great city to go for afternoon tea in, a few of my favourites are Maison Bertaux in Soho, Treacle on the Columbia Road, Hummingbird Bakery in Notting Hill and the now closed down Shipp's Tearoom at Borough Market. I was very saddened to hear about the closure of Shipp's Tearoom (see picture) I enjoyed delicious clotted cream, jam and scones there washed down with refreshing peppermint tea. All the crockery was mis-matched with different cups and saucers and lovely cake stands. It got me thinking about all the amazing tea sets there are in Alfies, which made me want to recreate the whole experience at home!

Here are a selection of my favourites from a range of different dealers in the market, some are full sets and others are single tea cups and saucers.

These are great cups from Geoffrey Robinson designed by A. H. Woodfull.

'Woody' Woodfull is one of the few designers of plastics products who we know by name. He spent over forty years at British Industrial Plastics (B.I.P) Streetly Factory designing and developing a vast range of products and laying down many of the ground rules of professional industrial design.

Woody and his design unit were responsible for most of the designs of melamine tableware so familiar to the 60's generation. Woody had visited the USA in 1948 and seen early examples of domestic melamine tableware. BIP worked to develop tableware sets to compete with ceramics. Woody's team were involved from the mid 50's onwards with the development of the Midwinter Modern range of melamine tableware.

This beautiful teapot comes from Beth Adams, it is made by Crown Ducal,1933 and the pattern is called Orange Tree. The print is so delicate it would be a pleasure having a cup of tea from it!

Pictured below is an Alfred Meakin 'ceylon tea' Tennis set. This is my favourite, what a treat to have a cup of tea and a delicious piece of cake on this lovely set, theres no room for sharing!

Dealer Wesley Payne on the ground floor has got a vast collection of beautiful china, including the picture above. Wesley specialises in collectable ceramics form the early 20th Century. Below is another great example.

This 1950's set is by Royal Dalton with the pattern name 'Spindrift'.

Carlton Ware Teapot, milk jug and sugar bowl

Below are a selection of individual cups and saucers from Beth and Beverly Adams, all of them very eye catching unique pieces!

Shelly Butterfly Wing Mode Royal Doultan 'Lynn' pattern Shelley Blue Geometric mode
c.1930, Trio c.1933-35 shape c.1930

Lastly I couldn't resist these fantastic 1950's Mickey and Minnie Mouse cups and saucers from Ian Broughton. They bring out the child in me! This is part of a full set and would add a bit of kitsch to your tea party!