DFAS

Little is known of the everyday life of ordinary people in ancient Egypt. But one very special village, Deir el Medineh, has provided the unique opportunity to recreate the daily life of the craftsmen who built the tombs of the pharaohs in the Valley of the Kings. The remains of the settlement, as well as the thousands of documents discovered by archaeologists, give a fascinating and intimate glimpse into the lives and hates, disputes and scandals, work and leisure of the tomb-builders and their families who lived and died over three thousand years ago.

Above: A tomb in Deir el Medineh.

We are guests at the museum Beelden aan Zee, where the director will talk to us about the history and aims of this private foundation and the only museum in The Netherlands that is entirely devoted to modern and contemporary international sculpture. Since 2004 the museum has been closely associated with the Sculpture Institute, a research centre and reference library.

To see pictures of this meeting click here.

To visit the museum's Dutch-language web site, click here.

The introduction of tea, coffee and chocolate in the mid-seventeenth century meant that new shapes had to be devised for serving and drinking these hot beverages. Fashionable society soon created the opportunities to enjoy them both in public, e.g. coffee houses, and at home. Slides used in this lecture include contemporary paintings as well as silver and ceramic utensils depicted in the paintings. Some of these were especially created for the new drinks such as coffee cups, tea cups and spoon trays. The lecture ends in the late eighteenth century when tea, coffee and chocolate had become accepted aspects of social life.

Above: 18th Century Chocolatière.

In 1836 Chopin and Delacroix met in Paris, in the company of the notorious George Sand, and all became close friends. But whereas Delacroix truly enjoyed Chopin´s music, the pianist could not appreciate the painter. Why? 

Janet Cannetty-Clarke will explore this fascinating subject, using the piano, and slide illustrations.

In Daniel Libeskind we have an architect of great originality; his most famous work to date is the Jewish Museum in Berlin, but he has done work in Spain, Israel, and the USA, and a wonderful building for the Imperial War Museum in Manchester. 

His approach to design is most unusual. In the case of the Jewish Museum, he wanted to recreate the importance of the Jewish community of the thirties. Plotting the old Jewish addresses he found they formed a version of the Star of David which became the ground plan of his museum. It is this depth of search which distinguishes Libeskind from mainstream architects. He is a poet, a musician and an historian. The silhouette of his buildings may be confusing, but they work and to discover the logic behind the confusion is not only challenging but fun, and we will be able to enjoy that adventure together.

In February 2003, the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation chose Daniel Libeskind's design for rebuilding the 16-acre site of the former World Trade Center.

Above:
The Imperial War Museum in Manchester, England.

Goldsmithing dates back to the third millennium BC, and most silver is made in the same way as it was in medieval times. By understanding the basic processes of making and decorating silver you will be able to 'unlock' the silver you see in museums, in country houses and in your own homes. You will become familiar with the goldsmith's workshop and tools and appreciate both the changes and continuities in one of the oldest and most revered of our crafts.

Above: Silver hairbrush, Birmingham, UK, 1910

The lecture will cover:

• Goldsmiths and their workshops from 1200 to the present.

• Methods of construction including Raising, Spinning, Flat Sheet and Casting.

• Methods of decorating including Embossing, Chasing and Engraving.

The lecture begins with a short talk on why we need to conserve our furniture, followed by slides on pieces that the lecturer has restored in various stately homes and other buildings in England, with advice on how to clean and polish furniture properly. There will be time for individual questions following the lecture.

Right: An early Georgian scroll back chair with hand carved cabriolet walnut feet with walnut cross banding.