DFAS

Although carpets were found all over the Old World, their origins are however speculative, and the initial impetus unknown.

Each producing area developed its own repertory of pattern and technique. The initial development, the spread of manufacture and the growth of collecting in the West will be discussed.

Among the many threads within this tale are the great historic rugs; the rugs known as prayer rugs; and some that tell a story.

A little time will be spent looking at the making process ranging from Turkey and Iran to Morocco and China, including treating the wool, dyeing and making, both in the home and in the great sheds.

After his wonderful lecture on Whistler in May 2005, we welcome the return of this international lecturer, author, artist and TV presenter who will give us an introduction to this classical period of modern art which he says is “Less frightening than it sounds”.

This lecture is divided into three sections:

Part 1, "From Then until Now", looks at some of the pioneers of the technical innovation of photography in the 1830s and 1840s, since then it has become the most widely available visual art in the world.

Part 2, “From Today Painting is Dead”, examines the French history painter Paul Delaroche’s famous declaration, made in 1839, and shows how wrong he was. On the contrary painting has gone from strength to strength and we look at some of the artists who took and take photographs of their own, from Degas to Hockney.

Finally, Part 3, "A Primary Medium", looks at artists for whom photography is not just a tool but a primary medium, both straight and manipulated.

The 20th century witnessed the greatest transformation in the role of decorative glass in 6,000 years. Once the preserve of the wealthy, industrialisation and rising wealth combined to a point where glassware was given away free to motorists. This talk examines the emergence of new but significant glassmaking nations and the stylistic development of what was known as ‘fancy glass’ over the course of the past century.

This lecture is sponsored by De Glorie.

The evidence of town planning, architecture, sculpture, mosaic and fresco, supported by contemporary literature, will be used to reconstruct something of the fabric of everyday life in ancient Pompeii, Herculaneum and other Vesuvian sites.

Contrasts between the world of public affairs, business and aristocratic display (what Romans called negotium) and the more private world of relaxation in elite town houses and villas (otium) will be examined.

This lecture will trace the long and interesting journey of a magnificent pearl necklace from its beginnings as a wedding present from Pope Clement VII to his niece the Queen of France, Catherine de Medici, who gave it to her daughter-in-law Mary Queen of Scots.

Later acquired by Queen Elizabeth I it passed down – in a roundabout way – through the British royal family, causing a lengthy legal battle over its ownership between Queen Victoria and the King of Hanover.

Now Queen Elizabeth II wears some of the `Hanover Pearls` as they are now called. But where are the others? The speaker has asked lady members to wear their pearls for the lecture if they have them as this is the occasion for them to be seen and appreciated!

The Library, full of a great range of fascinating objects associated with the history of Britain and the Royal family, is primarily used by the Queen to show to her guests after dinner parties at Windsor Castle.

Since the library is only open to academic researchers and not to the public, the lecture, which gives a tour of the Library similar to that experienced by the Queen's guests will therefore constitute a rare opportunity to see its rooms and treasures.

These treasures include beautiful and rare books, manuscripts with personal royal associations, old masters drawings (Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Michelangelo, Holbein, Canaletto), watercolours, miniature paintings, jewellery, clocks, fans, maps, the shirt in which Charles I was executed, and even the present Queen's description at age 11 of her father's coronation.

Who could deny that the drinking of wine and the collecting of antiques are among the most pleasurable of pursuits? As more and more people take an informed interest in wine there has been a corresponding increase in enthusiasm for wine related antiques.

As well as being fully functional, many of these items are intrinsically beautiful and in this talk the lecturer illustrates some of the more popular items such as corkscrews, drinking glasses and decanters, as well as wine labels, funnels, coasters, bottle rings and wine furniture.

Write-up

Mr. Ericson illustrated some of the most beautiful and collectable antique items associated with wine drinking. These included not only corkscrews, glasses and decanters, but also wine labels, funnels, coasters, bottle rings and even wine furniture.

Our sponsor for the evening was Vsur Wines (www.vsur.nl)which import wine from Spain. Vsur gave a wine tasting after the lecture. Both red and white wines were offered resulting in a relaxed atmosphere with people talking to each other and discussing the lecture.