Showing posts with label Garden Ornaments. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Garden Ornaments. Show all posts
Monday, December 30, 2013
Longing for Babylonstoren...
After pouring over photos from the past year, I came across these of a visit to Babylonstoren last winter. What a place! Must get my fix soon...
Monday, June 18, 2012
The Nymphaeum at Château de Wideville
We all need one of these in our garden...
Via here
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Monday, March 19, 2012
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Passage to Africa IV - Stowe (Part II)
More from the wondrous Stowe...
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| Pebble Alcove |
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| Gothic Temple in the early morning mist |
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| Detail on Queen's Temple |
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| Urn - Queen's Temple |
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| Ceiling in the Entrance Hall |
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| Ceiling outside my nephew's 'quarters' |
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| Detail of the molding in the 'old' Chapel |
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| Boycott Pavilion in the Parkland |
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| One of the bridges on the expansive driveway |
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| Urn detail and one of the lakes in the garden |
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Passage to Africa III - Stowe (Part I)
I suppose Mr. Temple-Grenville didn’t tell the missus that there might be a small possibility of bankruptcy should they choose to lavishly entertain Queen Victoria, Prince Albert and entire entourage, at their home, Stowe Palace. Unfortunately, this was soon realized and led to the ‘Great Sale’ in 1848.
Prior to this, in an attempt grow their political ambitions the family had refurbished and reinvented the house and gardens over a period of 150 years. Dukedom was finally bestowed upon them in 1822 – that of Buckingham and Chandos.
The original house was designed as the principle temple in the landscaped gardens, which reveal forty-two smaller monuments – an architectural ode to Greek and Roman Classicism at its finest and created by the finest sculptors and architects of the 18th century. There’s the Temple of British Worthies, the Corinthian Arch, and Fane of Pastoral Poetry, to mention a few — each more exquisite than the one before.
There are simply no words to describe how it feels to see Stowe for the first time. It is undoubtedly the most glorious estate I have ever been to. And to think it was almost demolished in 1923… had it not been for the creation of Stowe School. The very first headmaster, JF Roxburgh, was convinced that every pupil who attended this fine school (past Stoics such as David Niven and Richard Branson) would “know beauty when he sees it all his life.”
It was a privilege to stay there and I feel positively envious that my nephew has Stowe to wake up to every morning — the animated sounds of boys and girls breathing life into the corridors once more. Personally, I would be quite content just polishing the vast front steps…
Prior to this, in an attempt grow their political ambitions the family had refurbished and reinvented the house and gardens over a period of 150 years. Dukedom was finally bestowed upon them in 1822 – that of Buckingham and Chandos.
The original house was designed as the principle temple in the landscaped gardens, which reveal forty-two smaller monuments – an architectural ode to Greek and Roman Classicism at its finest and created by the finest sculptors and architects of the 18th century. There’s the Temple of British Worthies, the Corinthian Arch, and Fane of Pastoral Poetry, to mention a few — each more exquisite than the one before.
There are simply no words to describe how it feels to see Stowe for the first time. It is undoubtedly the most glorious estate I have ever been to. And to think it was almost demolished in 1923… had it not been for the creation of Stowe School. The very first headmaster, JF Roxburgh, was convinced that every pupil who attended this fine school (past Stoics such as David Niven and Richard Branson) would “know beauty when he sees it all his life.”
It was a privilege to stay there and I feel positively envious that my nephew has Stowe to wake up to every morning — the animated sounds of boys and girls breathing life into the corridors once more. Personally, I would be quite content just polishing the vast front steps…
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| Stowe School |
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| Detail from stained glass window in the chapel |
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| Queen Elizabeth I (from The Temple of British Worthies) |
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| Detail of fireplace/mantel in the Library |
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| Ceiling - Blue Room |
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| Marble busts in the Library |
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| Detail of a tomb in the Chapel - so poignant |
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| Temple of British Worthies |
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| Thomas Gresham (Temple of British Worthies) |
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| Gothic Temple (and someone was living there - swoon) |
All images by Craig Strydom and Philippa Berrington-Blew
Friday, March 25, 2011
Out of the Ordinary
Last Sunday while driving to St. Michael’s, MD, I remembered a shop I had once spotted on a moonless night en route to Baltimore. I think my husband seriously doubted my antique sleuthing ability when I made him drive through a large garish outlet mall to get to DHS Designs, a pure beauty asylum tucked away behind a strip of urban sprawl. The talented owner is interior designer Darryl Savage, who has been coined the ‘King of Hearths’, and for good reason. He has one of the most impressive collections of 19th century limestone mantels imported from France. In fact, the entire showroom is a visual treat of oversize heirlooms, world class tapestries and garden ornaments. The boundless inventory boasts friezes, giant clocks, a vast array of Vase d’Anduze, even a ceramic crocodile head. Darryl couldn’t have been more gracious and charming as he gave a me a whirlwind tour describing the fascinating provenance of some of the one-of-a-kind pieces.
DHS Designs is in Queenstown, Maryland
All Photographs by Philippa Berrington-Blew and Craig Strydom
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