Archive for August 26, 2011

Antique Lamps – A Renaissance Man

admin / August 26, 2011 / No comments

Ulysses Cantagalli, is recognised today as a major 19th century Italian potter. Hardly anything is known about him prior to 1878 when he is recorded as taking over the family factory in Florence.  Florence, of course, was the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance and Cantagalli’s early products reflect this Renaissance artistic style. The style, at the time, was in great demand, especially in England and English speaking countries in general.

An outstanding contribution to Cantagalli’s international success was his friendship with William de Morgan, Britain’s most talented and admired pottery and tile designer of the day.  de Morgan had captured the mood of the times and this, without doubt, was of greatest benefit to Cantagalli.

de Morgan greatly admired Cantagalli’s art and introduced him to many influential collectors in England and the US.  He encouraged him to participate in international exhibitions and in a short time Cantagalli’s works became highly regarded with his work still popular as collector’s items.

The Antique & Vintage Table Lamp Co illustrate a Cantagalli table lamp from their current collection.

 

A very decorative, 19th century, Italian majolica lamp from the Florentine workshop of Ulysses Cantagalli.  The urn shaped lamp in Italian renaissance style, with a dome shaped cover, the cover with a minaret finial.  The urn on a circular base and socle, standing on a square shaped base.  The lamp beautifully decorated in monochrome, pastel blue enamel.  The urn cover, rim and base with a lambrequin border.

The principal subject, a renaissance scholar with his dog.  The urn sides with moulded, lion head ring grips.  The figure subject deftly drawn in a very free flowing manner.  The lamp on a square, custom made base, lacquered in Royal Blue.

Of note, due to the ceramic firing technology of the day, the urn had slightly “sagged” in the kiln, hence the irregular angle of the majolica square base.

Circa 1880              Overall height (including shade) 23″/58.5cm

Cantagalli devoted his artistic energy to the understanding of the techniques and the designs of the old masters from Gubbio, Deruta, Urbino and other important Italian ceramic centres.  He was fascinated by the Italian pottery made during the Renaissance, and uncovered a natural talent which made it easy for him to revive the old decorative techniques.  Further, Cantagalli was also a very intuitive businessman and he knew that Renaissance style pottery was very popular at the time.

Ulysses Cantagalli was an outstanding ceramicist, whose original works are displayed in many private and important public museum collections including the Bargello in Florence, the Museo Stibbert also in Florence and the Victoria & Albert Museum in London.

After a long and successful life, Cantagalli died in 1901.  His wife and daughter continued to operate the factory in Florence until 1934 when the factory was sold to the former artistic director, Amerigo Menegatti.  The factory struggled through Italy’s disastrous involvement with the second world war, finally closing in 1985. 

The Antique & Vintage Table Lamp Co specialise in antique lamp lighting with an on-line range of over 100 unique, antique and vintage table lamps on view.

Lamps are shipped ready wired for the US, the UK and Australia.

For more information you are invited to visit their web site at -:

www.antiquelampshop.com

© The Antique & Vintage Table Lamp Co 2009

 

Category: man style / Tags: , ,

Prada Handbags 2011

admin / August 20, 2011 / No comments

Accessories are very important to the women’s image. And designer handbag always reveals your style and taste. Prada handbags are known all over the world. They have become synonyms of luxury and elegance. Nowadays Prada handbags are the most popular accessories. They are wanted and desired by women all over the world. That’s why every new Prada collection is a great event in the world of fashion.

All Prada leahter handbags are distinguished by elegant style, minimalism and quality materials. And new Prada 2011 collection is not an exception. It was named Resort and all the accessories are really luxury. Prada designers combine materials that were always thought to be incompatible and do it with wonderful elegance and style. The combination of contrast factures in Prada handbags looks especially fashionable and up-to-date. All Prada Cruise collection accessories are supreme, but a Twist line of handbags is worth special attention.  These handbags can be distinguished by an interesting combination of different types of leather, often exotic, gummy and flax.

But the most surprising about this collection is that expensive exotic leather is used only as decorative element in Twist Prada leather handbags. The handbags themselves are made from different unexpected types of textile and crocodile, alligator and snake leather makes them look extremely attractive and up-to-date. The tasteful combination of incompatible materials and elements is one of Prada known advantages. And the original design of Prada handbags 2011 is as always luxury but elegant. In the new collection flax materials create contrast with reptile leather that decorates all Prada Twist handbags. But if in other designers’ collections such combination could cause a disharmony in Prada handbags all element complement to each other creating original and stylish accessories.

Fur is especially popular decorative material in this season and it is also used in Prada new handbags collection. But it used very originally: pony fur decorates handbags made from flax and gummy. In these handbags zebra color is chosen for the fur, that’s why it only emphasizes the texture of handbag.

The Twist line Prada handbags can be distinguished by a new braided handles that are knitted from leather. These fashionable handles gave the name to new Prada handbags line. They also can be distinguished by new form of clasp. New Prada handbags have framework clasps like pursues. This makes them look extremely elegant and stylish. The color of the clasp is the same as of other decorative elements. In this collection blue, brown and green colors are used for decorative details and mainly beige color for handbags textile basement. The choice of colors here emphasizes the combination of contrast factures. Prada handbags have become an etalon of high quality. In Prada 2011 handbags collection the inner parts of all handbags are decorated with expensive exotic leather that repeats the color of the clasp.

In the new season a combination of different styles is in vogue and in Prada new handbags collection we find a mix of romantic style with the retro style. But the retro style doesn’t make Prada handbags look less modern; on the contrary they are all fashionable and up-to-date. More than that, all Prada handbags are practical and comfortable. They are quite universal and can be worn both at office and at special events. Prada handbags always create your image; emphasize your individual style and perfect taste. With such handbag you will always look elegant and fashionable.

 

Category: 2011 man fashion / Tags: , ,

Style, Fashion and Tennis

admin / August 20, 2011 / No comments

Tennis players and their apparel have changed drastically over the past one hundred years. This is especially the case for women who once had to play in large bustles and petticoats.

But it isn’t just comfort that tennis players have evolved into, it is also fashion and performance. With new types of performance fabrics being created from fabrics like polyester, nylon, and spandex – which breathe unlike traditional textiles allowing you to stay cool and dry even during the height of summer, tennis clothing has become functional in addition to fashionable. They are also practical in that these high tech fabrics hold their shape and color much better than their cotton counterparts, allowing you to look good before, during, and after your match, and their high durability will allow you to continue to look good in the future.

While tennis apparel for many years came in the colors of white or white, so that when one sweated it couldn’t be seen – today tennis apparel comes in numerous bright colors and prints. Tennis players are enjoying more and more the versatility they are offered off the court, during warm up and during competition. Most tennis players own a warm-up outfit, which is typically a two piece suit consisting of long pants and a long sleeved top. A warm-up outfit helps the athlete stay warm and get loose before a match, and it is also the traditionally preferred attire for arrival at the court. Tradition also holds that warm-up suits should be removed during the actual match unless it happens to be a very cold day.

Yes, there is still tradition in tennis apparel, despite the evolution of fabrics. What are some of these traditions?  During a match, men should wear tucked shirts and tennis shorts, although more and more the untucked look is becoming a presence in professional and amateur tennis. Women should wear short sleeved or sleeveless shirts paired with skirts or skorts – shorts that have styling that resembles a traditional skirt.

In some places, such as country clubs or in certain countries, proper tennis attire is very important.  It is important to note that the traditional tennis attire is still alive and well in some places, particularly at some tennis and country clubs. If you are invited to play as a guest at a club, check with the club or your host in order to be certain that your tennis clothes are appropriate and fitting with their dress code.

Beyond the regular tennis apparel are the tennis accessories. No tennis outfit is complete without the ever-important accessories. There is the very important tennis shoe. As with most shoes, the tennis shoe is designed specifically for tennis and it is important that you wear such shoes on the court. Not only will such shoes perform better, but they will not have black or dark colored soles, which can leave scuffs on the court and are therefore banned from many courts

And what about the sweatbands, hats, wristbands and such? These too are important as they will keep the sweat out of your face and your hands dry so that you can keep a good grip on your racket. A good sun visor will help protect your eyes from the sun above and shade your face.

Yes, in many ways the apparel and fashion of tennis has evolved and changed and in many ways it is much the same. While there is flexibility in some areas of tennis wear, there is practicality and tradition in others. The most important thing is to be comfortable and enjoy the game.

Category: fashion style / Tags: , ,
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