We had a recent short break to Torquay which, as I am sure you know, was the home to popular writer of the 20s, 30s and 40s, Agatha Christie. Her home, following her second marriage, was the nearby National Trust property Greenway House, which can be reached by steam train and paddle steamer. We didn't quite get there this time, as it was just out of season. The house was used to shoot the last Poirot episode starring David Suchet when Hercule meets his maker in a bedroom of said house. Also nearby is Burgh Island with its famous art deco hotel.
I was recently lucky enough to purchase a pristine 20s handbag decorated with images from the Orient. The interior was in beautiful condition with original pocket mirror and I think that it must have been kept in its box since the day it was purchased. Coincidentally I lived in Southport once upon a time but long after the time of this handbag.
Last week we were hoping to see and hear a speaker talk about Betty Joel, a furniture designer of some repute in the 30s and 40s and unusual insofar as most of the designers of the time were male or part of a husband and wife team. Unfortunately, the speaker didn't show up so, although he will be rebooked for a future date, it was rather disappointing.
On a more local note, it seems that the local Barbara Hepworth sculpture which is affixed to the exterior of the former Cheltenham Building Society in nearby Cheltenham has been saved. The 20th Century Society has put in a request for Listed Status and has applied to the council for Protected Building rights whilst the application goes through. There was a plan afoot to remove the sculpture and replace it with a reproduction, so that the original could be sold off. Thank goodness somebody has stepped in - the people of Cheltenham must be proud to have such a famous work in their town.
Many people mistakenly think that retro or modern retro refers to objects from the 1970s and 1980s but, in fact, it is a term that can be used for any items at the forefront of modern or post modern design from the 20s to the 70s. Two books worth reading on this topic are 'Retro' by Adrian Franklin and 'Modernretro' by Neil Bingham and Andrew Weaving.
I have been adding new stock to MillCottageRetro that was acquired during the summer and early autumn, and am not quite finished yet. I was lucky to obtain some studio pottery, inlcuding a David Leach lamp base, and quite a few lovely vases, including an art deco clear glass example which was shaped rather like a rocket. More news next time!
