Latest news with #Edwardian
Telegraph
3 hours ago
- Business
- Telegraph
Harrods goes round the bend with Britain's first curved escalators
Harrods is planning to install Britain's first curved escalators as part of an ambitious new multimillion-pound renovation of the Knightsbridge department store. The luxury retailer, which brought the first escalator to Britain in 1898, plans to introduce the technology in its lower-ground floors in an effort to help retain its allure, amid growing competition from Dubai, Paris and Milan. While there are a few curved escalators installed in Asia and the US, they have never been built in Britain. Mitsubishi is the only provider in the world. When Harrods introduced the Britain's first escalator, which was made from woven leather, customers getting on it were given a glass of brandy to 'overcome the new sensation'. It is not clear if a similar tonic will be offered to first-time users of the curved conveyors. Harrods said in planning documents that it 'intends on bringing this innovation to the UK' in a way that echoes 'the sweeping staircases of Harrods' history' to create a 'grand and luxurious retail experience'. It hopes to create an 'impressive sense of arrival', emulating its original Edwardian sales rooms. Under its proposal, fluted marble columns will arch over customers' heads, inspired by the draped fabric of Lady Britannia on the store's Brompton Road facade. The current ceiling will be replaced with a 1920s replica after removing asbestos identified during surveys. As well as the curved escalator, each brand based in Harrods' basement would also get its own eight to 10-person lift for privacy and security, helping extremely high-net worth customers feel comfortable. The novel technology is part of a multimillion-pound overhaul in which Harrods will deepen the lower-ground and sub-basement levels of its 19th century flagship to create a double-height hall, merging its fine watches and fine jewellery departments. Harrods, which is owned by the Qatar Investment Authority, said in planning documents it needed to overhaul its shop to 'remain relevant in an increasingly competitive luxury market' and set London 'on the map for hard luxury' goods. Bosses warned that London would lose out to Dubai, Paris and New York if the redevelopment did not go ahead. It comes as the UK suffers an exodus of the wealthy after the Government abolished non-dom status. Luxury chiefs have also warned that Britain's 'tourist tax' is also damaging London's appeal among wealthy shoppers. Before it was scrapped in 2021, the scheme allowed shoppers to regain 20pc VAT on purchases. More than 300 business chiefs, including Sir Rocco Forte and designers Anya Hindmarch and Sir Paul Smith, called for it to be brought back before last year year's Budget. Harrods said that without a 'significantly enhanced and elevated' retail environment, it knew 'for a fact that' it 'will lose a number of the most important brands'. The department store admitted that a previous multimillion-pound attempt to refurbish its watch department in 2017 'failed' because it 'inadvertently created a feeling of hierarchy' among brands, causing luxury labels such as Omega, Breguet, Blancpain and Longines to walk out. 'We cannot repeat this mistake,' it said. Harrods added that it was struggling to drive footfall to its lower ground level, despite introducing a restaurant and pop-up space as part of the 2017 overhaul. The Knightsbridge Association, a residents' group, praised the concept as 'stunning', but raised concerns over a potential rise in limousine drop-offs and more traffic in the area. Planning officials at the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea are expected to make a decision on the redevelopment in the coming weeks.
Irish Examiner
10 hours ago
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Antiques: Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian furniture at Cork auction
An unusual pair of bird's eye maple ormolu mounted mirrored hall stands with grey marble tops will feature at the Marshs online only auction in Cork next Saturday (July 5). The sale will offer a selection of Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian furniture, art and collectibles like Waterford Crystal, silver, clocks, rugs and books. A large bronze sculpture of a lady signed Ross is estimated at €1,200-€1,500 and a Georgian four-door breakfront bookcase has an estimate of €1,000-€1,200. An Irish Georgian two-door bureau bookcase at Marshs. Among other furniture lots are a Victorian rosewood davenport, a Regency satinwood and marquetry occasional table, a Georgian three-tier waterfall bookshelf and a Georgian Canterbury. There are two Masons Ironstone dinner services. The auction is on view from 10.30am to 6pm on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at Marshs warehouse, off Grand Parade and South Mall, Cork
The Guardian
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
How to Win Against History review – forgotten toff's stage dreams recovered
'Regrettably,' sings Henry Cecil Paget, 'very little is known about my life.' There's a reason for that: the fifth Marquess of Anglesey died at 29 having bankrupted his estate through his extravagance, including mounting plays that no one came to. His family subsequently attempted to destroy all evidence of the man who had shamed their proud line of landowners and empire builders. Seiriol Davies first discovered hints of the forgotten, cross-dressing Edwardian aristocrat on childhood trips to a local National Trust property, and debuted this chamber musical about him on the Edinburgh fringe nine years ago. This new production, directed by Lisa Spirling, adds zhuzh to the songs, with an onstage four-piece band – directed by Dylan Townley's Maestro – augmenting its original cast. As Paget, Davies sparkles in a series of fabulous outfits beneath designer Hayley Grindle's studded-collar proscenium arch (there are also shades of Faringdon House, the home of Paget's fellow aesthete Lord Berners, who makes an appearance in the story). Both script and songs are crammed with wit as we pinball between classical harmonies, dance breaks and interactive gags with prompt cards. A colonial-nod of a patter song, extolling 'boots and feathers', races us through Paget's typically brutal boarding school upbringing and propels us towards his marriage of convenience with his cousin Lilian. She is played – along with all the other people in Paget's life – by the indefatigable Matthew Blake, exhibiting great comic range as the ultimate 'supporting actor' here. We see him most as Mr Alexander Keith, a Victorian impresario in an enormous peach smoking jacket and the closest thing Paget has to a friend as they tour their terrible shows together. Supposedly Paget's bad art is his way of trying to find human connection. The problem is that, beyond the wide-eyed delusions and the metaphors about diamonds living in his head, we never get enough of a sense of him to know what that means. His loneliness may be touchingly real but the sentimental moments arrive like a demand for sympathy rather than something earned. Providing restitution from historical erasure is undoubtedly a worthy goal of art – but this show feels more like a message than an encounter. At Bristol Old Vic until 12 July. Then at Underbelly, George Square, Edinburgh, 30 July to 24 August
Fashion Network
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Fashion Network
Grace Wales Bonner: Actively sartorial sports-style chic
This show felt very much like a coming-of-age moment for Grace Wales Bonner, perhaps because it was held in the library of the number one ranked secondary school in Paris. See catwalk Backed up with grace by Dutch harpist Ranie Ribeiro, the show was staged inside Lycée Henry-IV, right behind the Panthéon, where reside the great legends of France – from Marie Curie, Josephine Baker and Simone Veil to Victor Hugo and Émile Zola. Wales Bonner, in turn, has been a star for some time — in fact, ever since her debut show in London inside a forgotten Edwardian townhouse behind Buckingham Palace a decade ago. Since then, she has gone on to win the LVMH Prize and the CFDA International Menswear Designer of the Year among many accolades, thanks to her uber-fresh tailoring, subtle use of sports-style and above all her unique blend of UK hipsterism and Afro-Caribbean panache. So much so that classic tailoring brands, venerable marques and hot active sports labels all vie to collaborate with Wales Bonner. Her co-ed show on Wednesday evening opened with guys in belted shorts and crisp techy jackets and girls in silk shorts and saddle-stitched leather jerkins. Everything was perfectly cut — as was the tailoring made in a link-up with Savile Row institution Anderson & Sheppard. She cut lean suits with ever-so-flared pants and jackets with contrast collars and revived that famed English fashion classic, the Crombie, for men and women, lightening the look and accessorizing with diamond baobab-flower brooches and berets courtesy of Stephen Jones. See catwalk Wales Bonner has a justly mega reputation for creating hit footwear, and her savvy revival in contrast colors of the famed Y-3 Field shoe looks like being another huge hit. All the opening looks were anchored by Montego tasseled loafers — likely to become fan favorites. Grace's designs can occasionally seem deceptively simple, but they always manage to combine wearability with an intriguing sense of newness, just like this collection. This all led to an elegiac finale of eveningwear, tuxedos and tails — worn by young men and women with evident pride as the soundtrack mixed in 'For Some We Loved' by Dorothy Ashby and 'Eternal Life' by Shira Small, courtesy of arranger James William Blades. The entire show earned an intense burst of applause, further underlining her exceptional trajectory in fashion. In a word, Grace Wales Bonner is the new Miuccia Prada of menswear.
Western Telegraph
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Western Telegraph
Beamish, The Living Museum Of The North wins Museum Of The Year award
The open-air museum, in Country Durham, bring north-east England's Georgian, Edwardian and 1940s and 1950s history to life through immersive exhibits. The £120,000 prize was presented to Rhiannon Hiles, chief executive of Beamish, by comedian and prize judge Phil Wang, at a ceremony held at the Museum Of Liverpool. Beamish offers immersive exhibits (David Levene/Art Fund/PA) Wang, 35, said: 'Beamish is a worthy winner of this year's Art Fund Museum of the Year award. Our visit was one of the most fun days I've had in years. 'An unbelievable level of commitment from staff, and a jaw-dropping amount of detail ran through everything. They had to drag me kicking and screaming out of there!' Jenny Waldman, director of Art Fund and chairwoman of the judges for Art Fund Museum Of The Year, added: 'Beamish is a museum brought to life by people – a joyous, immersive and unique place shaped by the stories and experiences of its community. 'The judges were blown away by the remarkable attention to detail of its exhibits across a 350-acre site and by the passion of its staff and volunteers.' In the past year Beamish has completed its Remaking Beamish project, which has seen the recreation of a 1950s town and 1950s farm. Beamish, The Living Museum Of The North, is an open-air museum in County Durham (David Levene/Art Fund/PA) In 2024 they opened a 1950s cinema, toy shop and electrical shop, as well as a Georgian tavern. The museum, which celebrates its 55th anniversary this year, was in a list of finalists that comprised Chapter in Cardiff, Compton Verney in Warwickshire, Golden Thread Gallery in Belfast and Perth Museum in Perth and Kinross. Art Fund annually shortlists five outstanding museums for the prize and the 2025 edition recognises activities that took place from autumn 2023 to winter 2024. The judges were tasked with identifying impactful projects and looking at the overall achievements of the organisations.
