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Blog History Revisited
Are Trade Guilds Relevant Today?
Benefits of Small Business in the Economy.Post the Global Financial Crisis (2008) I began looking at my own family business, the Antiquarian Print Gallery. It had sustained me for over a quarter of a century. Let’s face it, when customers are stressed and time poor, a franchise business/supermarket with familiar isles that stocks familiar products [...]
Origins of St. Valentine's Day
Valentine = Christian Martyr?Saint Valentine’s Day is said to be named after one or more of the Christian Martyrs of Ancient Rome. The name “Valentine”, derived from valens (worthy, strong, powerful). Of the Saint Valentine whose feast is on February 14, nothing is known except his name and that he was buried at the Via [...]
The Golden Age of Enchantment 1860-1930
Definition of ChildhoodTwo Monumental tides have changed & challenged Planet Earth since the mid 1600s: The Age of Enlightenment gave a voice to Philosophers and Scientists who became the fertilizer for the Industrial Revolution . Inventors armed with the new found scientific discoveries invented labour saving devices. Factories manufactured volume erego creating “economy of scale” [...]
Evolution of Fashion Magazines
Present Glossy Fashion magsWomen's Fashion Magazines of today incorporate articles on recipe, seasonal home decoration, star gossip and the fashion trends. Every other page is dedicated to fashion brands & accessory advertising. Often referred to as "glossy magazines" they are aimed at their ideal customer, the lady hereslf, in these days of "off-the-rack", factory produced [...]
Halloween, Welsh Folklore, the Devil and Black Robin the Magician
Engineering a Solution with Benefits...William Maddocks &"The Cob"When I sat down to research this beautiful, idyllic, delicately hand coloured aquatint of "Pont Aberglasslyn", featuring dramatic Welsh hills, peaceful estuary and some recreational fishermen...how did I end up with "Halloween"?It seems Pont Aberglasslyn has an intriguing connection to the Devil according to Welsh folk lore. Situated [...]
Enlightened Encyclopedia Evolution care of the Printing Trade
The Printing Press - A Catalyst for Change?Prior to the invention of the printing Press by Johannes Gutenberg circa 1452 the “civilized world” was one of hand written manuscripts for those wealthy enough to afford such luxuries, hence such knowledge. For the majority there was verbal education as few were literate. Now, there is some [...]
1788 : Enlightenment Meets Industry & Convicts Meet Sydney Cove
In London 1788 Alexander Hogg published 3 Volumes- The New Royal Cyclopedia,and Encyclopedia, or Complete, Modern and Universal Dictionary of Arts and Sciences...Modern Improvements & Latest Discoveries..." The copper plate engravings, printed in 1788, reveal a fraction of the knowledge born from the Age of Enlightenment (c.1650-) & Industrial Revolution (c.1750-). This technological [...]
Science & Technology = Art Revolution
Waldemar Janszczak and His Impressionism InvestigationRecently a client introduced me to the work by a British art critic and television producer, Waldemar Januszczak. Jane sent me “The Impressionists: Painting and Revolution”. Methinks, “This will be great to listen to while I work on other activities…” WRONG! I happened to be uploading Science and Technology orientated [...]
Sydney: Convict or Hemp Colony?
More a Question of Peak Resources?The big problem of the 21st century has been that we live in an age of "peak resources". This relates to the future energy, food and water needs of an ever growing world population. The word "sustainability" is often used as advertising hooks. There must have been [...]
Lady Sarah Lennox & King George III
Royal Court Beauty, Lady Sarah LennoxOn pulling a historical thread to research a traditional Regency silhouette, as so often, a tale of sadness, delight, spirit and a happy ending. It begins with British court beauties which is too often a story of plot and counter-plot, jealousy, envy, hatred, malice. It is refreshing, therefore, to find [...]
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