GREENE & GREENE - BLOG

Melbourne Antiques & Art Fair 2018

4/21/2018

Greene & Greene Antiques are pleased to be taking part in the annual Melbourne Antiques and Art Fair at the Melbourne Showgrounds, 08 Town Square Pavilion, Gate 5, Langs Road, Ascot Vale VIC 3032.

Allow yourself to fall under the spell of an extraordinary variety of art and antiques from Australia's best dealers. We will be exhibiting a collection of our finest antique jewellery, silver and a range of decorative objects.

Please feel free to come and visit us in the shop this week to pick up a complimentary entry ticket for you and a guest. We also have Gala Preview tickets for two people on Thursday 3 May.

TICKETS
3 May - Gala Preview $30
4 - 6 May - Adult $20
Passouts are available to return on general admission days of the fair

Look forward to seeing you there!
Tickets available at the door or online
https://aaada.org.au/melbourne/

February Birthstone is Amethyst

2/3/2018

Amethyst is the gemological term for purple quartz and is a beautiful blend of violet and red that can be found in every corner of the earth. In fact, quartz is the second most abundant material found in the Earth's crust. Amethyst derives its colour from natural irradiation, iron impurities and the presence of trace elements. Its hardness is the same as other quartz, which makes it a durable and lasting option for jewellery.

A funny fact is that Amethyst, the name comes from the Ancient Greek, derived from the word "methustos", which means "intoxicated". The Ancient Greeks wore and carved drinking vessels out of the gemstone with the belief that it would protect them from drunkenness.

The pieces pictured below to celebrate the February birthstone of Amethyst are a Georgian amethyst necklace, with foil backed stones pinch and rub set in silver and gold, c.1820; At the front left an Edwardian amethyst and diamond brooch, set in detailed 18ct white gold, c.1910; To the front right a Late Victorian 15ct yellow gold, amethyst and seed pearl brooch, c.1880; Now at the back, an amethyst cocktail ring set in 14ct yellow gold, c.1960; And a Late Victorian amethyst and diamond ring set in 18ct yellow gold, c.1890.

Come and visit us in store here at Greene & Greene Antiques to celebrate the February birthstone Amethyst and its striking colours.

23 Days until Christmas!!

12/2/2017

Can you believe it's December already? Are you asking where did the time go, well don't waste it because we only have 23 days left before Christmas Day! Get in quick and find that perfect gift for that special person in your life to thank them for the year of 2017.

December's birthstones offer three ways to fight the winter blues or in Australia represent the three beautiful shades of our oceans: tanzanite, zircon and turquoise.

These gems range from the oldest on earth (zircon), to one of the first mined and used in jewellery (turquoise), to one of the most recently discovered (tanzanite).

All of these stones beauty rivals even the most precious gems. Colourless zircon is a convincing replacement for diamond, tanzanite often substitutes sapphire, and turquoise is unmatched in its hue of blue.

Since the Early Ages, Turquoise (image of items on the right) has been believed to aid in spiritual growth and it is also associated with the mythical ability that attracts money, success and love. Its mysterious powers also include protection, healing, courage, friendship and luck. It relaxes the mind, and eases mental tension.

Whatever your style preference or budget, one of December's three birthstones will match your true blue desires. Come and visit us in store at Greene & Greene Antiques, Woollahra for a range of precious gifts this Christmas.

Pope Joan - Legend or Board Game

9/30/2017

Feel like playing a traditional game over this long weekend? Well why don't you try something new or something old should we say.

POPE JOAN. The traditional equipment for this game, as illustrated on the right, consists of a wooden lacquer box divided into nine compartments, three sections for the decks of cards, four for mother of pearl gaming chips and two containing the stacked eight papier mache dishes each displaying their label: Pope (9♦), Matrimony, Intrigue, Ace, King, Queen, Knave and Game. Any number of players can take part and each receive thirty mother of pearl counters at the beginning of the game. A fifty-two card pack completes the equipment. This rare Pope Joan, shown with the lid and the interior, is Cantonese and dates from the first quarter of the nineteenth century.

The aim of the game is to either be the first to play all the cards of a hand; or to win the most counters by playing certain cards.

Now for some history on the naming of this pastime. The game was presumably named after Pope Julius II, the Warrior Pope, or it derives from the legend that Pope John VIII was actually a woman. As the Catholic Church denies a female pope, the legend was used as protest propaganda in the Victoria era, which also explains the popularity of the game in Scotland. Funnily enough, the 9♦ is sometimes called the Curse of Scotland.

Doesn't this game sound intriguing? Come and try something new and old this long weekend, and visit us in store at Greene & Greene Antiques, Woollahra.

Pope Joan game in original
Cantonese box, c.1820 - $2,450

Sydney Antiques & Art Fair 2017

9/2/2017

Here at Greene & Greene Antiques we are pleased to be taking part in the annual Sydney Antiques & Art Fair at the Kensington Room, Royal Randwick Racecourse, Alison Rd. Randwick NSW 2031.

Allow yourself to fall under the spell of an extraordinary variety of art and antiques from Australia's best dealers. We will be exhibiting a collection of our finest antique jewellery, silver and a ran of decorative objects.

Please feel free to come and visit us in the shop this week to pick up a complementary entry ticket for you and a guest.

Wednesday 6 September (Gala Preview) 6pm – 9pm
Thursday 7 - Saturday 9 September 10am – 7pm
Sunday 10 September 10am – 5pm

Father's Day Gifts

8/27/2017

You only get one Father in life, so why not show him how much you care on Father's Day with a unique gift. We have all sorts of gift ideas; jewellery in the form of cufflinks, signet rings and chains; decorative objects such as flasks, pens or even a pocket watch. Go the extra mile and make this year special with a gift for Dad from Greene & Greene Antiques!

Heads of Angels - Miss Frances Gordon

6/17/2017

It is always interesting to see when art crosses mediums, from an 18th century painted portrait to a late Victorian re-interpretation. Sir Joshua Reynolds portrait lives on and can be seen at Greene & Greene Antiques.

Sir Joshua Reynolds (16 July 1723 - 23 February 1792) was an influential eighteenth-century English painter, specialising in portraits. He was one of the major British painters of the 18th Century. He promoted the "Grand Style" in painting which depended on the idealisation of the imperfect. He was a founder and first president of the Royal Academy of Arts, and was knighted by George III in 1769.

Comparing the two images (above and to the right) you can see Sir Joshua Reynolds 'Heads of Angels Miss Frances Gordon' the silver re-interpretation and the portrait respectively.

The five year old Lady Frances Gordon sat for Reynolds for this unusual portrait in July and August 1786, and again in March 1787. The portrait is composed of a series of studies of Frances Gordon's head from five different angles.

Sir Joshua Reynolds 'Heads of Angels Miss Frances Gordon' 1786-7

You may ask why was this little girl painted? Frances Isabella Keir Gordon (1782-1831) was the only daughter of Lord William Gordon. Her uncles was Lord George Gordon, whose political activities had sparked the anti-Catholic riots of 1780. A notable family had asked an influential painter to stray away from his usual 'fancy pictures' (painting of scenes of everyday life with elements of imagination, invention or storytelling) to compose a portrait.

The Victorians being a rather sentimental group loved this portrait which has been on show at the Tate since 1841 and has been reproduced a number of times across prints and other mediums. One of the more fascinating reproductions is this interpretation on a set of seven sterling silver and cut crystal boxes in all different shapes and sizes, hallmarked in Birmingham 1904-08 that we have in store. Ideal as a christening present or a gift for a special god daughter, it will be cherished for years to come.

Taking Tea In Traditional Style

4/22/2017

We don't only love art and history but a story to go along with it. This fine quality English hallmarked sterling silver tea service has a very interesting story to match.

The tea service in the original oak box with dedication on a brass plaque on the lid includes a heavy quality hand raised, chased and repoussee rococo revival tea pot with matching tea pot stand, sugar basin and a milk jug. With original gilt washed interiors and manufactured by Eames & Bernard of London 1828-29. The lid shows the original retailers details "Hamlet Goldsmiths & Jewellers to his Majesty". Each piece is engraved with the recipients initials. This piece was a gift from the parishioners of a small village in Norfolk as a token of appreciation. Extraordinarily the original parchment is included with details of the gift and its recipient. The parchment reads:

"To the Reverend Henry Jowett
Sir, the Parishioners of Little Dunham; of which you have been Rector nearly forty years being desirous of expressing their sense of your seal for the cause of Religion - your care of, and benevolence to, the poor, your uprightness of Character, and your obliging & gentle demeanour towards all, are desirous of presenting to you the accompanying silver tea-service, which they hope will be long possessed by yourself, and afterwards preserved by such of your family as you may think proper to bequeath it to, as a proof of the estimation, in which they hold you, and of the affection with which they regard you, and at the same time as an expression of their humble opinion of what the duty of a Minister of the Christian Church is, and ought to be - "to visit the Fatherless and Widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unsupported from the World."
February 2nd 1829."

This piece comes from a country estate and was probably bought in the 1920s as a wedding gift. It is interesting to wonder how and when it came to Australia. However it goes to show the tradition of giving a silver tea service to mark a special occasion and the taking of tea have never gone out of style.

Do you also love to hear a great story over a nice cup of tea? Come and visit us in store here at Greene & Greene Antiques, Woollahra for a wide range of tea services and tea drinking paraphernalia.

Australian Antiques & Art Dealers Association Sydney Fair

9/6/2016

Join us on the 7-11th of September in the Kensington Room, Royal Randwick Racecourse, Alison Road for the annual Sydney Australian Antique & Art Dealers Association (AAADA) Fair and fall under the spell by the variety of art and antiques from Australia's finest dealers.

Wednesday 7 September (Gala Preview) 6pm – 9pm
Thursday 8 - 10 Saturday September 11am – 6pm
Sunday 11 September 11am – 5pm

General admission is $20. For more information about the AAADA fair, click here.

Perfect Gift for a Spring Bride

8/16/2016

Tradition never goes out of style at Greene & Greene Antiques. We recently purchased this delightful Coalport bone china tea service for six. It's in mint condition and has probably never been used and comprises an eight cup tea pot, milk jug, lidded sugar basin, six tea cups, saucers and side plates and a useful little cake bowl. It is called "Hong Kong" pattern and was made from 1970 and discontinued in 1993. This particular set was purchased at Thomas Goode & Co. of Mayfair in 1976 for which we have the original invoice (pictured below). The pattern is very reminiscent of 18th century Chinoiserie designs depicting birds, butterflies, dragonflies and oriental flowers in the Imari palette of cobalt blue and iron red with gilded highlights.

As afternoon tea has become so fashionable, it would be our recommendation for a generous gift that would become a family heirloom for future generations. Come and visit us in store here at Greene & Greene Antiques, Woollahra for a myriad of engagement and wedding gift ideas.