School holidays offer the perfect opportunity to get out of the usual routine and enjoy the little things. School holidays comprise a significant portion of any school year. Students attend an average of 180 school days per year. The rest of that time is spent on weekends, holidays and vacations.

One of the benefits of school holidays is the time that families can spend together. School work, especially in primary and high school, becomes a child's job. Holidays give families an opportunity to spend time together and celebrate. The focus for students moves away from school and onto family and culture. Longer breaks allow families an opportunity to reconnect.

There's so much to do together that's hands on and heaps of fun. We have an array of game sets including chess, dominoes and checkers in store.  A magnificent ebonised timber and boxwood full chess set with original box, c1900. An early Bakelite draught set, c1910 and a double nine whalebone and ebony dominoes, c1900. These are all easy games to learn but hard to master, perfect for all ages and teaches fair play and are known as intellectual sports.

Think your child can beat you at your own game. Come and visit us at Greene & Greene Antiques, Woollahra.

An array of game sets at Greene & Greene Antiques

Spring has sprung! And with the changes in seasons, comes all kinds of fun things. The flowers will be blooming. We’ll be packing away the winter woolies and bringing out the bathing suits. But first there’s a little piece of business we all have to take care of, if we truly want a breath of fresh air - spring cleaning.

The most common usage of spring cleaning refers to the yearly act of cleaning a house from top to bottom which would take place in the first warm days of the year typically in Spring, hence the name.

It has been suggested that the origins of spring cleaning date back to the Iranian Norouz, the Persian New Year, which falls on the first day of spring. Iranians continue the practice of "khooneh tekouni" which literally means "shaking the house" just before the New Year. Everything in the house is thoroughly cleaned, from the curtains to the furniture. A similar tradition is the Scottish "New Year's cleaning" on Hogmanay (December 31), a practice now also widespread in Ireland, New Zealand, and to North America.

 

We are often asked about the various styles and movements of the decorative arts. To assist you in understanding the 'jargon' related to antique periods, we have categorised them into four basic periods, although there are more:

1.  Georgian Period (1714 – 1830) during the Georgian period, the years of political upheaval during the reign of four Georges between 1714 and 1830, all pieces of jewellery were still handmade by highly skilled jewellers with stones set either with enclosed backs or on foil. Diamonds became the most desirable stone during this time, made to shimmer in candle light.
 
2.  Victorian Period (1837 – 1901) the Victorian Period marked the reign of Queen Victoria and throughout, saw what is regarded as three main eras as far as fashion and jewellery are concerned. The first of these, the Romantic Period (1837 – 1861) closely mirrored the affection seen by the world between Queen Victoria and Prince Albert whilst the Grand Period which followed (1861 – 1880) marked a period of sadness and mourning which followed Albert’s death, paving the way for decades of popularity of Jet black mourning jewellery. The Aesthetic Period (1870 – 1900) saw the influence of Japan on all aspects of the decorative arts and marked the real transition between Victorian and Edwardian trends. 

3.  Edwardian Period (1901 – 1914) following the trends of the Victorian Period came the Edwardian Era, one which brought with it a renewed love of diamonds. Finely made jewellery in platinum and diamonds with coloured stones and natural pearls were the order of the day. It was during the Edwardian period that both Cartier and Faberge came to fame, two names synonymous with elegance and style to this day.

4.  Art Deco Period (1920 – 1935) perhaps the most unique of the four periods covered here is the Art Deco period which covered the years between 1920 and 1935 and marked a time where many, after the First World War, had money for luxuries for the first time. During this era, jewellery was more and more the product of a machine and, as such, Art Deco pieces became known for their symmetry and geometry. Popular standout pieces from the era include expensive and beautifully made diamond line bracelets, ruby brooches and sapphire earrings.

Prepare to be educated! Indulge yourself with some art history, come and visit us at Greene & Greene Antiques, Woollahra.

Are you thinking of travelling to Barcelona? Yes, it’s a good choice! Barcelona is fast becoming one of Europe’s top destinations, perfectly situated between the mountains and the sea, its diverse neighbourhoods offer visitors a unique cultural experience. With a perfect balance of high end design, independent boutiques, showrooms, concept stores and ateliers, Barcelona remains a creative city with a strong craft heritage that is still being nurtured. It's mix of modern architecture and gothic charm make it both sophisticated and bohemian, a magical city.

You might ask why, are we talking about Barcelona? It’s not only our travel recommendation, or the fact that we purchased some interesting pieces. It’s that our very own Michael Greene travelled there only a couple of weeks ago. You might not know, but Michael is half Spanish, with his mother being born near Girona Spain. Although Michael was born in England he has always travelled to his mother’s home town of Girona for holidays since he was a little boy.

Girona is a city on a human scale with all the charm of a larger city. Girona is no longer overshadowed by its big brother Barcelona. Take a leisurely stroll through the old town, visit the museums and the historic buildings, wander through the streets and squares, and discover the tourist attractions, festivals, restaurants and cultural events. Enjoy it at any time of year and, if you can, come back again and again! Girona also play host to the number one restaurant in the world in El Cellar de Can Roca (bighospitality.co.uk, 2015) and it has now been officially confirmed that the Game of Thrones production team will be filming scenes in the city.

The main purpose of Michael’s trip was to visit family although always focused on work, he kept his eyes open for some new pieces to bring home. Barcelona is famous for having great shopping streets like Passeig de Gràcia and Portal de l’Àngel, probably the best-known. It also has some of the best vintage shopping, including some fascinating flea markets.

After Michael’s trip ended, he returned home with him some rather intriguing pieces. Including an abundance of cufflinks, one pair depicting Columbus column and made for the World Expo in 1929, and another fabulous pair with shades of green enamel made around 1920. A marvelous pair of South Sea pearl and diamond earrings set in platinum and 18ct c1930; and a hand engraved diamond set ring in 18ct gold and platinum c1920. These are just to mention a few.

We bring Barcelona back to Queen Street. Come visit us at Greene & Greene Antiques, Woollahra.

Some new pieces from Spain

Just a few charming cufflinks Michael picked up in Barcelona

Discover a world of illusions and mysteries at Greene & Greene Antiques. Explore the dark arts and alter your perceptions as we watch non-believers become believers with our unique collection.

A piece in our collection is a mystery clock (image right) by Jean-Eugène Robert-Houdin (December 6, 1805 - June 13, 1871), clockmaker, illusionist, inventor and magician. The glass dial with single golden hand and Roman numerals is enclosed in an ormolu and original glass dome. Jean-Eugène Robert-Houdin is often referred to as 'the Father of modern magic' and was the namesake of the famous American magician Harry Houdini.

"I am tempted to believe that I came into the world with a file, a compass, or a hammer in my hand, because from my earliest childhood, these instruments were my toys, my playthings"
- Jean-Eugène Robert-Houdin

Whilst we are on the topic of illusions and mysteries, HOUDINI the two part mini-series will premiere on the Seven Network this week. It follows the epic tales of Harry Houdini as he emerges as America’s first bona fide world-renowned superstar. This from humble beginnings at circus sideshows to sold-out concert halls, Eastern European immigrant Erich Weiss rose to become a household name. Naming himself after his hero the French magician and clockmaker Jean-Eugène Robert-Houdin, Houdini, was known across the globe. Academy Award winner Adrien Brody (The Pianist) stars as The Great Harry Houdini as he finds fame, engages in espionage, battles spiritualists and encounters the greatest names of the era, from U.S. presidents to Rasputin. A thrilling ride through Harry’s psyche, HOUDINI delves deep behind the curtain into his life through his stunts, his visions and his mastery of illusion.

Discover a world of illusions and mysteries. Come visit us at Greene & Greene Antiques, Woollahra.

This two part miniseries starring Adrien Brody as the legendary Harry Houdini.

Do you want to be part of history? At Greene & Greene we are all about history and intricacy of objects that can transport us to the past. We have some new stock that will do exactly this. Each piece holds great symbolism of its origin and national identity. But more importantly they all have a story.

One of our new pieces is a ceramic Bulldog figurine with the Union Jack created by Royal Doulton, an English company producing tableware and collectables since 1815. The British Bulldogs patriotically draped with the Union Jack flag were introduced in 1918 and reintroduced during WWII. During WWI the bulldog symbolised the dogged determination of the British people and is now regarded as part of their national identity.

All the items on display are from Australian collections, apart from a copy of the Queen's Wattle brooch - the real thing is coming in January.  

The exhibition also features a fascinating collection of mourning jewellery that includes many early and rare pieces.

A fine possession: Jewellery and Identity is on at the Powerhouse Museum until 20th September 2015.