One of the joys of being perceived as a company which is a bit unusual and extra-ordinary is that we often get unusual requests. Thus it was that we landed the job of supplying a throne to the Miss England organisers, a countrywide beauty pageant which ended last week with the gorgeous winner, a niece of Lynford Christie, sitting on our throne surrounded by the runners-up and drooling press photographers.
People have asked, "How did you get the commission to supply that amazing chair?" We don't really know is the answer but I gave the local press a somewhat fatuous answer saying we sell a lot of thrones in the recession as customers want to cheer themselves up in hard times and of course these words were printed for which I apologize.
The throne itself is hand carved mahogany and boasts two lion-head arms and claw feet. It looks great in any wood finish, but on this occasion we polished it in white and silver with lots of silver leaf on the detailed parts front and back. The cover was a milk white leather and the back was deep buttoned with heavy lead crystal svarowski buttons from Austria.
We were all pretty pleased with the result and the chair embellishes the Beauty Queen in a royal setting and we are keeping our fingers crossed for more demands for such unusual pieces, 'cos our team thrives on challenges.
Any more beautiful Queens out there?
Why not check this line out in our store? it looks great in black. - CLICK ME!
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We had a curious visit to our showroom on 17th July, a group of 30 Survivors from those who came by train to Britain in 1938/9, saying goodbye to their families on the railways stations in Germany and Europe never to see them again. They were the Kindertransport survivors saved as children from the Holocaust and the Gas Chambers by an Association of British Jews guaranteeing their costs and only young children with a maximum limit of 10,000 were permitted into this country by the Chamberlain Government.
The visitors were very sprightly for their advanced years, refusing any assistance with walking or climbing stairs. They stayed for a couple of hours trying out all of our seating and lighting. They were particularly fascinated with the motion chairs and large animal figures. We were privileged to host them for a short while during their week long stay on the Fylde coast.
Despite their traumas of losing their families, roots and expectations in Nazi Germany, Poland and Czechoslovakia, they were very positive and forward thinking. It must have been a heart-breaking wrench for the parents to decide to convey their kids to a foreign land as little refugees when after kristallnacht it became evident that their country was in the grasp of a monster. Thank God Britain proudly, was a kind and compassionate host for them.
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As the recession goes on and deepens and widens like a gloomy lake of tears filling up from the well of gloom, I reflect on the fashions that might emerge at this taxing time. I supposed that most buyers would go for a minimalistic look, no frills, no flamboyant colour, no fancy details, just a monastic brown look, exuding poverty and chastity - verging on the dull. However the opposite effect is blossoming.
People under pressure seem to have opted for vibrant colours like fuchsia purple and in-your-face white. Textures have been exotic, much animal print, crocodile and shiny faux leathers, wood finishes have been requested that would be outrageous even in rich and decadent times. Lots of silver leaf, oodles of Svarowski crystal addenda, even fur trimmings! Not only are we getting orders for OTT pieces but also if customers order multiples of the same chair or sofa they want a lot of variety so no two pieces are the same.
Normally as a sensible supplier you would spurn these orders or persuade the client that they ought to make the selection more uniform - but let's face it, it is a buyer's market. Cash is king and the days when you turn down an eccentric order are long gone. The books are full again and we are doing overtime in this mad world because we have grasped the nettle having decided the customer is always right.
So long may this ''recession'' sustain itself. It looks pretty likely as the government gives away the family jewels in the knowledge they won't be in charge for long and some other team will have to wear the yoke of power and we will be impoverished but highly decorated as once we were with blue woad.
By the way - blue is not a great furnishing colour.
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