There’s a celebratory air to our August issue – and with good reason. Not only is it filled with high-summer inspiration, but it also marks a rather special milestone: our 400th issue. To honour the occasion, Alice Roberton turns her gaze to the other brands and icons celebrating this year – from Jane Austen, who would have turned 250 this December, to Liberty London, which is proudly in its 150th year.
Continuing the theme, Dominique Corlett asks 11 tastemakers in the world of antiques and interiors how would they spend £400. The result? An eclectic wish list of affordable decorative pieces, spanning from the 16th century to the 1980s.
Our Heirloom of the Future this month comes from ceramicist Ebony Russell, who takes her cue from perhaps the most beloved of celebratory traditions – the birthday cake. But beneath the candy-hued swirls of her designs (now exhibited in the V&A, no less) lies a deeper message: one that speaks of the complexity and diversity of women’s lives and stories.
Elsewhere, Emma Longstaff uncovers the fascinating – and often surprising – histories of hat pins and straw marquetry boxes. The former were once wielded as weapons; the latter, meticulously crafted by Napoleonic prisoners of war.
Our travel section is filled with ideas for sun-dappled sojourns across the great British countryside – from our round-up of the finest UK vineyards with rooms, to a scenic tour of Perthshire, a region teeming with breath-taking beauty and cultural hotspots.
As for our homes features, these are as distinctive, layered and full of character as ever, each showcasing imaginative and stylish ways to display collections. Alison Coldridge adorns her walls with hats and artists’ palettes, Julia Seppänen plays with scale usingoutsized artworks and sculptures,while David Williams suspends woven baskets en masse from the ceilings of his converted butcher’s shop.
Here’s to 400 issues that applaud craftmanship, beauty and history – and to many more to come!
Enjoy a peep at what to look forward to in our 400th issue!
