Hunting and Gatherings for Town & Country

Vintage - Jaeger LeCoultre - 18k - World Timer - to wear with your dinner jacket

Asprey - 18k ruby/lapis lazuli- Cufflinks and studs - for an evening at the Opera

Cartier - Wrap around Cufflinks - for your shirt from Turnbull & Asser

dunhill - pipe

Cigar holder - amber and sterling

Hermès - Ashtray - for the smoking room

Priceless...

"The Aesthete" Column in Financial Times Magazine - How To Spend It

(Photo by Unknown)

Thank you very kindly to... 
British Fashion Designer

 Joe Casely-Hayford

Early morning - I was walking the streets of Rome when I picked up a copy of  Financial Times to read with my latte Macchiato at a nearby cafe. Well, of course I sat down to read the “How To Spend It” magazine. In the first part of "The Aesthete” column Mr. Joe Casely-Hayford talks about his watches, his books, music, restaurants, scent, travels and his two favorite websites:

 The Traveler and Irenebrination  

May I Recommend this Great and Excellent Designer ...


Remember that...

“Creativity involves breaking out of established patterns in order to look at things in a different way.”

- Edward de Bono

Below - Text from The Casely-Hayford website and photos from his autumn/winter collection 2011:

Philosophy:

All men possess elements of anarchy within their character. Anarchy is not about the total absence of rules, but rather the significance of autonomy. The Casely-Hayford ethos represents a unique expression of freedom created when conformity threatens identity, or convention restricts spontaneity; we fuse this expression of the free spirit with the very particular gestures of English sartorialism. The House aims to distil a multitude of ideas into a simple pure entity: innovation through tradition.

Craftmanship:

The Casely-Hayford house has been founded on two simple phrases: 'English Sartorialism' and 'British Anarchy'; phrases which embody key elements of the English character.

The House follows a tradition of adherence to the dress code which was first established in the 19th century, when, through adopting elements of attire from military convention and sporting pursuits, certain pointers came to define modern western dress. This timeless style has stayed close to the heart of the discerning 21st century man. Casely-Hayford has chosen to use these parameters to highlight the brand signature.

  

The journey continues...

"

Where Will Life Take You?

"In France...

(Collage - Photo by Tavarua)

Philip Glass...

Grilled Wild Hare with Herbs de Provence

 Today...Fresh Game - Wild Hare...Well, on occasion I do prepare something ...

Ingredients:

1 1/2 whole Hare(3 - 4 1/2 pounds), cut into 9 pieces - Sea salt & pepper, to taste

1 1/4 cup of olive oil

5 cloves garlic or one whole small round garlic

Herbs de Provence

5 short sprigs rosemary

5 short sprigs thyme - once again more sea salt and pepper

Directions:

One hour before grilling the hare the pieces needs to be sea salted and peppered. 

Heat grill. Meanwhile, prepare marinade by blending olive oil, garlic, herbs, salt & pepper. Brush the hare pieces with olive oil -  sear the hare pieces on the grill.

Grill for about 20 to 40 minutes depending on the size of the pieces, brushing with marinade and turning them over every 5 to 10 minutes.  Do not forget that the hare will look done before it actually is.

 Look after it by controlling the temperature and basting it continuously with the marinade.

Serve with roasted potatoes seasoned in olive oil, sea salt, black pepper, and garlic. Add some thin sliced dried ginger, coated in fine powder sugar.

Tonight - A simple French red table wine.


Cheers!

 Port and a Cigar under the stars - The silence of autumn.

Dora Carrington - Painter

Self Portrait - 1910

Dora de Houghton Carrington (1893 – 1932) - Painter associated with the Bloomsbury Group.  We know that The Bloomsbury Group had a strong influence on both art and society. 

 The question is do we consider Carrington's work to be of importance? or do we consider just her Bohemian lifestyle to be of interest?

She studied at Slade School of Fine Art in London.  She married in 1921 and lived with her husband Ralph Partridge and Lytton Strachey. Partridge was educated at Christ Church and had rowed with Doras brother Noel while at Oxford. Dora was later introduced to him in Scotland.


"Partridge was the opposite of the kind of man who normally attracted her. He was tall and broad-shouldered and, in spite of her critical assessment of his looks, very handsome. He was in many ways a man's man, who wore his uniform as if he was meant to and was an athlete. Her friends in Bloomsbury took to calling him the major, and wondered how to assimilate such a seemingly stereotypical and masculine member of the English upper middle classes into their circle. They were to find that he fitted in rather well." 

She met Lytton Strachey (British writer) (which who she would have a platonic relationship) while staying at Asheham House with Virginia Woolf.  He studied at Trinity College and later joined other Cambridge graduates in the Bloomsbury group.  Carrington was devoted  to him for the rest of his life.

Virginia Woolf 1922 - Photo by G.C. Beresford

Lytton Strachey (one of the Cambridge Apostles) - Painting By Dora Carrington

The author of  the book Virginia Woolf's Women (2002) stated that he was: "Attracted to Carrington from the moment he first laid eyes on her, he had boldly tried to kiss her during a walk across the South Downs, the feeling of his beard prompting an enraged outburst of disgust from the unwilling recipient. According to legend, Carrington plotted frenzied revenge, creeping into Lytton's bedroom during the night with the intention of cutting off the detested beard. Instead, she was mesmerized by his eyes, which opened suddenly and regarded her intently. From that moment on, the two became virtually inseparable.

Hmmm...

(All Photos by Tavarua)

Purdey - for the season...

A few photos from Purdey and their fall catalogue.