This lecture traces the significance and use of beds from the medieval period through to the 18th century, the great “State Beds”, the history of their construction, decoration and the often costly textiles associated with them. It may surprise you to know that in times gone by married, single, rich or poor, one never slept alone.

Janusz Karczewski-Slowikowski, MSc., B.Ed has been a NADFAS lecturer since 1975. He is an expert on antique furniture, it’s design, construction and socio-economic significance.

 

On the death of George Clifford, 3rd Earl of Cumberland in 1605 his only surviving child Lady Anne found she had been disinherited in favour of her uncle. For forty years she fought to regain her inheritance. Ultimately successful, she returned to her ancestral estates in the North where she endowed hospitals, repaired churches and rebuilt her castles which had been destroyed in the Civil War.

David Bostwick BA(Hons),MA, Phd ,ALA, AMA is lecturer to NADFAS, NACF, The National Trust, Antique Societies and Garden Societies. He is a specialist advisor on
16th and 17th century decorative plasterwork, woodwork and furniture. He is a consultant on historic buildings for The National Trust, English Heritage and Historic Scotland.

 

The race was on to copy the wondrous porcelain from China and Japan which poured into Europe but at a high price and fiendish taxation. The background story of porcelain in China and Japan from the 10th century onwards leads to the development of the great porcelain factories of Europe - Meissen, St. Cloud, Dresden…. and finally in the 18th century the flowering of the English names Bow and Chelsea and the wealth of the Midlands.

Amanda Herries MA Cantab moved with her family from 1988- 1995 to Japan, lecturing and writing on Oriental/Western cross- cultural and artistic influences. Her most recent publications are on Japanese plant and garden influences in the West. She read Archaeology and Anthropology at Cambridge.