The Villa Alba Museum is cultural institution committed to the collection, study and display of 19th century interior decorative finishes, and the components of 19th and 20th century interior decoration. Most rooms in this historically and aesthetically significant house have stone (typically marble) fireplaces that are inset with plain and decorative tiles produced by the company of Mintons Ltd.Digital photograph of the decorative surround tiles on the left tiled panel of the fireplace in the main bedroom at Villa Alba. The four grey monochrome surround tiles were selected from a series of twelve 'Waverley' [novels] tiles designed by John Moyr Smith and produced by Mintons Ltd, Catalogue No. 1607 (Mintons Tile catalogue p. 62/206). Tiles x 4 Upper left: KENILWORTH / AMY ROBSART AND LEICESTER Lower left: THE ANTIQUARY / SIR ARTHUR DOVSTERSWIVEL Upper right: GUY MANNERING / MEG MERRILEES AND HATTERAICK Lower right: QUENTIN DURWARD / LOUIS QUENTIN & JACQUELINE fireplaces, mintons, mintons - tiles, villa alba --- main bedroom

The Villa Alba Museum is cultural institution committed to the collection, study and display of 19th century interior decorative finishes, and the components of 19th and 20th century interior decoration. Most rooms in this historically and aesthetically significant house have stone (typically marble) fireplaces that are inset with plain and decorative tiles produced by the company of Mintons Ltd.Born digital photograph of the gold, black and white hearth tiles of the fireplace in the main bedroom at Villa Alba. The twelve geometric, visually interlocking tiles feature an abstract flower within a black border. There are twelve parts of the pattern on each tile.fireplaces, mintons, mintons - tiles, villa alba --- main bedroom

The Villa Alba Museum is cultural institution committed to the collection, study and display of 19th century interior decorative finishes, and the components of 19th and 20th century interior decoration. Most rooms in this historically and aesthetically significant house have stone (typically marble) fireplaces that are inset with plain and decorative tiles produced by the company of Mintons Ltd.Born digital photograph of the fireplace in the second bedroom of Villa Alba. The original 1880s white marble mantel, obliquely positioned in the northwest corner of the room (one of two examples in the house) is the most ornate mantel in the first floor bedrooms. The central visual element in the mantel is an upturned conch shell surrounded by stylised foliage and flowers. The two upright carved supports of the mantel are sinuously carved in all almost rococo manner. The mantel is inset with monochrome surround tiles and ornate polychrome glazed tiles in a manner reminiscent of Ottoman Iznik tile work. All of the tiles were produced by Mintons Ltd.fireplaces, mintons, mintons - tiles, villa alba -- second bedroom

The Villa Alba Museum is cultural institution committed to the collection, study and display of 19th century interior decorative finishes, and the components of 19th and 20th century interior decoration. Most rooms in this historically and aesthetically significant house have stone (typically marble) fireplaces that are inset with plain and decorative tiles produced by the company of Mintons Ltd.Born digital photograph of the decorative tiles used in the hearth of the fireplace in the second bedroom of Villa Alba. The polychrome tiles are decorated in a manner reminiscent of Ottoman Iznik tile work. They feature the flowers and foliage of fuchsias and lily of the valley. The tiles at the edge have been cut to fit into the surround. The tiles have black visually interlocking borders. There are twelve tiles used at the front which extends six tiles deep. All of the tiles were produced by Mintons Ltd.fireplaces, mintons, mintons - tiles, villa alba -- second bedroom

The Villa Alba Museum is cultural institution committed to the collection, study and display of 19th century interior decorative finishes, and the components of 19th and 20th century interior decoration. Most rooms in this historically and aesthetically significant house have stone (typically marble) fireplaces that are inset with plain and decorative tiles produced by the company of Mintons Ltd.Born digital photograph of the decorative tiles used in the surround of the fireplace in the second bedroom of Villa Alba. The brick red, monochrome, geometrically patterned tiles feature a neo-classical Late Victorian use of Ancient Greek fretwork. Each side of the surround has four of these large tiles. All of the tiles were produced by Mintons Ltd.fireplaces, mintons, mintons - tiles, villa alba -- second bedroom

The Villa Alba Museum is cultural institution committed to the collection, study and display of 19th century interior decorative finishes, and the components of 19th and 20th century interior decoration. Most rooms in this historically and aesthetically significant house have stone (typically marble) fireplaces that are inset with plain and decorative tiles produced by the company of Mintons Ltd.Born digital photograph of the fireplace in the third bedroom of Villa Alba. The original 1880s black stone mantel, obliquely positioned in the southwest corner of the room (one of two examples in the house) is painted with a central group of three white roses. These are surrounded by flowers and foliage of jasmine that extend along the upper panel and down the sides of the mantel. It is believed that the addition of the painted flowers was completed by a freelance artist working for the Paterson Brothers; probably Ulysses Rizzi. The mantel is inset with two-tone surround tiles and decorative polychrome hearth tiles that incorporate a green ivy pattern which climbs up pieces of bamboo. Each tile is separated by a white and black border. All of the tiles were produced by Mintons Ltd.fireplaces, mintons, mintons - tiles, villa alba -- third bedroom

The Villa Alba Museum is cultural institution committed to the collection, study and display of 19th century interior decorative finishes, and the components of 19th and 20th century interior decoration. Most rooms in this historically and aesthetically significant house have stone (typically marble) fireplaces that are inset with plain and decorative tiles produced by the company of Mintons Ltd.Born digital photograph of the pattern of the rectangular surround tiles in the third bedroom of Villa Alba. The tiles, which are painted in underglaze red and green have a central scrolling pattern of large six- and small four-petalled flowers in green. The border use Late Victorian neo-classical fretwork. All of the tiles were produced by Mintons Ltd.fireplaces, mintons, mintons - tiles, villa alba -- third bedroom

The Villa Alba Museum is cultural institution committed to the collection, study and display of 19th century interior decorative finishes, and the components of 19th and 20th century interior decoration. Most rooms in this historically and aesthetically significant house have stone (typically marble) fireplaces that are inset with plain and decorative tiles produced by the company of Mintons Ltd.Born digital photograph of the pattern of the square hearth tiles in the third bedroom of Villa Alba. The glazed decorative tiles are painted in a pattern of climbing green ivy on a black base. The tiles have borders on two sides using a repeated black and white pattern. The tiles are laid so that the pattern of the ivy extends to the rear of the hearth. An oriental element with the design is the use of bamboo on which the ivy climbs. All of the tiles were produced by Mintons Ltd.fireplaces, mintons, mintons - tiles, villa alba -- third bedroom

The Villa Alba Museum is cultural institution committed to the collection, study and display of 19th century interior decorative finishes, and the components of 19th and 20th century interior decoration. Most rooms in this historically and aesthetically significant house have stone (typically marble) fireplaces that are inset with plain and decorative tiles produced by the company of Mintons Ltd.Born digital photograph of the fireplace in the fourth bedroom of Villa Alba. This is the only replacement fire place setting in the house. It was purchased with the support of a grant from the Bendigo Community Bank - Kew East Branch. The mantel, like that in the. third bedroom features garlands of polychrome painted flowers on the three panels. The mantel is inset with monochrome surround and hearth tiles. The latter is incomplete, missing the front row. All of the tiles were produced by Mintons Ltd.fireplaces, mintons, mintons - tiles, villa alba - fourth bedroom

The Villa Alba Museum is cultural institution committed to the collection, study and display of 19th century interior decorative finishes, and the components of 19th and 20th century interior decoration. Most rooms in this historically and aesthetically significant house have stone (typically marble) fireplaces that are inset with decorative tiles produced by the company of Mintons Ltd in the United Kingdom.Digital photograph of an intact and original 1880s fireplace in the drawing room of Villa Alba. Carved white marble mantle surround. Iron and brass back panel. Cast iron insert. Plain and decorative surround and hearth tiles produced by Mintons Ltd.fireplaces, villa alba - drawing room, mintons, mintons - tiles

The gouache was presented to Cr Jill O'Brien, Mayor of Kew in 1983-4, who was instrumental in the purchase of the window. The same Kewriosity article, referred to in the physical description, states that the window was originally commissioned from the artist by a Kew timber merchant, and following ownership by successive owners found its way back to Kew. The framed photograph is part of the Jill O'Brien collection which was gifted to the Kew Historical Society following her death in July 2016. The collection includes important primary sources relating to a number of areas in which Jill O'Brien made a significant contribution including the establishment of the Villa Alba Museum, local government, the Kew Historical Society, the Yarra Bend Trust, and the arts.Framed gouache on paper of the design by the artist Alan Sumner for his window, The Four Seasons. The window, now in Kew Library was purchased to commemorate Kew's 125th Anniversary. An article in a contemporary issue of Kewriosity states: The window is approximately three metres in diameter and divided into one central and four outer panels. Clockwise from the top is Autumn with sinuous lines in yellow and brown, then winter in cool blues and mauves with lines and circles suggesting rain, snow and hail. Spring follows in the bottom left quadrant with organic ovaloid shapes richly coloured and lines evoking growth. Then to the top where summer explodes with the colours of fire and blue of the sky at the height of summer. The centre panel has a powerful image of sun, moon and stars which links the surrounding panels".jill o’brien, public art - kew (vic), stained glass - kew (vic), alan sumner - the four seasons, kew library, public art

Open House 2022: "Like many Melburnians, Ying-Lan Dann has long been fascinated by the Mission to Seafarers, in Docklands. When she was invited to create a work in response to a building as part of this year’s Open House Melbourne, she knew immediately which it would be. Taking a peek behind the closed doors of some of Melbourne’s finest and most interesting buildings is a core premise of the weekend event, now in its 15th year. During that time, the program has grown from half a dozen buildings to a 200-plus strong list that extends to Ballarat and Bendigo. “[It’s] much more expansive and citizen-led,” says Fleur Watson, Open House Melbourne’s executive director. “As a public festival, it has always had a spirit of generosity, this gesture of opening up and allowing visitors to come and look and experience things.” Swinging open their doors at the end of the month will be some of the city’s finest mansions, including Villa Alba in Kew and Brighton’s Billilla, the Cairo flats in Fitzroy, the newly renovated Jewish Museum designed by Kerstin Thompson, the Melbourne Quakers Centre, the Albanian Mosque in Carlton North and many more. Considering how to approach the event this year, held remotely for the past two, Watson decided to explore beyond the traditional, with associate professor and director of curatorial practice at Monash University Tara McDowell. The two have co-curated an exhibition of works to run concurrently with the Open House program, called Take Hold of the Clouds. That’s where Dann’s work, Circular Temporalities, comes in, one of seven commissions around town in which local and international artists respond to chosen buildings or sites. A lecturer in interior design at RMIT as well as an artist, she is interested in time and finding different mediums to show things in flux and, having grown up on Phillip Island, she often uses water as a theme. When she started spending time at the Mission, Dann found there was an oculus at the top of the dome, known as the Norla Dome. She thought about how that small but significant opening related to where sailors spent so many months of the year, the sky being the only thing they would see much of the time, stars guiding the way in times gone by, and of the recent stories she’d heard about sailors being trapped at sea during COVID. Built in the Arts and Craft style between 1916 and 1919 and designed by architect Walter Butler, the Mission includes a chapel, clubroom, Chaplain’s house, a small cottage and the Norla Dome, which was apparently inspired by the Pantheon. The Mission was funded by the government and the Ladies Harbour Lights Guild, who Dann was also intrigued by. “One of the things those women identified is that life at sea is very dangerous [and they] wanted to give them a space of sanctuary and support,” she says, adding that for many years, the dome was used as a gymnasium. Her work inside the dome includes a 35-minute loop film, recorded from the ferry during the crossing from Queenscliff to Sorrento. The horizon takes up about a third of the shot and moves as the waves rise and fall, mirroring the journeys made by the sailors who found refuge at the mission over the years; it will be projected onto a gauze-like fabric, allowing glimpses of the building behind. Dann also plans to activate the site over the course of the weekend and will read a poem by Justin Clemens.The articles gives an insight of the création of the artwork by Ying-Lan Dann. digital copy of an article with photographs published in the Ageopen house melbourne, 2022, ying-lan dann, take hold of the clouds, norla dome, exhibition, the age, cultural events

non-fictionConservation Resources Centre Series. Exhibition catalogue published 1995 by Historic Houses Trust of New South Wales. 36 pages : colour illustrations ; 30 x 15 cm.wallpapers - history, interior decoration - history, wall coverings - history, elizabeth bay house -- exhibitions

non-fictionThe decorated wall : eighty years of wallpaper in Australia, c. 1850-1930 / compiled by Phyllis Murphy ; for the Historic Houses Trust of New South Wales [for an exhibition held in March 1981 at the Elizabeth Bay House]wallpapers - history, interior decoration - history, wall coverings - history, elizabeth bay house -- exhibitions

non-fictionThe papered wall : the history patterns and techniques of wallpaper / by Lesley Hoskins. Abrams (N.Y.) 1994, A history of wallpaper from its beginnings around 1500 to the present day. Hundreds of illustrations, not only of the papers themselves but also their settings in paintings and on the walls of contemporary rooms, offer a visual record of patterns for different uses, markets and tastes.wallpapers - history, interior decoration - history, wall coverings - history

non-fictionDecorating with wallpaper c.1840–1914 : a guide to assist in the conservation and restoration of buildings. National Trust of Australia (Victoria, 1987. Chapters: 1. Introduction; 2. Mid-nineteenth century; 3. Halls, stairs and passages; 4. 1870s period; 5. 1880s period; 6. 1890s period; 7. Early Twentieth Century; 8. Towards World War I; 9. Ceilings; 10. Colour notes; 11. Conservation noteswallpapers - history, interior decoration - history, wall coverings - history

non-fictionWilliam Morris : décor and design. Elizabeth Wildhide (ed.) Harry N. Abrams, 1991. 192 pages. Information on pattern-matching, wall and window treatments, floor coverings, tiles and furnishingswallpapers - history, interior decoration - history, wall coverings - history

Villa Alba, a two-storeyed residence with rendered masonry walls and a slate roof, stands opposite Studley Park, overlooking the Yarra River. It is believed to have been first built before 1863, but substantially remodelled and enlarged in about 1882-83 for William Greenlaw, the Manager of the Colonial Bank of Australasia. Although the house and its tower must always have been a landmark in the area and the architecture is unusual, almost Norman in style, it is the interior which is the most remarkable feature of Villa Alba. (Source: VHD)Small black and white photographic positive of Vila Alba, 44 Walmer Street, Kew in 1981 when the original 1880s house was surrounded by hospital wards. The latter had been built by the Royal Women's Hospital after it acquired the site in 1950. The site wa Slater transferred to the Mount Royal Hospital before being purchased and converted into a museum of interior design.Verso: "Villa Alba 1981"villa alba -- 44 walmer street -- kew (vic.), mount royal hospital, henry pride wing

A wallpaper sample donated to the collection by Frances Alexandra (Frankie) Derham (1894–1987). Derham was an Australian artist and educator. A lecturer in art at the Melbourne Kindergarten Training College (1928-64) , she later taught at the Associated Teacher Training Institution (1949-61). Her commitment to `child art’ developed after 1935 when she accepted an invitation from Margaret Lyttle to teach at Preshil school.Frances Derham's collection of nearly ten thousand children’s drawings and paintings was acquired by the Australian National Gallery in 1976. Her interest in art for and by children is reflected in her donation to the Villa Alba Museum of an important and rare collection of early wallpapers designed for children's rooms. Nursery wallpaper depicting children nursury rhyme characters with excerpts from story texts. Sanitary paper (washable). decorative arts & design, wall coverings – history, wallpapers – history, interior decoration – history, wallpapers -- children's, frances derham, sanitary wallpapers

A wallpaper sample donated to the collection by Frances Alexandra (Frankie) Derham (1894–1987). Derham was an Australian artist and educator. A lecturer in art at the Melbourne Kindergarten Training College (1928-64) , she later taught at the Associated Teacher Training Institution (1949-61). Her commitment to `child art’ developed after 1935 when she accepted an invitation from Margaret Lyttle to teach at Preshil school. Frances Derham's collection of nearly ten thousand children’s drawings and paintings was acquired by the Australian National Gallery in 1976. Her interest in art for and by children is reflected in her donation to the Villa Alba Museum of an important and rare collection of early wallpapers designed for children's rooms. Nursery rhyme wallpaper pattern. Green wallpaper square with various nursery rhyme motifs. "Mrs Rebe Rigg 10 West St New York" written on back. Verso: "Mrs Rebe Rigg 10 West St New York"decorative arts & design, wall coverings – history, wallpapers – history, interior decoration – history, wallpapers -- children's, frances derham

A wallpaper sample donated to the collection by Frances Alexandra (Frankie) Derham (1894–1987). Derham was an Australian artist and educator. A lecturer in art at the Melbourne Kindergarten Training College (1928-64) , she later taught at the Associated Teacher Training Institution (1949-61). Her commitment to `child art’ developed after 1935 when she accepted an invitation from Margaret Lyttle to teach at Preshil school. Frances Derham's collection of nearly ten thousand children’s drawings and paintings was acquired by the Australian National Gallery in 1976. Her interest in art for and by children is reflected in her donation to the Villa Alba Museum of an important and rare collection of early wallpapers designed for children's rooms. Nursery wallpaper depicting children playing. Picture scene for each month of the year. "12225 Sanitary" stamped verso. Verso: "12225 Sanitary"decorative arts & design, wall coverings – history, wallpapers – history, interior decoration – history, wallpapers -- children's, frances derham, sanitary wallpapers

A wallpaper sample donated to the collection by Frances Alexandra (Frankie) Derham (1894–1987). Derham was an Australian artist and educator. A lecturer in art at the Melbourne Kindergarten Training College (1928-64) , she later taught at the Associated Teacher Training Institution (1949-61). Her commitment to `child art’ developed after 1935 when she accepted an invitation from Margaret Lyttle to teach at Preshil school.Frances Derham's collection of nearly ten thousand children’s drawings and paintings was acquired by the Australian National Gallery in 1976. Her interest in art for and by children is reflected in her donation to the Villa Alba Museum of an important and rare collection of early wallpapers designed for children's rooms. Nursery wallpaper depicting Japanese people with counting rhymes printed around them. "70442 Sanitary" printed verso. Verso: "70442 Sanitary"decorative arts & design, wall coverings – history, wallpapers – history, interior decoration – history, wallpapers -- children's, frances derham, sanitary wallpapers

A wallpaper sample donated to the collection by Frances Alexandra (Frankie) Derham (1894–1987). Derham was an Australian artist and educator. A lecturer in art at the Melbourne Kindergarten Training College (1928-64) , she later taught at the Associated Teacher Training Institution (1949-61). Her commitment to `child art’ developed after 1935 when she accepted an invitation from Margaret Lyttle to teach at Preshil school.Frances Derham's collection of nearly ten thousand children’s drawings and paintings was acquired by the Australian National Gallery in 1976. Her interest in art for and by children is reflected in her donation to the Villa Alba Museum of an important and rare collection of early wallpapers designed for children's rooms. Children's nursery wallpaper. Depicts Goosey Goosey Gander themes. "26331 Sanitary" printed verso.Verso: "26331 Sanitary"decorative arts & design, wall coverings – history, wallpapers – history, interior decoration – history, wallpapers -- children's, frances derham, sanitary wallpapers

A wallpaper sample donated to the collection by Frances Alexandra (Frankie) Derham (1894–1987). Derham was an Australian artist and educator. A lecturer in art at the Melbourne Kindergarten Training College (1928-64) , she later taught at the Associated Teacher Training Institution (1949-61). Her commitment to `child art’ developed after 1935 when she accepted an invitation from Margaret Lyttle to teach at Preshil school. Frances Derham's collection of nearly ten thousand children’s drawings and paintings was acquired by the Australian National Gallery in 1976. Her interest in art for and by children is reflected in her donation to the Villa Alba Museum of an important and rare collection of early wallpapers designed for children's rooms. Nursery wallpaper depicting children and sheep. "66490" stamped on back. Verso: "66490"decorative arts & design, wall coverings – history, wallpapers – history, interior decoration – history, wallpapers -- children's, frances derham

A wallpaper sample donated to the collection by Frances Alexandra (Frankie) Derham (1894–1987). Derham was an Australian artist and educator. A lecturer in art at the Melbourne Kindergarten Training College (1928-64) , she later taught at the Associated Teacher Training Institution (1949-61). Her commitment to `child art’ developed after 1935 when she accepted an invitation from Margaret Lyttle to teach at Preshil school.Frances Derham's collection of nearly ten thousand children’s drawings and paintings was acquired by the Australian National Gallery in 1976. Her interest in art for and by children is reflected in her donation to the Villa Alba Museum of an important and rare collection of early wallpapers designed for children's rooms. Section of a late nineteenth century wallpaper sample showing boys and girls playing games and boating amongst a decorative background of leaves and flowers. The colourway uses tones of greens, purples and blues on a fawn background.decorative arts & design, wall coverings – history, wallpapers – history, interior decoration – history, wallpapers -- children's, frances derham

A wallpaper sample donated to the collection by Frances Alexandra (Frankie) Derham (1894–1987). Derham was an Australian artist and educator. A lecturer in art at the Melbourne Kindergarten Training College (1928-64) , she later taught at the Associated Teacher Training Institution (1949-61). Her commitment to `child art’ developed after 1935 when she accepted an invitation from Margaret Lyttle to teach at Preshil school.Frances Derham's collection of nearly ten thousand children’s drawings and paintings was acquired by the Australian National Gallery in 1976. Her interest in art for and by children is reflected in her donation to the Villa Alba Museum of an important and rare collection of early wallpapers designed for children's rooms. Empire theme children's nursery wallpaper. Depicts Union Jack with children playing with others from around the British Empire.decorative arts & design, wall coverings – history, wallpapers – history, interior decoration – history, wallpapers -- children's, frances derham

A wallpaper sample donated to the collection by Frances Alexandra (Frankie) Derham (1894–1987). Derham was an Australian artist and educator. A lecturer in art at the Melbourne Kindergarten Training College (1928-64) , she later taught at the Associated Teacher Training Institution (1949-61). Her commitment to `child art’ developed after 1935 when she accepted an invitation from Margaret Lyttle to teach at Preshil school.Frances Derham's collection of nearly ten thousand children’s drawings and paintings was acquired by the Australian National Gallery in 1976. Her interest in art for and by children is reflected in her donation to the Villa Alba Museum of an important and rare collection of early wallpapers designed for children's rooms. Sections of a longer nursery wallpaper roll purchased from a Melbourne retailer in the 1850s. The wallpaper depicts figures in an imaginary rural landscape. The central repeated image in this painterly design is a woman seated on a chair with a child playing at her feet. Farm animals include a white duck, a hen and a rooster. Other elements of the imaginative, playful design include a church, a Greek temple and a cart wheel. The sophisticated printing technique allows for subtle shading of the selected colourway.decorative arts & design, wall coverings – history, wallpapers – history, interior decoration – history, wallpapers -- children's, frances derham

A wallpaper sample donated to the collection by Frances Alexandra (Frankie) Derham (1894–1987). Derham was an Australian artist and educator. A lecturer in art at the Melbourne Kindergarten Training College (1928-64) , she later taught at the Associated Teacher Training Institution (1949-61). Her commitment to `child art’ developed after 1935 when she accepted an invitation from Margaret Lyttle to teach at Preshil school.Frances Derham's collection of nearly ten thousand children’s drawings and paintings was acquired by the Australian National Gallery in 1976. Her interest in art for and by children is reflected in her donation to the Villa Alba Museum of an important and rare collection of early wallpapers designed for children's rooms. Section of a longer nursery wallpaper dado depicting kittens playing with a groups of mice watching. Under the solid and fine lines creating a border at the top is a series of tassels on a green background. Above the similar lower border are sections imitating a wooden batons with the wood grain picked out in black on a yellow background. The colourway used in the sample includes outlines in black, grey, pale yellow and teal green.decorative arts & design, wall coverings – history, wallpapers – history, interior decoration – history, wallpapers -- children's, frances derham, wallpapers -- dado borders