2012 Summer Celebration – London

Palace Interior - Diamonds Exhibition

This summers celebrations began with the Queen's 60th Jubilee at the beginning of June in London. A special part of the Jubilee events “Diamonds a Jubilee Celebration” exhibition showcased the Queen's diamond jewelery collection as part of a tour of Buckingham Palace.

The photograph shows the ornate interior within Buckingham Palace and how Rococco style mirrors have been used to reflect the light from the chandeliers. Grand proportions and palatial gold gilded decorative plaster ceilings are impressively regal. Red damask wallpaper adds drama and highlights all the gold to great effect.

Palace Interior – Diamonds Exhibition  

Many of the diamonds and jewellery in the exhibition itself were quite enormous and dazzling. The jewels shone like stars inside a series of very dark exhibition rooms. Hundreds of people have seen these special displays and at times it was hard to keep the circulation going through the space, due to the many admiring visitors. The “Diamonds a Jubilee Celebration” is a fabulous display of incredibly crafted historical jewelery that is well worth visiting.

Fortnum and Masons Display

Fortnum and Mason's in Piccadilly showed us celebrated in style with beautifully laid dining tables fit for a queen. Many tea parties in high style were held in London and around the UK to celebrate the Queen's jubilee.

On the first floor the Queen's QEST scholars showed their finest crafts with impressive displays of textiles, stained glass, sculpture, ceramics, millinary and jewellery to name but a few of the impressive traditional crafts on display.

Fortnum and Masons Display  

The Fortnum and Mason website states “QEST – The Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust – was set up in 1990 to protect traditional skills and to support students working in a wide variety of disciplines, from portrait painting to silversmithing. Since then it has provided grants to more than 240 scholars, enabling each one of them to continue and develop their career. Often the scholars use their grants to study with masters of their craft, who pass on their skills in the time-honoured fashion, thus keeping their craft alive for another generation.”

We found the partnership between the exclusive retailer and a craft partnership exhibition showcasing some of the best British makers refreshing and exciting. We look forward to seeing more beautifully made products from the QEST scholars and have added a few pieces to our wish list…

Fortnum and Mason Atrium Display

We also enjoyed this display in the central atrium of Fortnum and Mason's. Musical instruments float with colourful musical notes. Horses, lions and other regal looking creatures fly around. The animals look like they have flown from royal flags. It is great to see displays bringing a sense of fun to the summer celebrations.

Fortnum and Mason Atrium Display  
Cafe Concerto Cake Display

Cafe Concerto continues the theme and of course the royal celebrations would not be complete without tea and special occasion cakes. These cakes are definitely fit for royalty and this display looked quite delicious in Regents street accompanied by many colourful flags.

Cafe Concerto Cake Display  
Regent Street Flags

Here is a better view of the many colourful flags in Regents Street. All around London and the UK the country 'got the flags out' and created displays – even the boats were decorated to mark the occasion. An international feel to the London's decorations and window displays was quite appropriate as the 2012 Olympic games was a big success in London this summer and the whole city was transformed especially for the events.

Regent Street Flags  
Superdry Window Display

In December 2011 Superdry opened huge store in Regent Street with a distinctly industrial feel. According to Wikipedia “SuperGroup plc is a British based international branded clothing company, and owner of the Superdry label. Superdry products combine vintage Americana styling with Japanese inspired graphics.” Superdry was started by a British businessman in Cheltenham in 1985.

Superdry Window Display  

This window display celebrates bright sporting colours and highlights the product and logos clearly. We like the way the shirts hang like flags and the rows of folded tee-shirts remind us of rows of players and spectators.

Esprit Window Display

This summer the Californian inspired retailer Esprit re-opened their flagship store on Regent Street. We loved this “Hello London” flower window display it really is rather wonderful. The use of fresh flowers works really well in window display which are usually designed to be temporary. The colours are remind us of fun summer festivals. This window display celebrates a special time for London and also reflects the 'upbeat but laid back' style of the retailer Esprit.

Esprit Window Display  
Carnaby Street World Welcome

Nearby in Carnaby Street a huge round world hanging sculpture display greets visitors and definitely 'welcomes the world'. We like the multi coloured lettering too! It must have been quite a task to suspend the 'world' with cables between the buildings but it was definitely worth the effort.

Carnaby Street World Welcome  
Carnaby St Union Jack Flag

We also enjoyed the dazzling three dimensional union jack decoration further down the street. This summers royal and Olympic themed decorations and displays have been bold, patriotic and sparkling with jewels and metals to reflect the 2012 Olympics and royal jubilee celebrations.

 

 

Carnaby St Union Jack Flag  

The opening and closing ceremonies for the Olympics in East London were absolutely stunning and a credit to everyone involved. In addition to the amazing Olympic sports and wonderful musical events, visitors to London and viewers around the world have been treated to a visual feast of celebration this summer.