Author Archives: Sibella

For me, Marcantonio was the highlight of Salone (Milan Furniture Fair), from the simple pre-crinkled butchers paper used as wallpaper to the uber-upcycled found chic furniture pieces. A simple backdrop for the beauty within. MA claims to be self-taught – all stemming from a love of working & making things. He is very gifted. I found it difficult to choose between the found & restored carved wooden framed 2-seater sofa, reworked with strapped on cushions and the pieced wood nail silver birch armchair with lambswool seat. Not only super talented, I believe he designs commercial interiors as well, he is super cute and had me at his handwritten (in italiano) left & right indication on his shoes.

Note: never say no to his business card, it has many hours of laughs.

Although I love the immediacy & ease of modern travel, in my mind I am exploring the world sometime around 1900, give or take some on either side. A time of slow travel: steamships, trunks & the all-important porter. The tags that would link you with your possessions, plus the name of your destination in order to minimise confusion upon your arrival!

When time was not measured by hours, but months & piles of correspondence, outposts & seaports. Here are a few examples of today’s version that can get you in the mood for your gallivanting, whether it be camel caravanning to the ancient oasis city of Samarkand, sailing down the Nile by Felucca, visiting the berbers in a bedouin tent in the Atlas Mountains, treehouse-sitting whilst on safari, horseracing on the Mongolian plains, combing the shores of the Black Sea for amber after a storm, dogsledding to a fur lined igloo in Iceland – ah the endless list of possibilities.

To get the look & feel, check out Steamline’s diplomat series. If you are feeling a more rugged look, get Filson’s canvas & leather bags or go for the classic Globetrotter. I’m loving safari and limited edition, Mohsin Ali. Don’t forget to pack the ultimate campaign camera to record all your adventures, the Leica limited edition Hermes leather M7 series.

The Marine Archaeology Museum in Bodrum is a wealth of information and understanding of the coast of Turkey. The fort of Bodrum is all turrets, knights, winding roads to trick pirates and forts. There is rumour of a village that cannot be seen from water, where the villagers would flee to when ferocious pirates came to town. Now a ghost town, although I did not get to see, it sounds intriguing & steeped in the history of the area.

Various shipwrecks have revealed many a treasure of copper, glass, posts, ceramics, golds, seals, beads & boats!