The Mighty Monteith

What’s In a Name?

There are many things in our day to day lives which we just accept without thinking and I suppose words are among them. I doubt many even stop to consider why things are called what they are. Who names things?

Image via.

You may have a concocted moniker of your own or perhaps have a nickname bestowed on you as a child.

Xin Nian Kuai Le - Happy New Year

Thursday the 19th of February sees the start of the Chinese New Year.

Participants in London's annual west end parade. Image via Time Out.

According to the Chinese zodiac there is a cycle of twelve years with each cycle represented by a different animal.

2015 finds us in the year of the horned animal, most commonly considered The Year of the Ram, the 8th sign in the twelve year cycle. Alternatively, it is also sometimes referred to as The Year of the Goat or Sheep. People born under the year of each animal are said to carry certain traits of that particular animal so one can only surmise that sheep, goats and rams must share similar traits.

Love is in the Air

Time to break out the chocolate and flowers, for Valentine’s Day is nearly upon us once again.

Saint Valentine baptizes St Lucilla, Jaco da Ponte. Image via 

We have come to believe that Valentine’s Day dates back to ancient Rome. It is alleged that during the reign of Claudius, he was against men marrying during wartime, believing that single men made better soldiers.
Then along comes Bishop Valentine, obviously an old romantic, and performs wedding ceremonies in secret...

Paul Storr

Following my post last week I thought I might take this opportunity to give you a little look at the man considered to be one of the finest silversmiths in history.

Born in London in 1771, Paul Storr was the son of Thomas Storr, who was a silver chaser himself.
His father was a skilled craftsman and that must have inspired young Paul to follow him into the trade.

Storr's famous 'PS' hallmark, along with the other identifying marks of an 1808 silver salver, made in London.

In 1785, aged just 14, he became an apprentice silversmith, working under the well known Swedish silversmith, Andrew Fogelberg.
Following a seven year apprenticeship under the guidance of Fogelberg, he became an accomplished silversmith himself.