Architect's MEMO No.137 Things ancient and modern

摘要

Back in the day I often seemed to be drawn to books the heroes of which were somewhat intellectual,had’private means’and lived in tasteful homes which,inevitably,contained a comfortable study housing a well-stocked library along with a few exquisite’pieces'-the mementos of an exotic career.The furniture was leather,and the polished wooden floors were waxed and burnished regularly,by a devoted servant,to a honeyed patina.Sounds delightful eh! Such floor finishes are beautiful and regularly burnished wax does give a uniquely appealing finish.Beeswax was by far the most popular finishing material,and has been known and used from ancient times-indeed it has been referred to as the first plastic!