Depart With Savoir Faire

There used to be nothing like departing on an ocean liner, either for an Atlantic Crossing or a cruise around the South Pacific. These were occasions when family and friends armed with streamers, bottles of champagne and fruit would come down to the wharf to see you off. Before security, family and friends were allowed on board to help you settle in your cabin and explore the ship before the gong sounded and the cry of “All ashore who is going ashore”



If you were lucky enough to be crossing the Atlantic on any of the French Line Ships such as the Ile de France or Liberte, corridors and public rooms would be filled with red uniformed bellboys delivering flowers fruit and champagne to your cabin as a last minute gesture of goodwill from your friends and family.



I always remember as a teenager and a youngish adult whenever in Sydney going to the Overseas Passenger Terminal to see the liners and if lucky enough to see one depart. My best friend and I (with the blessing of parents) would take the overnight mail train (a journey of eight hours) to spend the day in Sydney. Late afternoon before our return journey back home would see us armed with bags of streamers, down at the wharf seeing off the Fairstar (even then a bit of a rust bucket) with 100’s of people throwing streamers and shouting farewells to those on board. It didn’t matter that we didn’t know anyone, we considered ourselves incredibly sophisticated and world wise for seeing a liner off.



We would all hold on to our streamers until the last one broke and the liner slipped away to the cheers of the crowd on shore and on board!






Nowadays liners slip out of ports with no fan fare and it is just another departure. It is just another cruise or holiday, when before it was the start of a big adventure, with a suitable fanfare.

Shipboard Savoir Faire

When travelling these days not a lot of us attach any serious importance to the means that we get there, be it by aeroplane, ocean liner or train. To see these modes of transport as symbols of state or showcases of art is a thing of the past, especially where ocean liner and cruise ship design is involved. Today modern day cruising has been reduced to a travelling sideshow of tacky glitz and glamour, to entice the travelling public. Liners were used by various companies and countries to showcase the best in art and design for the age in which they were created. Famous artists and designers were used to create overall concepts that just reeked of savoir faire. I have often looked at interior shots of these older liners and have been left salivating over the plethora of fixtures, furniture and artwork which once graced these beautiful interiors, and have wished to own virtual pieces of history.

Through the dedication and passion of one man, this is no longer a pipe dream, and we can all own a bit of savoir faire from a past liner and era. Midship Century (www.midshipcentury.com) was founded in 2005 by ocean liner historian and journalist Peter Knego as a logical outlet for the container loads of materials he salvaged from a long procession of celebrated vessels scrapped on the beach of Alang, India in recent years. His site is well worth a visit even if just to dream of a bygone era.

A few of the items which I am seriously coveting are as follows. These are important works and I am glad that Peter has managed to save them.

"Chariots" Silver Leaf Painting by Emanuele Luzzati from the Stella Solaris is at the top of my list. This once graced the dining room as a backdrop for the Captain’s Table and what a backdrop it is! The painting epitomises much of Luzzati’s work and is an important piece, not only in its execution but also in its beauty. Now if I had it where would I put it? Mmm not sure on that one, however want it I do!

The magnificent 27 piece ceramic bas relief with symbols of ancient Rome and the ancients by Luzzati once again, is a serious piece of ceramic art that once graced the MV Victoria. In a modern day setting this would be a great focal point in any grand modern building. Personally I would like it as a feature wall in a completely over the top bathroom.

If your budget or space constrictions are a little stretched for the whole 27 pieces, individual ceramics such as the one below might suit you better.

The fabulous little tables below are from the Windsor Castle and are brass, mahogany and melamine. The melamine top almost looks like porcelain. To say that I want one is an understatement! They seem a bit out of place in their original setting, however on their own or with the right chair they would be fabulous.

So visit www.midshipcentury.com and have a look at what Peter has to offer.

*Many thanks to Peter for allowing me to use his photos.