By 1935 the impact of the great depression was still being felt in Australia but there were glimmers of sunshine on the horizon.
The first edition of the magazine 'Decoration and Glass' appeared in May 1935. 'Decoration and Glass' provided a glimmer of sunshine as the impact of the great depression was still being felt in Australia in 1935. The magazine was a direct response to growing individual wealth and an increase in home ownership which led to greater demand for ideas around decoration and display in homes, gardens, and the workplace.
As the editor Walter Glover described it,
our homes and gardens, offices and places of amusement, stores and cities, have all been undergoing the same process of evolution that is rapidly forming the years in which we live into a period of decorative and artistic joy. [1]
Decoration and Glass, Published by Australian Glass Manufacturers Co. Ltd, Dowling Street waterloo, NSW, Australia, Vol.1, No 1, 1 May, 1935
Decoration and Glass, Published by Australian Glass Manufacturers Co. Ltd, Dowling Street waterloo, NSW, Australia, 1 July, 1936
In the late nineteenth century the appearance of cheap steel and Portland cement redefined the possibilities for architecture. The establishment of an Australian plastics industry in the 1930s and appearance of new home-grown materials such as asbestos sheeting and soft-woods like the Hoop Pine brought down prices. The Art of decoration was brought into nearly every sphere of Australian existence. [2]
The Australian Glass Manufacturers recognised this growing market and published ‘Decoration and Glass” stating that it was part of a
… plan of educating people to present-day influences in home-building and particularly the progress made in this field by Australians. [3]
Over 120 issues, incuding 8,538 pages, from 1935-1949 have been digitised making it a rich resource for information on building, architecure and interior design. Each issue is also full of advertisements for building products and services.
In the first issue of the magazine you can read articles on Fabrics for Australian Homes, Little porches as valuable space, Designing Flats for City Dwellers and an article by D.N. Linnette on Modernism in Architecture. You can also find advertisements for Pyrex, Grimwade crystal, Frank O'Brien Glass merchants and 'Vitrolite'.
The digitisation has been undertaken from the original hard copies held by the State Library of New South Wales. This title has been digitised and made fully searchable online through Trove as part of the State Library's Digital Excellence Program, a major initiative supported by the NSW Government.
References
Walter Glover (ed), Decoration and Glass, Published by Australian Glass Manufacturers Co. Ltd, Dowling Street waterloo, NSW, Australia, Vol.1, No 1, 1 May, 1935.
Decoration and glass, "A journal for home builders, architects and decorators", monthly, 1935-1941, Waterloo, N.S.W. : Australian Glass Manufactures, State Library of New South Wales, Q747.06
[1] Decoration and Glass, by Australian Glass Manufacturers Co. Ltd., May 1, 1935, p.5
[2] Decoration and Glass, by Australian Glass Manufacturers Co. Ltd., May 1, 1935, p.5
[3] Decoration and Glass, by Australian Glass Manufacturers Co. Ltd., May 1, 1935, p.5
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