A few months back we visited Dame Ngaio Marsh’s recently restored house in Christchurch Otautahi.
Each time the mystery writer, theatre director and artist travelled to the UK, she brought back something for the family house, that once was outside of town and surrounded by open land and hills, and so it is filled with pictures, artefacts, fabrics and furniture. It was a wonderful visit with a knowledgeable guide who took us around the gardens and the house itself, pointing out all the small things that might go unnoticed without expert eyes.
One of the things that caught the eye were the curtains that hang in the living room. Backed by woollen blankets, the cotton has been spared the Southern sun and the fabric is in good condition. The cotton has been hand-printed in Paris with exotic birds and must have been an expensive purchase. There is also a lovely pair of Sanderson curtains, also printed with birds. Both can be seen below.
In another room there are two armchairs, now rather faded, but still looking comfortably worn. Our guide pulled back the corner of the covers to reveal an astonishingly bright green on one and pink on the other. The room must have been glorious in its heyday.
There is plenty to see at the house, including the studio downstairs, with photographs of a panoply of authors, actors, directors and the like. There are paintings and set designs, costumes and photographs; all the paraphernalia that one would expect from someone like Dame Ngaio.
If you would like to visit head on over to the website for details. You will be glad you did!
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