Rough Guide Task

Research on the Area

The area I was allocated for the rough guide project was Dover Street Market, Bond Street and Piccadilly Circus. This is a wide area in Mayfair, however as it was so big to cover I stayed around Bond Street and Dover Street Market as I found this areas really interested me.

As you know Bond Street is a major street for luxury shopping in the West End, that runs through Mayfair, (as many people know from a Monopoly board it is a very expensive area). So the main attraction is the High end shopping all on one street and the culture there is to show, for example the Royal Academy which is just off Old Bond Street.

Bond Street has been a very fashionable shopping street since the 18th Century. What many people never actually realise it the name "Bond Street" does not actually exist as the southern section is known as Old Bond Street and the northern section is New Bond Street. However more people use the term "Bond Street" in there everyday language.

When walking down Bond Street it really is special as all the building are so beautiful. below is a picture I took on Old Bond Street. There is just so much detail in every building.

Bond Street in the past was best known for top are dealers and antique shops such as Sotherby's auction house which has been in Bond Street for over a hundred years. Many of these art dealers remain however most of the shops are now are now fashion boutiques including the leading high fashion design brands. There are also many upmarket jewellers such as Graffs, Cartier and the traditional Tiffany's pictured below, both of these stores are located on Old Bond Street

As a division from Old Bond Street and New Bond Street there is a comical statue by Lawrence Holofcencer of Winston Churchill and Franklin D. Roosevelt portrayed sitting on a park bench in casual conversation.


This area if a very expensive area, people who visit this area are Tourists who want to see traditional beautiful buildings. Many people also come for the luxury shopping and culture there is to show down Bond Street.

There are also a lot of offices. On New Bond Street Armani have their Press Office, and Conde Nast Magazine Company have a large office on Old Bond Street where Easy Living and Glamour Magazine are. The reason why there are so many offices around W1 is because the rent is so expensive so only the most successful company's and residents live around this area.

My Chosen Objects From this Area

For this task we had to go back to our areas we were researching and find 3 different objects listen below:

Found Object:
Winston Churchill and Franklin D. Roosevelt causally sitting on a bench

Product/Object from a Shop/Boutique:
The Cartier Love Bracelet

Painting/Artwork from a Museum or Gallery
Dame Laura Knight, On the Cliff at Sotherby's Auction House

All of these objects are from areas on Bond Street.

My found Object:

Winston Churchill and Franklin D. Roosevelt statue on a bench was my found object, even thought it is places in between Old and New Bond Street it really caught my eye. The life size statues made from bronze sitting on a wooden bench look so realistic and have a really comical pose to them.

The key words that come to mind when I look at the statue is:

Comical, relaxed, regal, captivating, realistic and thought provoking.

This Object really makes me think when I look at. Both Churchill and Roosavelts pose seems to natural and relaxed it really makes me wonder what they would have been talking about? They are both such iconic figures that seemed so lade back in such a diverse setting.

The Context of this statue makes this small space between Old and New Bond Street more exciting and interesting. As the poses of both the iconic figures are so relaxed I could see this statue being placed in a park near by but it would only suit being outside because of the wooden bench that is always found outside in parks and on pavements. it would seem very out of context if it was placed in a department store.

The Second Product I chose was the Cartier Love Bracelet.

When walking down Bond Street there is just so much to look at, however what caught my eye when walking past Cartier was the Gold Cartier Love Bracelet. This is a very simple gold band with screws around the band.

The Key Words that come to mind

Precious, meaningful, simple, stylish and sophisticated

What I love about this bracelet is that its such a simple design but has such Strong meaning. The fact that it is called a love bracelet and is from Cartier makes it so special and meaningful. The markings around the bracelet to my symbolise strong love, as screws are very Strong and do not loosen easily, so this is referring to love. It also being made from Gold a precious metal symbolises that is really is precious

The Context of this bracelet fitted in perfectly to this area, it was in a smart shop in a sophisticated area with spot lights shining on it on Old Bond Street. I could never see it on a market stall or a department store but maybe in many years to come it could be in a Gallery just for the simplicity of the bracelet that has a lot of meaning. The bracelet is meant to be very precious so would only be on show in high end stores and locations around London.

My Chosen Painting

As there are a few art dealers and auction houses on Bond Street I really enjoyed looking for a painting or sculpture to look talk about. The first place I wanted to go into Sotherby's. in this fabulous old building it stores some of the most moderns and some of the most classic art in England. So when I was looking around I wanted to look at the art that is about to go onto auction. This painting by Dame Laura Knight is just exquisite! It is called 'On the Cliff' and I cant stop looking at it. Its Oil on Canvas and is so eye catching. It is to go on auction at Sotherby's on December 17th. It could be sold for up to £350, 000 which is just outstanding!

The Keywords that come to mind when I look at this painting

Colourful, modern with period qualities, happy, relaxing, outstanding and beautiful

Looking at this painting 'On the Cliffs' depicts two girls seated at the cliff edge enjoying a late afternoon sun. it makes me think of memories of a summer day sitting outside on the grass or even on the beach, it just gives you such happy thoughts. i love the use of colours, makes it seem like a natural summers day. the way Dame Lauren Knight has painted this makes it seem so natural, the girls on the cliff look as if they are really enjoying the summers day and taking risks but sitting so close to the cliff's edge.

The Context of this painting is just perfect where it is, on a large white wall in a spacious room so everyone can enjoy the painting as much as i have. it would ruin it beauty if it was on a shop wall or in a department wall as it seem so special that it should be in someone house on show so everyone can look at it.