Italianate furniture in Brunswick, Melbourne, 1960s to 1980s, preserving the Tuccio bed ends скачать в хорошем качестве

Italianate furniture in Brunswick, Melbourne, 1960s to 1980s, preserving the Tuccio bed ends

Our next door neighbours in the 1970s, in Shamrock Street, West Brunswick, Melbourne, were the Tuccio family - Giovanni, Francesca and their son, Joe. They were from Sicily and were wonderful neighbours, the best you could want. We had a dozen different ethnicities in Shamrock Street – ranging from Aboriginal to Latvian and Scottish. We all basically got on well. We were mostly low-income working class people with mortgages and bills to pay. Mr. Giovanni Tuccio was a cabinet-maker and worked from his garage. My parents commissioned him to make us a huge bookcase, a wardrobe and also two single beds for my mum and dad. His work was excellent and I kept the bed-head and bed-end of one of the single beds, made possibly 50 years ago. I think the pattern is laminated RUSSIAN BIRCH. Last year, I offered the bed-head and bed-end to a few museums, and I’m very pleased, and grateful to say that the Coburg Historical Society in Melbourne accepted my offer and now has the items. The furniture is emblematic of the 'Italianate' furniture which was common in the homes of many migrants from Italy in the 1960s and 1970s in places like Brunswick. It is stylish and elegant. Note the curved design at the top of each piece with its attractive gold rim and also the care that went into the feet on the bed-end. Mr. and Mrs. Tuccio are no longer with us, sadly. While residing next to us in West Brunswick, Mr Tuccio bought land at St Leonard’s, near Port Arlington, and built a holiday house. I have fond memories of going there as a guest and learning how to fish for squid in the traditional Sicilian way as taught to me by Mr Tuccio. I also have fond memories of the Tuccio’s wine vat and press under their house. My memory is that when the wine was to be pressed, several family members and friends would attend. They were very kind and generous people. When my mother was ill in hospital, they would feed me each evening.True Brunswick people of that era. Part of me was sad to part with the bedheads but I held on to them just hoping they would find a museum home. Thanks again Coburg Historical Society!