What do you most enjoy collecting?
Over the past couple of years, I’ve been wholeheartedly devoted to building a beautiful collection of comprehensive dinner sets and Christofle cutlery, and my passion has only continued to deepen. There’s just something magical about the artistry of fine crockery; it transforms an ordinary table into a stage for unforgettable moments.
From the timeless elegance of Bernardaud and Limoges to the heritage beauty of Wedgwood and Royal Worcester, each piece we collect tells its own story of craftsmanship and celebration. Today, we proudly have a collection of more than twenty dinner sets – each chosen with love, and each making its own quiet but striking difference to the dining experience. Setting the table has become an art form in itself – a ritual that my partner, Brahman Perera, embraces with so much grace and care. Every plate, every glass, every polished Christofle fork reminds us: it’s not just about dining, it’s about creating beauty, memory, and meaning around the table.
Do you have a favourite piece in your collection? What makes it meaningful to you?
Amongst the many treasures we’ve gathered, one collection holds an especially dear place in my heart – a beautiful 1930s Myott, Son & Co Bonnie Dundee set that I recently discovered at Leonard Joel. I absolutely fell in love with it the moment I saw it; it felt as though the past had reached out to me. I was lucky enough to have passed onto me a small set of Bonnie Dundee that once belonged to my great-great-grandmother – a connection to family, to history, to a simpler, more elegant time. So, when I stumbled across this rare, comprehensive collection, I nearly died with excitement and knew without question it had to come home with me no matter the price!
Adding to the joy, a beautiful Bonnie Dundee teapot arrived just last week, shipped lovingly all the way from London. To sip and dine using these pieces – so rich with memory, craftsmanship, and soul – is pure happiness. It’s a reminder that true beauty lives not just in grand gestures, but in the quiet rituals: a tea poured from a cherished pot, a table laid with love, a gathering of those who matter most.
What is the rarest item in your collection, and how did you acquire it?
Without a doubt, one of my most treasured recent acquisitions is a magnificent Steinway & Sons Model D Concert Grand Piano – a true masterpiece of craftsmanship and history. Originally the centrepiece of the Adelaide Town Hall throughout the 1980s and 1990s, this extraordinary instrument carries with it decades of music, memory, and magic. When the opportunity arose to become its custodian, I knew it was something far greater than simply acquiring a piano – it was preserving a legacy. After an extensive and loving restoration, this majestic instrument has been brought back to life, perhaps even better than new, ready to sing for another hundred years and beyond. Its gleaming black frame, the richness of its tone, and the sheer gravitas it brings to a room is nothing short of awe-inspiring.
It is far from just a beautiful piece of furniture. It is a living, breathing part of our home in Lyonville. Many a night you will find us gathered around the piano, with friends, plenty of laughter and a lot of wine, singing show tunes into the early hours. It is joy, it is memory, it is connection – all strung together by eighty-eight shimmering keys and a little bit of magic.
Is there a dream piece you hope to one day add to your collection?
A comprehensive setting of Christofle silver-plated cutlery for twelve – a masterpiece of craftsmanship and timeless elegance. There’s something about Christofle that simply speaks of luxury, sophistication, and opulence. The moment you hold each piece, you feel its beautiful weight, the perfect balance of form and function, and the undeniable artistry in every curve and detail. This isn’t cutlery reserved only for grand dinner parties or special occasions – it’s part of everyday life, woven into the simple pleasure of a beautifully set table, whether for a quiet breakfast or a long, laughter-filled supper. Because true beauty, we believe, should be lived with daily – not hidden away for rare moments. Christofle brings that little touch of Parisian elegance into every meal, and we wouldn’t have it any other way.
What advice would you give to someone just beginning their collecting journey?
Buy what you love. Use what you buy. Be eclectic. Don’t wait for that exclusive dinner party to use what you buy or hide it away. Buy collections that you can add to when you see them for sale at auction or faraway. LOVE THEM.
With thanks to Jason M Jones for his time.
Top Image: Jason Jones. Photography by Lillie Thompson @lillie_thompson
August 2025