Humphry Wakefield：勇于冒險(xiǎn) 活得豐富多彩

　　【太平洋家居網(wǎng) 品牌庫頻道】英國男爵Humphry Wakefield曾參加珠穆朗瑪峰和南極的探險(xiǎn)，冒險(xiǎn)和旅游是他生活的重要組成部分。作為騎士的后代，男爵Humphry Wakefield身上繼承著騎士精神，他認(rèn)為，騎士文化便是勇于冒險(xiǎn)，愛惜榮譽(yù)，驅(qū)除邪惡，保護(hù)人性中最美好的東西，活得豐富多彩。

人物檔案

　　姓名： Humphry Wakefield

　　最喜歡的運(yùn)動(dòng)： 馬球、橄欖球

　　最喜歡的旅行： Chillingham城堡

　　最喜歡的美食： 魚子醬、培根

　　最喜歡的書籍： 莎士比亞的著作

　　最喜歡的電影： 《仁心與冠冕》

　　最喜歡的收藏： 美麗的藝術(shù)品

TA的生活

　　平常生活中，男爵Humphry Wakefield喜歡旅游、冒險(xiǎn)，他的足跡遍布全球。“旅行中會(huì)收獲新的想法和新的見識(shí)。舉個(gè)例子，南極發(fā)光的冰雪和北京優(yōu)雅完美的經(jīng)典景點(diǎn)會(huì)給人帶來很不同的感受。它們絕對都是非同尋常和最值得肯定的經(jīng)歷，這些經(jīng)歷將為生命增添榮耀和多樣性，”他說道。

　　除此之外，男爵Humphry Wakefield對古堡項(xiàng)目情有獨(dú)鐘，他與國際奢侈家具品牌Baker合作推出著名的古堡系列家具，他曾修建位于愛爾蘭的港灣丘特拉城堡(這座城堡最初是由白金漢宮的建筑師約翰•納什所造)，還修復(fù)了諾森伯蘭的Chillingham城堡。

　　他認(rèn)為，古堡見證了王朝更替和歷史變革，保留了音樂、畫作以及家具等古物，他相信這些古物會(huì)給后人帶來好運(yùn)、能量以及生命力。

　　訪談實(shí)錄：

　　收藏一切美好事物 賦予生活美感和幸福感

　　【太平洋家居網(wǎng)】Mr.Humphry Wakefield，您好!日常生活中，您最喜歡的運(yùn)動(dòng)項(xiàng)目是什么?

　　【Humphry Wakefield】我最喜歡的運(yùn)動(dòng)是馬球和橄欖球，也喜歡網(wǎng)球和壁球。服兵役期間，我曾為第十皇家輕騎兵隊(duì)(威爾士親王的嫡系部隊(duì))效力，也曾為劍橋大學(xué)馬球隊(duì)效力。橄欖球方面，我曾兩年擔(dān)任高登斯頓學(xué)校橄欖球隊(duì)的隊(duì)長。(高登斯頓學(xué)校是菲利普王子和查爾斯王子所讀的學(xué)校)。

　　我曾為英格蘭學(xué)校男隊(duì)、劍橋大學(xué)和英國最著名的橄欖球俱樂部Harlequins效力。騎馬是我一直喜愛的運(yùn)動(dòng)，還曾與最高水平對手競爭。

　　現(xiàn)在，我喜歡騎馬獵狐和徒步旅行，去年，我在土耳其的冰雪中騎行9000英尺，我騎馬涉水渡過很多美麗的河流，并且很喜歡在中國騎行。除此之外，我也很喜歡獵鳥和射鹿。

　　【太平洋家居網(wǎng)】平常您喜愛吃什么食物?

　　【Humphry Wakefield】我通常吃魚子醬，早餐喜歡吃培根、雞蛋、油炸面包。當(dāng)然，如果嘗到中國各種各樣驚人的新口味就另當(dāng)別論了。

　　【太平洋家居網(wǎng)】您喜歡看哪些書籍?

　　【Humphry Wakefield】我喜歡威廉.莎士比亞的作品，他有高度人文主義的戲劇，還有美麗靈動(dòng)的詩歌。我能背誦許多莎士比亞的文章，這給予我巨大的喜悅，并且使我每晚都能安睡入夢。

　　【太平洋家居網(wǎng)】您最喜歡看哪部電影呢?

　　【Humphry Wakefield】《仁心與冠冕》，我曾在美國遇見其主演——亞利克·基尼斯，他在劇中扮演著六個(gè)完全不同的人，每個(gè)都是名門望族的繼承人，每一個(gè)角色的性格都不同。不過，每個(gè)不同的“基尼斯”都被由出色演員Dennis Price 扮演的十分殘酷的惡魔謀殺了。

　　【太平洋家居網(wǎng)】作為古董家具的鑒賞專家，您平常喜歡收藏什么?

　　【Humphry Wakefield】我最喜歡收集的東西是“美”，無論是中國的還是英國的，古代的還是現(xiàn)代的，家具或者是繪畫，武器或是紡織品，只要它是令人興奮的美之所在。

　　可悲的是，現(xiàn)如今的藝術(shù)品和家具產(chǎn)品都被設(shè)定為“聰明”、智能的和實(shí)用的，但這些“現(xiàn)代”只孤立追求那些品質(zhì)，卻忽略了給生活增加美感和額外的幸福感。舊時(shí)代的藝術(shù)品和家具集合了全部實(shí)用的品質(zhì)，但同時(shí)也結(jié)合了高雅和美感。

　　我的智力被現(xiàn)在的報(bào)稅表和政治磨得相當(dāng)敏銳。我非常有幸能擁有兩千多年前的精美的中國藝術(shù)品相伴，它們與我的歐洲收藏品完美地結(jié)合在一起。

　　旅行讓生命多姿多彩

　　【太平洋家居網(wǎng)】聽說您喜歡旅行，那您認(rèn)為旅行帶給您最大的收獲是什么?在眾多去過的地方中，您最鐘情于哪里?

　　【Humphry Wakefield】我喜歡旅行，因?yàn)槁眯兄袝?huì)收獲由新想法和新見識(shí)帶來的興奮感。舉個(gè)例子，南極發(fā)光的冰雪和北京優(yōu)雅完美的經(jīng)典景點(diǎn)會(huì)給人帶來很不同的感受。它們絕對都是非同尋常和最值得肯定的經(jīng)歷，這些經(jīng)歷將為生命增添榮耀和多樣性。

　　你問我最喜歡的地方?這就像是在問我最愛的是哪個(gè)女朋友，哪個(gè)孩子，甚至是哪匹馬(一樣難以抉擇)!每一位都如此不同，給我的生活帶來完全新鮮的體驗(yàn)。再說了，也許和其中一個(gè)孩子更適合一起去看歌劇，而和另一個(gè)也許更適合一同去爬山?評(píng)論一個(gè)地方就像評(píng)論人性一樣，一個(gè)人可以視乎榮譽(yù)的影響，將自己不能接受的部分排除掉。

　　我見識(shí)過中國許多壯觀的景點(diǎn)，包括自然的和人造的。在世界眾多國家之間，在豐富的種類之間，在博物館里、在家庭里、在大自然里，都有著美麗壯觀的景物。

　　騎士精神：勇于冒險(xiǎn)、活得完整

　　【太平洋家居網(wǎng)】據(jù)說您曾經(jīng)參加珠穆朗瑪峰和南極的探險(xiǎn)，這些都是充滿冒險(xiǎn)的經(jīng)歷，您喜歡冒險(xiǎn)嗎?您的岳父是女王陛下的騎士，我可以理解為這是您家族的騎士精神的傳承么?能給我們中國的讀者介紹下你們的這種騎士精神嗎，因?yàn)檫@對于我們來說，太神秘了。

　　【Humphry Wakefield】是的，我喜歡冒險(xiǎn)。

　　我的父親是女王陛下的皇室審計(jì)官和司庫，他是一位古典學(xué)者、登山隊(duì)員和議會(huì)成員，同時(shí)還是溫斯頓丘吉爾政府的部長。但，言歸正傳，從600年前，在整個(gè)世界上，騎士就作為一種“文化”，關(guān)聯(lián)著家族的榮譽(yù)，當(dāng)然，包括古代中國。普遍可以接受的騎士行為，是國家間的重要紐帶，特別是在戰(zhàn)時(shí)，就像是音樂、藝術(shù)、運(yùn)動(dòng)、學(xué)習(xí)和科學(xué)一樣。這種騎士文化要求你：

　　A、生活充實(shí)，接受所有光彩的、你敢去的冒險(xiǎn);

　　B、你必須嘗試去獲勝，但你必須只能通過公平的方式在競賽和戰(zhàn)爭中取得勝利，你應(yīng)該給予別人榮耀和保護(hù)，尤其是他們遵守法規(guī)之時(shí);

　　C、不管個(gè)人安危，只要你敢;

　　D、永遠(yuǎn)照顧婦女和兒童;

　　E、愛惜、保護(hù)大自然或者人為的美麗作品，尊敬傳統(tǒng)和榮譽(yù)。

　　這種文化實(shí)際上說的是活得豐富多彩、完整。不要擔(dān)心安全，但愛惜榮譽(yù)，保護(hù)婦女和兒童，保護(hù)人性中最美好的東西，驅(qū)除邪惡。

　　早在公元900年，我們有一個(gè)亞瑟王，他提出 “圓桌騎士”的概念。因?yàn)樗�有人都是平等的，所以這個(gè)桌子是圓形的，(當(dāng)然必然有一個(gè)“吃食先后順序”)。這些騎士都是戰(zhàn)爭中的榮譽(yù)總首領(lǐng)。我真的認(rèn)為這就是為什么貴族以獵鳥和馬球著名(如查爾斯王子和他的兒子)，因?yàn)樗麄儾坏貌怀蔀槌錾�的運(yùn)動(dòng)員和戰(zhàn)士，這樣才能在戰(zhàn)爭和搏斗中生存下來。

　　通過許多代人的實(shí)踐，那些貴族今天在政治和工業(yè)上也是非常強(qiáng)大。那些貴族家庭確實(shí)也支持在他們城堡和宮殿里的美化和工藝，當(dāng)然，他們實(shí)際上是支持自己的偉大的傳統(tǒng)古堡。

　　我認(rèn)為騎士氣概和馬術(shù)相關(guān)，至少這幾個(gè)世紀(jì)以來是這樣的。部分原因在于：在古代戰(zhàn)爭中得以生存下來的人，依賴的是熟練的馬術(shù)，也因?yàn)轳R術(shù)不需要蠻力，只需要一個(gè)人和馬之間建立平靜信任關(guān)系，那種信任超出理性和武力的范圍。

　　修復(fù)城堡 喚醒生機(jī)和歡樂

　　【太平洋家居網(wǎng)】您曾經(jīng)修建過特拉城堡，還修復(fù)了諾森伯蘭的Chillingham城堡，您為什么鐘情于古堡項(xiàng)目?

　　【Humphry Wakefield】我愛城堡，因?yàn)樗鼈円阅撤N方式把他們浪漫的、過去的武裝行動(dòng)的戲劇性歷史保留下來，伴隨著歷代古堡主人的強(qiáng)大精神，以及這些城堡的內(nèi)在之美和周邊秀麗的自然風(fēng)光。

　　這些城堡見證了戰(zhàn)爭和王朝更替，見證了最權(quán)威的政治、權(quán)力和前線行動(dòng)的勇敢行為和卓越戰(zhàn)績。這些城堡也保留著他們那個(gè)時(shí)代最偉大的音樂家的音樂作品，全國最美的家具和畫作。

　　即便一部分城堡被摧毀，他們?nèi)匀槐Ｓ谢貞洠�可能通過修復(fù)復(fù)興這種精神。我修復(fù)的城堡都與我的家族相關(guān)，所以我覺得，家族魂靈重獲認(rèn)同和生命，我覺得正是這種魂靈幫助我進(jìn)行修復(fù)工作。修復(fù)好之后，城堡就如睡美人沉睡醒來一般，恢復(fù)生機(jī)和歡樂。

　　【太平洋家居網(wǎng)】聽聞您曾經(jīng)設(shè)計(jì)了特朗普夫人廣場酒店的頂級(jí)套房，能為我們詳細(xì)介紹下嗎?

　　【Humphry Wakefield】我為紐約廣場酒店設(shè)計(jì)和布置了13間頂級(jí)套房，那屬于特普朗夫人和她的家庭。因?yàn)檫@個(gè)古堡系列套房，我們贏得許多獎(jiǎng)項(xiàng)。但，這對于我十分容易。

　　設(shè)計(jì)這個(gè)套房項(xiàng)目，我選用了Baker古堡系列家具，還有Tiffany古典水晶、銀飾系列、Mirror Fair穿衣鏡、古堡陶瓷制品甚至是燈飾。我們以Baker收藏的古堡系列家具來命名每間酒店套房。

　　當(dāng)套房設(shè)置完成時(shí)，我在倫敦CLARIDGES酒店為所有擁有古堡系列家具的城堡和宮殿主人準(zhǔn)備了晚宴，并且邀請了特普朗夫人來共同慶賀廣場酒店古堡套房的隆重開幕。

　　Baker古堡系列：留住美麗 永不過時(shí)

　　【太平洋家居網(wǎng)】據(jù)了解，您是Baker古堡系列家具的項(xiàng)目顧問，請您介紹你們的合作過程，您為何選擇與Baker合作?

　　【Humphry Wakefield】我是Baker古堡系列項(xiàng)目顧問，為了確保細(xì)節(jié)的精湛，我對每一個(gè)生產(chǎn)環(huán)節(jié)進(jìn)行選擇和監(jiān)督。我是最開始萌生還原古堡系列念頭的人，我和每一位城堡的主人做出了最開始的籌備工作，現(xiàn)在30余年過去了，Baker仍然在生產(chǎn)家具、Tiffany仍在生產(chǎn)水晶和銀飾，Mirror Fair仍然在生產(chǎn)鏡子，其他公司依然在他們自己獨(dú)特領(lǐng)域里制造再生品。

　　我為何選擇與Baker合作?因?yàn)锽aker是這個(gè)世界上唯一一個(gè)對真品再生產(chǎn)理解達(dá)到最高水平的公司，并且，Baker擁有世代流傳的工藝，能夠勝任這項(xiàng)任務(wù)。我被賦予極大的榮譽(yù)去監(jiān)督這些工匠，當(dāng)他們在工作時(shí)，每一生產(chǎn)流程我都要求達(dá)到完美。

　　【太平洋家居網(wǎng)】您認(rèn)為Baker古堡系列最大價(jià)值主要體現(xiàn)在哪里?

　　【Humphry Wakefield】我真的相信，這么多世紀(jì)以來，那些古堡里的古董家具，會(huì)給偉大的古堡、宮殿主人帶來好運(yùn)、力量、成就和生命力。一個(gè)又一個(gè)世紀(jì)過去，這種精神力量也支撐著，那些領(lǐng)主、那些家族生存得如同勇士和國王一般，直到今天也如此。

　　不管是Baker古堡系列家具，亦或是其他古堡產(chǎn)品，有5樣?xùn)|西非常重要，需要記�。�

　　第一，每一件物品都必須是美麗的，否則經(jīng)過兩三百年之后，它會(huì)被一件更有價(jià)值、更舒服、更美麗的樣品取代。競品不斷地出現(xiàn)在市場上，如果一件更合適的產(chǎn)品出現(xiàn)在市場上，然后古堡主人會(huì)更喜歡它并且取代了原來的產(chǎn)品。但是，這種現(xiàn)象不會(huì)發(fā)生在Baker古堡系列家具上。所以，所有古堡系列的家具都必須是美麗的。

　　第二，這些產(chǎn)品必須是穩(wěn)固的和實(shí)用的，因?yàn)槿绻�它們被損壞或者不實(shí)用，它們會(huì)被扔掉。這些主人并不準(zhǔn)備把時(shí)間浪費(fèi)在這些無效的產(chǎn)品上，他們有能力獲得最適合他們的(產(chǎn)品)，通常都會(huì)換掉……

　　第三，古堡系列的產(chǎn)品必須是舒適的，如果它們不是舒適的，那么一件更好的產(chǎn)品會(huì)取代它。

　　第四，記住，當(dāng)這些產(chǎn)品被名門訂購之時(shí)，工匠們需竭盡所能做出精湛的產(chǎn)品。為什么?因?yàn)檫@是一個(gè)難得的機(jī)會(huì)，可以在一個(gè)名門世家展示他們的工藝，同時(shí)也是一個(gè)很好的機(jī)會(huì)從那些能夠提供更多報(bào)酬的主顧身上獲得更多傭金。正如為中國主席生產(chǎn)一件產(chǎn)品一樣，產(chǎn)品必須合適、美麗、舒適。

　　第五，Baker古堡系列家具在變化的潮流中依然保持時(shí)尚。古堡系列家具是永遠(yuǎn)不會(huì)過時(shí)的，不會(huì)像其他項(xiàng)目一樣僅僅是一時(shí)流行罷了。所以，當(dāng)下一個(gè)十年的設(shè)計(jì)師在設(shè)計(jì)他的作品時(shí)，他會(huì)拒絕所有十年前過時(shí)的產(chǎn)品，但他會(huì)保留古堡系列的產(chǎn)品，就像它們在數(shù)百年來的變化的潮流中保存了下來一樣，它們也能在今天和明天存留下來。

　　【太平洋家居網(wǎng)】古堡系列作為Baker最引以為傲的典藏級(jí)珍品，對您有什么特殊的意義嗎?

　　【Humphry Wakefield】就像為一個(gè)偉大的歌手或者音樂家錄下音樂，為一幅偉大的畫作拍下照片一樣，其意義在于記錄。像那樣，我一直想要還原有結(jié)構(gòu)美和雕塑美的產(chǎn)品，如家具、銀器和陶瓷。就像一張CD和一張錄影帶一樣，可以通過音樂和畫面散發(fā)出幸福感和美感。所以我想還原那些華麗的家具。聽到一個(gè)偉大的歌星在古堡、宮殿或者城堡里歌唱，這是十分美妙的。但是，把這些音樂記錄下來會(huì)如何呢?那是一種多么妙的、能給世界帶來幸福的方法啊。所以，我去記錄那些美麗的家具。

　　【太平洋家居網(wǎng)】古堡系列家具中融入了一些中式的設(shè)計(jì)元素，您為什么選擇這些中式元素呢?

　　【Humphry Wakefield】因?yàn)橹袊鴮�歐洲多個(gè)世紀(jì)以來偉大的設(shè)計(jì)師都有著巨大的影響，所以我融入了中式元素。兩三百年前，對于設(shè)計(jì)師而言，查看那些從遙遠(yuǎn)的中國通過貿(mào)易船只運(yùn)送回來的賦有靈感的設(shè)計(jì)、油漆和稀有木材，是一件多么讓人興奮的事情。

　　所以，重新加入這些中國靈感，并且重新演繹這些元素，讓人感到激動(dòng)不已。我也愿意去中國雄偉的宮殿里還原宏偉的中國原件。但博物館并不是尋找原件的地方。博物館通常有美麗的物品，但它們往往是一些來自于豪宅的不實(shí)用的舊物：坐上去就會(huì)壞掉的物品，散架之后又復(fù)原的物品，或者僅僅是找來更好的物品去代替它。

　　【太平洋家居網(wǎng)】古堡系列誕生之后，您與Baker合作推出其他產(chǎn)品了嗎?將來會(huì)繼續(xù)合作推出新品嗎?

　　【Humphry Wakefield】我們在不斷尋找理想的新產(chǎn)品。Baker最近有一些管理層面上的變化，但新的管理層都重新給予我支持，因?yàn)楣疟は盗幸呀?jīng)證實(shí)了它可以在不斷變化的潮流中保存下來。但古堡系列家具已經(jīng)在許多個(gè)世紀(jì)變幻的潮流中保留下來，所以能繼續(xù)在今天不斷變化的潮流中保留下來并不意外。

　　許多人喜歡Baker古堡系列家具僅僅是因?yàn)樗�不�?huì)過時(shí)。所以，當(dāng)一個(gè)房間的裝飾變成現(xiàn)代風(fēng)格，古堡系列家具可以保留，或者放置到不同的房間里。 每一個(gè)新時(shí)代的設(shè)計(jì)師都喜愛浪漫的感覺，當(dāng)然，實(shí)用性要與美觀性相結(jié)合，所以，新的設(shè)計(jì)師會(huì)把他們最新的作品和古堡系列的作品一起放在他們的新房里。也許，新晉的設(shè)計(jì)師也會(huì)感覺得到，他們自己，也因?yàn)槌蔀锽aker古堡系列家具的新主人，感受到其所帶來好運(yùn)氣和精神力量。

　　【太平洋家居網(wǎng)】非常感謝男爵Humphry Wakefield接受太平洋家居網(wǎng)的采訪!

　　本文內(nèi)容由時(shí)尚家居第一品牌太平洋家居網(wǎng)傾情提供。

　　以下為英文采訪實(shí)錄：

　　【PChouse】What’s your favourite sports?

　　【Humphry Wakefield】Polo and Rugby Football must be my favourites, but I love tennis and squash too. In the Army I played Polo for my cavalry Regiment, the 10th Royal Hussars (Prince of Wales Own), and for Cambridge University. : In Rugby Football I was Captain of Gordonstoun School but also of their Rugby Team for two years. (Gordonstoun was the school of Prince Philip and Prince Charles). I played Rugby Football Internationaly as a Schoolboy (For Scottish Schools), and ,later for Cambridge University, and for Hampshire County and for the HARLEQUINS which are maybe England’s most famous Rugby Football Club. Riding horses has always been a favourite sport and I competed at highest levels. Now, I love Riding for Fox Hunting and trecking: I was riding in Turkey through snows and ice at 9,000 feet last year, and swimming the horses through wonderful river and wuld really love to ride in China. I much enjoy Bird Shooting and Deer shooting as well.

　　【PChouse】What’s your favourite tourist attraction?

　　【Humphry Wakefield】Maybe Chillingham’s greatest attraction is the beauty of her thousand-year-old stone architecture and gardens against our mountains and fields. I love, our beautiful furniture and paintings and our Musical events. Our most famous attraction is, believeit or not, our astonishing GHOSTS which are truly WORLD-famous. We have been famed for Ghosts for many hundreds of years.

　　【PChouse】What’s your favourite food?

　　【Humphry Wakefield】Occasional Caviar, of course, but also Bacon, Eggs and fried bread for breakfast. That is, of course, until I taste the astonishing variety of new tastes in China.

　　【PChouse】What’s your favourite book?

　　【Humphry Wakefield】William Shakespeare: he has both highest human drama along with beautiful and flowing poetry. I can recite a lot of Shakespeare from memory and that gives my huge pleasure and also sends me to sleep every night to dream well!.

　　【PChouse】What’s your favourite movie?

　　【Humphry Wakefield】“Kind Hearts and Coronets” where Alec Guinness, who I met in America, plays six totally different people, each different personality is an heir to a great Stately Home and each of the completely different characters is played by Guinness. Each of those different ‘Guinnesses’ is murdered by superb actor Dennis Price who plays the very cool villain of the plot.

　　【PChouse】What’s your favourite collection?

　　【Humphry Wakefield】My favourite thing to collect is ‘beauty’! Whether it is Chinese or English, ancient or modern, furniture or painting, weapon or textile, just so long as it is thrilling in beauty. Sadly, art and furniture products of today set out to be ‘clever’ and intellectual and certainly practical with furnishings, but the ‘moderns’ seek out those qualities alone and forget rather the ‘beautiful’ which adds such and extra happiness to life. Former ages had all those qualities of practicality but combined that with elegance and beauty. My intellect is quite sharpened enough with today’s tax returns and politics. I am lucky enough to have wonderful Chinese works of art dating from over the last two and a half thousand years and they blend so perfectly with my collections from Europe.

　　【PChouse】We learned from press that you like to travel. What do you think travel can bring you? Among all the places that you have visited, which one do you like the best?

　　【Humphry Wakefield】I love travel because of the excitement of new ideas and new sights: the vastly different experiences between, for instance, the glories of the ice and snow bound Antarctic and the elegant perfection of classic sights of Peking. They are both totally extraordinary and most definitely all to be experienced to add to the glory and diversity of life. MY FAVOURITE PLACE you ask? That is like asking which girlfriend, child or even horse you like best! Each is so different and each brings something totally different and fresh to life. Besides one child might be sgreat to go to the opera with and the other to climb a mountain with? Wth places as with humanity, one can scan out the unacceptable or try to, if the glories are really worthwhile? I have seen such great beauty in China, both natural and manmade. There is such great beauty in so many countries throughout the world and in such profuse variety/ it is also there in the Museums in the homes and in nature.

　　【PChouse】It is said that you have participated in the explorations of Mount Qomolangma and the Antarctic, and these activities are very adventurous, so how do you like adventures? Do you think the fact that you love to take on adventures is due to the fact that you inherited the spirit of knighthood from your family? After all, your father-in-law is one of her Majesty the Queen's personal Knight. Can you briefly introduce the notion of chivalry to our Chinese readers? It is very exotic and mysterious to us.

　　【Humphry Wakefield】Yes, and my Father was Treasurer and Comptroller of Her Majesty The Queen’s Household though he was a Classical scholar, mountaineer and Member of Parliament as well as a Minister to Winston Churchill. But, to answer your question, from 600 years ago (and from before and since) Chivalry has been a “culture” of honour amongst leading families throughout the entire world, with ancient China (up till today, I am sure), of course, included. There is a universally understood ‘pact’ of ‘how one behaves’ in the fierceness of war and in the calm of home. This universal acceptance of chivalaric behaviour is an all-important bond for nations, especially in wartimes, just as is Music, Art, Sport, Learning and Science. This culture of Chivalry demands that you: A) Live life to the full, taking all honourable risks you dare to take; B) You must try to Win, but you must only win at games and war by fair methods and give honour and protection to others most especially if they obey that code. C) Disregard personal safety so far as you dare; D) Always Care for women and children. E) Love and protect beauty in nature or manmade works and have reverence for tradition and honour. (ALL OF THAT, OF COURSE, RELATES TO STATELY HOMES and their families, the protection of those Homes and their survival.) . The culture really says to live life to the full. Don’t worry about safety, but love glorious things, protect women qand children, protect the best in humanity and rise above or destroy evil. Back in the AD 900s we had a King Arthur: He had his “Knights of the Round Table.” The table was round because all people were equal (but there must have been a ‘pecking order’ all the same) These Knights were all men of total Honour and chieftains at warfare. I truly think that is why the present Stately Homes Lords are famous bird shots and polo players (as is Prince Charles and his sons), as they had to be brilliant athletes and fighters to survive those wars and battles. Those Stately Homes families are also strong in politics and industry today from many generations of practice. Those Stately Homes families do also support beauty and Craftsmanship in their Castles and Palaces and, of course, they support the great traditional STATELY HOMES themselves. I think that Chivalry has related to horsemanship, down the centuries, at least. That is partly because the survival of warfare, in old times, depended on skilled horsemanship, and also because horsemanship does not call for brute strength but for a personal relationship of calm and trust between horse and man, a trust with relates to a dimension beyond reason and certainly beyond force.

　　【PChouse】You have once rebuilt the Terra castle and have also repaired the Northumberland castle Chillingham, why are you so interested in these castle projects?

　　【Humphry Wakefield】 I love Castles as they somehow manage to carry the romance of their dramatic past history of armed action with them, along with the spirits of their powerful past owners and the beauty of these Castles’s contents and natural surrounds. These Castles have seen wars and kings, brave acts and clever feats of arms, with involvement in highest politics, power and front-line action. And these Castles have also housed music and the greatest musicians of their days, and they have furnishings and paintings of the greatest beauty in the country. Even when the Castles are partly fallen and ruined, they still have the memories and they have the potential to revive that spirit with restoration. The Castles I have revived have always been connected with my own family, so I feel the family Ghosts are enjoying recognition and life again and I feel these Spirits are working with me to help me. Certainly it looks that way if you read our Chillingham Castle Ghost stories of ‘helping hands’ in difficult or unlikely situations. With restoration it is also always wonderful to bring a ‘Sleeping Beauty’back to full life and laughter.’

　　【PChouse】I heard that you have designed the The Square Hotel suite (It was the 13 topmost suites at the PLAZA HOTEL in NEW YORK) for Mrs. Trump, how do you like interior design? What are your favourite design styles?

　　【Humphry Wakefield】I designed and furnished the 13 topmost suites for the NEW YORK PLAZA HOTEL, then owned by Mrs Trump and her family. We won many awards for these “Stately Homes” Suites of Rooms. But, it was easy for me! I designed the Suites with BAKER Stately Homes Furniture, with TIFFANY Stately Homes Crystal and silver, with MIRROR FAIR Stately Homes mirrors and Stately Homes Ceramics and even our lamps. We named each of the 13 Hotel Suites with the name of one of the great Stately Homes in the Baker Collection. When the Suites were completed, I arrange for all the Lords who owned these Stately Homes’ Castles and Palaces to have dinner at CLARIDGES HOTEL in London with, to meet Mrs. Trump to celebrate the grand opening of the PLAZA Stately Home suites.

　　【PChouse】You are an esteemed consultant of Baker’s Stately Homes Collection, could you give us a brief intro on the products? What characteristics do you think these product possess, and what values do you think these products can bring?

　　【Humphry Wakefield】 I am the consultant to the Baker Stately Homes Collections, and I select and supervise the manufacture of each piece to ensure the detail is superb. I also initiated the idea of the Stately Homes Collections and made the original arrangements with each of the the Lords, now more than 30 years ago, with Baker making the Furniture, Tiffany the crystal and silver, Mirror Fair making the mirrors as they still do, and other firms making replicas off their special areas.. I truly do believe that pieces copied from the great Stately Homes carry with them the Good Luck, the Power and Force of Achievement and Life that these great Stately Homes’ Castles and Palaces have given to their most fortunate Lords for so many centuries. That spiritual power is why those Lords survive as warriors and National Leaders century after century, the same families, right up to to this day. It is important to remember FIVE things, with BAKER Stately Homes Furniture and with any other Stately Homes product. FIRST OF ALL. ….Each piece HAS to be BEAUTIFUL or it would have been REPLACED over the last two or three hundred years by a more useful/comfortable/beautiful example. Rival pieces come on the market the whole time, and if a more suitable piece arrives on the market, then the LORDS will prefer it and replace it. BUT, this has not happened with the pieces in Baker’s great Stately Homes Furniture Collection. So all the Stately Homes pieces HAVE to be BEAUTIFUL? SECOND OF ALL….. These pieces simply HAVE to be STRONG and PRACTICAL, because if they broke down, or were impractical they would have been thrown away. These Lords are not prepared to waste time on things that do not work for them, they can afford to acquire what suits them best and so they do…….. THIRD OF ALL ,…. Stately Homes pieces HAVE to be COMFORTABLE, if they were not comfortable then a better item would have been replaced. FOURTH OF ALL: Remember that when these pieces were ordered for these famous homes, the Craftsmen made the superb best they could! Why? Because it was a wonderful chance to advertise their skill in a great and famous home, as well as a chance of earning future commissions from those who could afford to pay for the best. . Like making a piece for the President of China today? Get it right! Make it beautiful! Make it comfortable! FIFTH OF ALL … Baker Stately Home furniture lasts through the changing fashions. Stately Homes furniture is never ‘dated’ as other items which are only fashionable ‘right now.’ So, when the designer of the next decade draws up his decorations, he will reject all the previous ‘dated’ pieces from ten-year-old-designs…but he will KEEP the Stately Home product…just as they have survived those hundreds of years of changing fashions, so they survive today and through tomorrow.

　　【PChouse】Why did you choose to cooperate with Baker on this project? The Stately Homes Collection is regarded as Baker’s Collection of Treasures, what do you thinks this means to you?

　　【Humphry Wakefield】 Like the idea of recording the music of a great singer or musician, or photographing a great painting. Just like that I always wanted to replica pieces of structural or sculptural beauty, such as Furniture, Silver and Ceramics. Like a CD or a Video can spread happiness and beauty with music or paintings, so I wanted to do that with magnificent furniture. It is wonderful to hear a great singer in a great Stately Home, whether it is a Palace or a Castle. But, to have that music RECORDED? What a way to spread world happiness. So, I have RECORDED BEAUTIFUL Furniture. But, BAKER, were and are the only firm in the world to understand this concept of replica at this topmost level. And Baker had and have the multi-generational crafts force able for this task. I am given the huge privilege of supervising these craftsmen as they work to make each of the pieces I have selected to be perfect.

　　【PChouse】We noticed that the design of Stately Homes Collection has a few Chinese elements blended in, why and how did you choose these Chinese elements?

　　【Humphry Wakefield】I included Chinese elements because the Chinese have given brilliant influence to the greatest designers of Europe for many, many centuries. It was thrilling for designers, two and three hundered years back, to examine inspirational designs, lacquers and rare woods brought back by our great trading boats from distant China (my own family had five trading ships for two hundred years, just as an exciting extra to our life!) So, it is thrilling to reproduce this Chinese inspiration and re-introduce it, full circle, back to the Motherland. I would also love to replica great Chinese originals from a great Chinese palace. But, Museums are not the place to find pieces. Museums often have beautiful pieces, but they are usually the impractical cast-offs from a great home: pieces which were broken when sat on, pieces which fell apart and were replaced, or just that better pieces were found to replace it.

　　【PChouse】As an expert in antique furniture, do you have any insight about the antique furniture of the royal family of ancient China? In your opinion, what is the biggest difference between the Stately Homes Collection and the royal Chinese antique furniture? And do you possess any royal Chinese antique furniture?

　　【Humphry Wakefield】I would love to find Chinese pieces to replica. The wonderment of our British Stately Homes is that, as I have said above, however frail the piece of furniture may look, those pieces have proven themselves strong and practical (or they would have been sent off to a Museum to be ‘looked at’ rather than ‘used’). Rather than wonder what might have been, it is easier to go to the still-living Stately Homes of England and see pieces, in daily use, in the glory of their living and natural surroundings.

　　【PChouse】Besides the Stately Homes Collection, have you launched any new products for Baker? How would you continue your cooperation with Baker in the future?

　　【Humphry Wakefield】We are constantly on the lookout for ideal new product. Baker have had a change of management recently but the new management have assured me of renewed support as Stately Homes has proved that it can survive the changing fashions. But Stately Homes furnishings have survived the changing fashions for so many centuries, so it is no surprise that Stately Homes continues to survive through the changing fashions today. Many people enjoy having Baker Stately Homes furniture simply because it does NOT go out of fashion. So, when a room décor is changed for the modern look, the Stately Homes pieces can stay put, maybe in a different room. The designers of each new era love a touch of romance and also, of course, that sense of beauty combined with practicality and so the new designers include the Stately Homes pieces in their new room settings along with their latest pieces. Maybe the latest designers also sense that they, themselves, also touch the Good Luck and spiritual power that Baker Stately Homes furniture carries to its lucky new owners!