The light in winter: Mirabella

It has been a long winter in Melbourne this year, and even though we are almost at the end of August, the blossom month, it still feels like winter. “It’s a miserable day” is Vince’s assessment of the climate, both meteorological and psychological. But then again, he lived for many years in the tropics.

I like to look for bright spots even in the darkest days.  The many varieties of wattle blaze their beautiful yellow in gardens, reserves, parks and along the Eastern Freeway as I drive to work every day.. Surely the great spirits of nature fashioned them so as to counteract the greyness of Melbourne.

And then, there is Mirabella.

I used to know the name from the lightbulbs one bought in Coles or Safeway. But now I know it for the magnificent palace of crystal just down on Lygon Street East Brunswick. Gigantic chandeliers, sparkling mirrors, baroque beads and fantastical glass sculptures spread along three or four shop window lengths.

I read on the website that the shop has been here for over 50 years and that it is 100% Australian owned. The company is a leader in compact fluorescent globes and has challenged giant world companies such as Philips, and won. Although the company is committed to energy efficient lighting, the chandeliers are the very opposite of utilitarian, they are a song of opulence, a hymn whose notes are jewels of light.