Thursday, October 18, 2007

Works of Art




I was flipping through the October issue of World of Interiors today and came across the most beautiful article on fabric. Two artists, Jessica Hayns and Benjamin Kempton, took various swatches of fabric and created the most fantastic objects. The inspiration behind these fabric works of art was couturier Paul Poiret's designs, which were influenced by Surrealism and Japanese art. It is interesting to see how some of these rather mundane prints have been turned into something all together quite beautiful.

The article contains many amazing images, but I thought I would share a few with you. Enjoy!


Clockwise from top: "Chinese Leopard Toile" by Brunschwig & Fils; "Tea Introduction" by Rubelli; "Manchuria" by Vervain; "La Vie Chinoise" by Clarence House; "Satsuma" by Vervain


Clockwise from left: "Coralli 1" by Dedar; "Jacob Embroidery" by Jed Johnson Home; "Reef Figured Velvet" from Brunschwig & Fils; "Coralia 3489004" from Gaston & Daniela; "Diaghilev" by Clarence House


Clockwise from top: "Blue Print" by Bennison; "Flora" from Sister Parish; "Poppy" by Jed Johnson Home; "Burma" from Sister Parish; "Faux Bois" from Jed Johnson Home; "Block Flowers" from Designers Guild


Clockwise from top: "La Gloire de la Mer" from Grey Watkins; "Aphrodite's Treasure" in brown and blue colorways, from Brunschwig & Fils; "Medallion" from Jed Johnson Home with "Cabana" fringe from Donghia; "Corallo" from Grey Watkins with "Cabana" fringe from Donghia


Clockwise from top: "Bahamas Multicolor" by Gaston & Daniela; "Leopard" from GP&J Baker; "Zebra" and "Ocelot", both by GP&J Baker; "Alderney" from Colefax & Fowler; "Homage to Rose Cumming" by Jean Monro; "Alderney" from Colefax & Fowler


Chairback: "Bizarre" from Scalamandre with "Kiribati Feather Trim" from Color de Seda. Chairseat and top chair skirt: "Romeo e Giulietta" by Dedar. Bottom chair skirt: "Perroquet" from Nina Campbell.


Top row: "Tarascon" by Christopher Moore
Middle row: Left- "Tumbleweed" by The Silk Gallery; Right- "Daphne Ikat" from Madeline Weinrib and "Diva" from Chase Erwin
Bottom row: "Jardin" by Kenzo and "Province" by Scalamandre

Image at top: "Honshu Antracita" by Gaston & Daniela

13 comments:

  1. You're right, these prints look spectacular transformed this way. I love the fans!

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  2. Funny, I was just looking and drooling over this article last night! I was WISHING those were real umbrellas -I would LOVE any of them!!

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  3. Be the change- Me too! I'd buy one of those umbrellas in a heartbeat!

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  4. Anonymous10:33 AM

    If I am not mistaken, the real master of this kind of styling is Felicity Lady Osborne, the wife of Sir Peter Osborne, who is a co-founder of the fabrics company Osborne & Little. It is Lady Osborne (née Loxton-Peacock) who has overseen the transformation of O&L's fabrics into sailboats, umbrellas, medieval-style pennants, and much, much more.

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  5. Anon- I'm not familiar with her or her styling. I wonder if there are photos on the O&L website? I'd like to see them. Or, was it just in ads?

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  6. Hi Jennifer,
    I loved the whole magazine! I saw it at my friends house. But she said the shop in her compound had only one copy. And apparently this was the only copy in Beijing.
    Loved to see that pics again. Thanks for sharing.

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  7. Hi Suzie! I got so caught up with this particular article that I have not yet finished this issue, but can't wait to! Too bad that the magazine doesn't have images on their website, esp. since your friend got the only copy in Beijing! :)

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  8. Anonymous12:31 PM

    Check out any of the Osborne and Little ads that show up (usually) in The World of Interiors.

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  9. I need to get this magazine issue!!! Thanks so much for sharing this Jennifer. So creative how they used the prints, I think the first image is my favorite.

    ~Kate

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  10. Anonymous11:16 PM

    The photograph of the umbrellas (without the type on it) would make a gorgeous poster.

    -pt

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  11. It's interesting how different magazines handle the swatch issue. Local magazines have a rough time with it, while those in the caliber of World of Interiors create works of art. Beautiful!


    Joni

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  12. PT- You know, you're right! It's such a beautiful image.

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  13. For me who love fabrics ...this is just incredible and wonderful

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