TAXIDERMY REVISITED29/6/2016
Taxidermists Extraordinaire Jaap Sinke & Ferry van Tongeren aka Darwin, Sinke van Tongeren, return to Jamb for their second spectacular show, the guests once more of Charlotte and Will Fisher at Jamb.
Here curator extraordinaire Helen Chislett reviews this showstopper.
Two years ago their first ever exhibition here dazzled visitors with artfully crafted, taxidermic compositions that paid homage to the great Dutch masters of the 16th and 17th centuries. This June, ‘New Masters’ takes further inspiration from early natural history artists, such as the American John James Audubon and his German counterpart, Ernst Haeckel. The latter they particularly admire for the way in which he approached scientific studies with a creative eye, combining colour and pattern to make elaborate patterns with flowers, shells and animals.
In all, Sinke and van Tongeren plan to bring about 30 new works to the ‘New Masters’ show, including a female mandrill, some rare hornbills, monkeys, reptiles, a zebra, two red ibises and an antique cabinet of rare, exotic birds, all dramatically resurrected to take centre stage amongst Jamb’s superbly curated stock of antiques and collectables. In addition, they will be showing some of their ‘Unknown Poses’ taxidermic photography, which was recently shown at Photo London. This series is a continuation of work begun in 2014, when they realised how the ‘empty’ skins they were washing seemed to come alive when floating in water. Damien Hirst’s ‘Murderme’ collection bought nearly their entire output two years’ ago, so for anyone interested in owning a piece from the new masters themselves, the Jamb show is a second chance to procure a piece by DS&vT. Prices range from about £3000 to about £75,000, with the majority costing in the region of £10,000. So far as Sinke and van Tongeren are concerned, the two years they have spent putting this new show together is all about celebrating the beauty and wonder of the natural world. As Jaap Sinke explains, “We have managed to find some really rare and interesting species from zoos and breeders around the world – each animal is selected on colour and drama, a reflection on what we have learned so far”. Visitors to this show will find Jamb’s 18th-century console tables housing Jaap and Ferry’s beautiful compositions of creatures such as draped swans, macaws and ibises – animals caught in time to be enjoyed and marvelled at beyond their natural deaths. www.finetaxidermy.com ‘New Masters’ runs from Tues 28. June to Friday 8. July, 9am – 6pm weekdays and 11am – 4pm on Saturdays. Jamb, 97 Pimlico Road. London SW1W 8PH THE NEW MEN BEHIND THE DISHES17/6/2016
Canvas Home is a collection of artisan-made home goods, inspired by the beauty of handcrafted objects. The motto ‘simple, sustainable, style’ perfectly captures its design ethos. This winning combination of urban chic and country style that could only come out of NYC has now arrived on our shores with the opening of a cool showroom on London’s equally cool Amwell Street. This is a bit too close for comfort to my home and yes, it is time to replace all my crockery and cutlery.
Canvas Home was founded in America in 2008 by Andrew Corrie, a British designer who believes that ‘everyone’s home is a blank canvas and how we use and edit it creates a unique personal environment’ and launched in the UK by partner Simon Lee in 2015.
Andrew Corrie who charmed the press at a recent launch politely remarked that Canvas Home is for those seeking the next step upwards from the brands that we all first went for. I am mentioning no names but he is spot on. This is tableware that is considered and design-led and beautifully crafted BUT and this is the best bit, is really is affordable style. Elegance through simplicity runs through all the collections. The main product categories are dinnerware, flatware, glassware, vases and textiles. This season sees the exciting collaboration with Maxwell Ryan, founder of Apartment Therapy, whose new china, glassware and table linen is based on clean practical elegance. This contemporary dinnerware complements the organic Ciara collection, designed with New York’s ceramicist Barbara Eigen. What makes Canvas Home more desirable still is that it is a strong advocate for artisans in developing countries and supports the Aid to Artisans, a 30 year old non profit organisation, which creates economic opportunities for artisans groups around the world where craft traditions or livelihoods are at risk. The showroom at 57 Amwell Street is open by appointment. Also visit the UK website and note that online shopping kicks in on 1 September. T: 0207 833 2000 www.canvashomestore.co.uk AT THE TABLE8/6/2016
Birdie Fortescue’s collection of homewares work beautifully together to create the perfect setting for a leisurely lunch in a palette of calm greens and whites.
Fresh garden flowers, the finesse of smooth porcelain contrasted with hand-blocked linen and glasses with a hint of the organic all add to a sense of pared-down refinement at the table.
Birdie personally sources each items of her contemporary home collection buying ‘beautiful stylish pieces that I would love to live with myself.’
Birdie is an experienced designer and decorator having trained under Colefax and Fowler, before developing her passion for late 18th and early 19th century continental furniture into a career as a specialist antiques dealer. She has sourced and supplied to a wide spectrum of clients around the country and in the States, and her shop is the perfect showcase for her understated, elegant style. Collections include lighting, cushions, dining, kitchen, storage, bedroom, bathroom, office, rugs, lifestyle and home accessories. Birdie’s own designs play a growing part of her brand and she has commissioned hand-blocked textiles for bed and table linen. Birdie’s pared-down timeless style means that the homewares and antiques work beautifully together and are perfect for furnishing a range of classic and contemporary properties from town and country houses to converted barns and beach houses. www.birdiefortescue.co.uk Categories
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