Gilded Pleasures9/9/2014 Gilded Pleasures by TENNANT & TENNANT is a new interiors collection launched by sisters Isabel and Stella Tennant at their first major London exhibition. This selling show presented at Ben Pentreath Ltd, 49 Lambs Conduit St, London, WC1 is open to the public from Friday 12th to Monday 15th September, 11am-6pm. ‘I’m thrilled to be able to showcase the extraordinary work of the sisters Issy and Stella Tennant. Their first collection of lamps, mirrors and objects—gessoed, burnished and water-gilded—represent the combination of their many worlds, a place where fashion and fine art meets natural history and craft made by hand. Like Issy and Stella themselves, their work is rooted in the country but is at home everywhere – fascinating, curious, multi- facteted and glittering. I can’t wait to see the early 18th century rooms of our studio in Lambs Conduit Street transformed – for a few extraordinary days – into a beautiful cabinet of curiosities and delights to launch Stella and Issy’s collection.’ Ben Pentreath Isabel Tennant and her younger sister Stella grew up in the Scottish Borders. Isabel was trained as a gilder and decorative artist at City and Guilds Art School, London. Stella went to Winchester College of Art where she specialised in sculpture and learnt to weld. Isabel and Stella now share a studio in Scotland where they hand make lamp bases, mirrors, carved flowers and decorative panels. Together they explore water gilding and oil gilding, traditional techniques that have not changed for hundreds of years and are identical to those used by Renaissance artists and craftsmen. The gold leaf is burnished using polished agate to give a high shine. Sometimes it is then rubbed down so as to see the coloured clay or watercolour beneath. Gold leaf comes in many shades from rose pink ‘Moon Gold’ to pale green ‘Lemon Gold’ as well as classic yellows. Silvery palladium and caplain are also used. The sisters are both fascinated by the natural world and designs take inspiration from insects and plants. Others are based on Japanese geometric patterns. tennantandtennant. com
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Stitching a Future Together19/8/2014 Pentreath & Hall and Fine Cell Work have joined forces to create a striking collection of needlework cushions to be launched at the London Design Festival. Pentreath & Hall’s two graphic designs ‘Falling Cubes’ and ‘Tetrahedron’, based on stone floor and marble patterns by the great 18th century designer Batty Langley, are stitched in six bold, bright colour combinations including mixtures of pink, blue, chartreuse and red, alongside softer grey tones. Ben Pentreath says that; “Working with Fine Cell Work has been one of the most exciting collaborations of the year, for Bridie and me. We love their brilliant work and it was an absolute pleasure to be asked to design a range of cushions with them. The bold, vibrantly coloured Geometric patterns of our wrapping paper and books worked beautifully, rescaled in needlepoint; and seeing the skill with which our initial ideas have been translated into reality is a joy”. Fine Cell work is a registered charity and social enterprise that trains prisoners in paid, skilled, creative needlework – undertaken in the long hours spent in their cells – to foster hope, discipline and self esteem. This helps them to connect to society and to leave prison with the confidence and financial means to stop offending. Currently some 250 prisoners in 24 UK prisons are participating in Fine Cell Work workshops or projects and there are numerous prisoners on its waiting lists. Prisoners are paid approximately a third of the selling price of their completed projects. On undertaking the new designs, one prisoner commented “I enjoyed the challenge of stitching this design and also seeing the pattern stand out as the tapestry increased. This was when the 3D image became apparent and also grew in perspective.” www.finecellwork.co.uk www.pentreath-hall.com OCHRE’s Modern Masterpiece18/6/2014 Now in its fifth year, Masterpiece London returns as the highlight of London’s summer art season – taking place once again on the South Grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea from 26 June – 2 July (with a Preview on 25 June). Masterpiece lines up over 3000 years’ worth of art history from antiquity to contemporary. It brings together international patrons, collectors, curators and exhibitors in a display of art, antiques, jewellery and design. No wonder Ochre is proud to be part of this Fair. The Ochre Salon is dedicated to a discerning edit of lighting and furniture. Pieces are handcrafted using luxurious complementary materials and stamped with Ochre’s hallmark – discreet glamour. These designs are modern collectables - something to fall in love with and never tire of. Exhibits have to be original in conception and faultless in execution or in other words of the highest order. And of-course Ochre rose to the occasion. Each design begins with understanding the possibilities of a material and the designers spend time working alongside specialist craftsmen, in their workshops, exploring traditional techniques such as glass blowing, bronze casting and hand weaving. This is done in order to create highly crafted and highly valued pieces and in doing so bring traditional techniques into the present to serve a contemporary sensibility. Take a look at the video that explores craftsmanship with a behind-the-scenes look at the Bronze workshop and the story of Seed Cloud with images by Kristin Perers. http://on.fb.me/1jwTWq7 ochre.net masterpiecefair.com Categories
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