‘Wreath’ Wallpaper
William Morris, 1876
This wallpaper design is a great example of Morris’s work – I particularly like the combination of vibrant colours, and the way that, while stylised, the _ owers and acanthus leaves maintain their sense of organic growth and movement. Morris has interwoven the leaves and _ owers in a way to make his patterns appear almost three-dimensional.
Eames Storage Unit
Charles and Ray Eames, 1950
Charles and Ray Eames designed this elegant modular system that allowed customers to design their own storage. The aesthetic is industrial with steel components and plywood panels, but they are detailed to add decoration and allow the piece to sit comfortably in a domestic setting. Apparently the unit would come in a box that was designed to be reused as a children’s playhouse – genius!
My Heroes
Grayson Perry,1994
I love the way Grayson Perry combines popular culture with traditional crafts. He creates beautiful objects, which are full of humour and humanity, and elevates the subject matter by his meticulous attention to detail. This vase features motorcyclist Barry Sheen, singer Mark E Smith, transsexual model April Ashley and artist Aubrey Beardsley.
Feather Headdress – Illustration
Hiroshi Tanabe, 2006
Fashion illustrator Hiroshi Tanabe has created this beautiful pen drawing of a feather headdress designed by Philip Treacy for the Alexander McQueen 2006 Ready to Wear collection. Tanabe’s illustrations are inspired by the graphic line work of traditional Japanese woodcuts – the delicacy of the line drawing and gold leaf connects old-world beauty with modern illustration in a thoroughly refreshing way.
Cats Beaker
John Clappison, 1971
This takes me back to my childhood in Yorkshire – trips to the seaside often involved a visit to the Hornsea Pottery’s factory shop so my mother could add to her dinner service. The bold graphic design of this piece adds a child-like delight to this simple mug. John Clappison and his team developed craft techniques (such as the resist printed decoration, giving the relief effect in this piece) while showing a clear awareness of current trends in the production of their popular designs.
