Monthly Archives: April 2012

Illustrated Life

27 April 2012

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For something a bit different this week, I thought I would share with you some fascinating illustrations that I came across a few weeks ago.

I found “The Complete Encyclopedia of Illustration” by J.G. Heck, in a local cafe – they have a whole wall of books to dive into there and this one caught my eye.

First published in 1851, as “The Iconographic Encyclopedia of Science, Literature and Art”, the work was based on one of the finest encyclopedias of its day, the “Bilderatlas” by Friedrich Arnold Brockhaus. It contains over 12,000 black and white engravings, illustrating just about everything a Victorian reader could have possibly imagined. It is separated into ten major sections – Mathematics and Astronomy, Natural Sciences, Geography and Planography, History and Ethnology, Military and Naval Sciences, Naval Sciences, Architecture, Mythology and Religious Rites, Fine Arts, and Technology.

Each single item is painstakingly captured – some fall into dreamlike representations of clouds, birds, and creatures, some show the fascinations and inventions of scientific fervour, and the quest for discovery. As well as finding each illustration totally fascinating, I love the language used to describe each one – the beautiful Latin names that roll off your tongue, and the intriguing descriptions which transport you back to a time of mysterious, yet to be discovered worlds.

As well as providing me with a great moment of tea and inspiration, this book has reminded me to always keep looking and noticing – in times where we feel that all is discovered, it is warming and uplifting to be reminded of the curious beauties, oddities and fascinations in the world, and the depth of human endeavour it has taken, and still takes, to discover and record them.

I hope you enjoy my selections! Click the images to see larger representations.

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Plate 26: Phenomena of clouds and light.

1-9. Phenomena in clouds

10-12. Rainbows

13. Aurora borealis

14. Midnight sun in the polar regions

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Plate 16: Theories of force and gravity; demonstrations of these and other physical laws

Including:

4. Parallelopipedon (yep) of forces

14. Illustrating Varignon’s funicular machine

17, 18. Atwood’s machine for demonstrating the freely falling of bodies

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Plate 92: Members of the orders Anseriformes, Pelecaniformes, Charadiiformes, and Sphenisciformes

Including:

1. Carbo cormoranus, cormorant

7. Anser segetum, bean goose

10. Merges cucullatus, hooded merganser

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Plate 228: Gymnasium and acrobatics

Upper division

1-12. The German gymnasium

Lower division

1-8. Acrobatic feats

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Timorous Beasties

20 April 2012

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Some of my favourite wallcoverings at the moment from design studio Timorous Beasties. (Click twice to enlarge)

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1. Birds ‘n’ Bees, Duck Egg Blue. Shimmering, light reflecting, ever so slightly textured, in the most beautiful range of colours. The details in this design, the bird colours in particular, are heavenly.

2. Euro Damask Hand-Print, Reds on Cream.

3. Iguana Superwide, Black on Ivory. An intricate pattern with a hand drawn quality, reminiscent to me of historical botanical book illustrations. Manages to be both sweet and a little nasty.

4. Butterflies, in Ochre. Here are golds, powdery silver hued pinks and mauves, and tiny patches of green that really catch the light. The paper has a lovely textural quality to the surface, like tissue paper.

6. Tree of Life, in Raspberry. A soft, dreamy pattern that has a hint of the past about it, brought to life by smooth ripples of pale pink.

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There are printed fabrics, cushions, lampshades and rugs too, in many different colour choices.

Timorous Beasties also provide a bespoke service, from custom colours to original artwork. All design work takes place at their Glasgow Studio, where they continue to hand-print many of their fabrics and wallpapers.

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www.timorousbeasties.com

Philately Sparks

6 April 2012

6 Comments

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No, not a new band name.. though I am tempted, Philately is such a great word.

I have to confess, stamps have pretty much passed by my personal radar, but I found these in a dusty corner of an antiques warehouse one recent afternoon and found them really interesting! There were shelves and shelves of them, all displayed and archived so carefully according to subject, place and time.

As well as stamps, there was also a huge collection of old postcards, some dating back to the 1900′s.  I’m always fascinated by the backs of old postcards; the curl of the handwriting, the postal stamps. I always have a secret wish to come across some fascinating snippet of a story; a love letter perhaps, or an intriguing tale. But even the seemingly mundane ones have their own particular charm.  Each card is a mystery waiting to be solved  - you try to imagine the hand that wrote each one, and the circumstances and times surrounding them. I wonder if the real people are anything like as interesting as the characters I conjure up in my head?

I like to think of the journeys of these stamps and cards, tiny pieces of art flying all over the world, connecting people.

(p.s. clicking each image should bring up a sharper version)

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From Dawlish, Devon, 1958

Dear Roma,

just a card. I don’t know if you know that I am on holiday I have been to this plase today we are having a nice time the weather not to bad we are on the sea front and we have got a nice hotel.

Love from Mrs Barnard.

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From Exeter, Devon, 1905

Dear Nellie,

I received your parcel quite safely thank you very much for it. It was very kind of you. I hope you have a happy Easter. I have not heard from Jack yet. I will write you a nice letter after Easter.

with best love from Mabel.

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From Torquay, Devon, 1915

I’m working on this one…!

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