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Fig Leaf

This statuesque yet graceful wardrobe celebrates both Tord Boontje's poetic aesthetic and the 18th Century tradition of Fantasy Furniture. In the 1700s, at the peak of the Decorative Arts, European nobility commissioned leading artisans to make extraordinary furniture to demonstrate their prestige and wealth to visiting royalty. These commissions also gave ateliers the opportunity to outdo each other in order to attract wealthy patrons.

Fig Leaf is no exception to past pieces of Fantasy Furniture, gathering eleven ateliers across England and France. The 616 jewel-like individually painted enamel leaves are said to be the largest enamelling project in the world to date, not only for their large number but also for the challenge they set to Birmingham masters. Indeed, their life-size shape outreached the established boundaries of traditional enamelling, as enamel is one of the most specialist and delicate miniaturist art.

Supporting these 616 unique leaves, is a vine-like tracery of bronzed steel branches, which opens to reveal a hand sculpted bronze tree, arching upwards from a pool of light, woven into an earth to heaven upholstered silk background.

Price on request