Though we may not have been true homebodies previously, many of us are now enjoying our homes and apartments like never before. This makes the prospect of a H&M Home collaboration even more special than usual, and when it’s with the British Museum no less, the imagination abounds with what splendiferous things could be making an appearance.
H&M and the British Museum selected the work of Mary Delany, an English 18th Century artist, to grace decorative home items and soft furnishings. Delany’s skill at cutting and placing paper in a 2D collage or “paper mosaic” made her artistic creations not only beautiful but recognizable. Indeed, Joseph Banks, who sent flowers to Delany from the Royal Gardens at Kew, said that the botanical depictions were so accurate that he would be able to describe the plant shown, “…without the least fear of committing an error.”
Although she started late in life at the age of seventy-two, the artist produced 985 works in ten years portraying all sorts of flowers, many of the flowers and plants sent to her from all over the world by friends. It is probably no coincidence that her popularity occurred around the same time that pressing flowers became de rigeur.
As with Delany’s works, the H&M Home x British Museum collection utilizes an elegant backdrop of black to showcase the floral designs delivering a measure of sophistication be they on velvet, ceramic or glass. At once both feminine and masculine these versatile pieces would look stunning anywhere.
We managed to find out a little more from Concept Designer for this special collaboration, and H&M spokesperson, Guillaume Vaillant – pictured, on what to expect and how to best use some of the items from this seven-piece collection.
How did the works of Mary Delany inspire you to create this collection?
In the start of our design process for this season, many British references from the 18thcentury inspired us. We came across Mary Delany’s extraordinary work and were moved by her approach to flowers. Their black background reveals the delicate intensity of the flowers and the handicraft is incredible. We were amazed to see how her flower mosaics, made in the 1700s, could still feel so modern and strong.
Out of thousands of possible artworks, how do you choose which ones to use?
The British Museum department of prints and drawings has such a wonderful catalogue of artworks that we had an immense pleasure to work with it. We really wanted to highlight the artist’s vision and create a dialogue between the final object and her original artwork.
Please tell us more about the 7-piece collection.
For this collection, our idea was to create a romantic and modern flower bouquet for your home. From beautiful cushions to delicate ceramics we wanted to create objects that are poetic and mysterious and that look beautiful in any modern home
How do you decide the type of piece that should go into the 7-piece collection?
Our idea was really to work with this celebration of a romantic garden. We designed the vase and planter of this collection with this idea in mind. It felt very inspiring to bring Delany’s florals to the sofa with black velvet cushions and to the kitchen with decorated porcelain. And to create the last touch of this collection we imagined the scent of these flowers with a beautiful candle.
Do you take into account the size of the flowers in real life when choosing which home pieces they’ll be used on?
I think Mary Delany’s paper mosaics are fascinating and botanically accurate artworks. They carry a sense of imagination that inspired us to work with different scales and placements to showcase their beauty.
When designing the candle, did you take into account the way a candle burns when deciding how to place the design?
We designed this candle to bring a soft and poetic touch in the home. Both from the scent we used but also how the warm light shines through the black glass. It’s a beautiful contrast of dark & lightness that we think represents well Mary Delany’s works.
Which floral display would you most recommend to be used to show off the vase to its greatest effect?
Hortensias, roses, peonies or any generous flowers would look stunning in this vase. Its elegant tall shape is perfect for round floral displays with some romantic movement to it.
Describe the dining experience that would look its best, and that you would most enjoy, on the H&M Home British Museum plates?
We created the plates and dining ceramics to celebrate the iconic British afternoon tea. A table dressed with a soft linen cloth, some delicious cookies on the plates and a warm cup of tea seems like the ideal way to spend a cosy afternoon with Mary Delany.
For more interior design tips follow @hmhome on Facebook and Instagram. Read more on Mary Delany on British Museum blog.britishmuseum.org. Shop the collection at H&M in Al Kout Mall, First Avenue – The Avenues, The Forum – The Avenues, and Gate Mall.
