Natura Morta
Necklace
2016 (made)
2016 (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
Christopher Thompson Royd's 'Natura morta' necklace captures the fragility and beauty of individual flowers while playing with ideas of mortality. Each necklace starts with the real flowers, picked and pressed, the outlines of which are then drawn on very thin pieces of gold sheet. These delicate outlines are layered and bound together with very fine gold wire, echoing the actions of a florist or gardener. Their vivid colouring is captured with enamel paint.
His work draws inspiration from both the Thracian funerary wreaths of 4th century BC with their life-like gold flowers , and the archive of pressed flowers that is the Hans Sloane Herbarium at the Natural History Museum. In a homage to Sloane, the necklace is presented in a marbled folio box.
His work draws inspiration from both the Thracian funerary wreaths of 4th century BC with their life-like gold flowers , and the archive of pressed flowers that is the Hans Sloane Herbarium at the Natural History Museum. In a homage to Sloane, the necklace is presented in a marbled folio box.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Parts | This object consists of 2 parts.
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Title | Natura Morta (series title) |
Materials and techniques | Gold, enamel and rose-cut diamonds |
Brief description | Necklace, poppies of gold, enamel and diamonds, designed and made by Christopher Thompson Royds, the Netherlands 2016 Folio case covered with marbled paper made for Christopher Thompson Royds' poppies necklace |
Physical description | The necklace resembles a wreath of pressed flowers. Multiple poppy stems of flattened gold are wired together at intervals, a delicate layering which conveys movement and depth. Their outlines are varied by foliate detailing along their length, and each terminates in either a seed pod, bud or richly-painted red flower. Eight poppies are clustered at the front of the necklace, amongst which a small magnetic clasp is hidden. Eleven small rose-cut diamonds are irregularly spaced, set as dew on both stems and petals. The folio case is covered in brown marbled paper with a black ribbon tie. |
Dimensions |
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Marks and inscriptions | ('CTR' and London hallmark for 18 carat gold on the back of one of the central poppies) |
Credit line | Purchased through the generosity of William & Judith, Douglas and James Bollinger |
Object history | The necklace was shown in the Contemporary Applied Arts exhibition ‘Bloomin Jewels’ ( 2017) curated by Corinne Julius. |
Subject depicted | |
Summary | Christopher Thompson Royd's 'Natura morta' necklace captures the fragility and beauty of individual flowers while playing with ideas of mortality. Each necklace starts with the real flowers, picked and pressed, the outlines of which are then drawn on very thin pieces of gold sheet. These delicate outlines are layered and bound together with very fine gold wire, echoing the actions of a florist or gardener. Their vivid colouring is captured with enamel paint. His work draws inspiration from both the Thracian funerary wreaths of 4th century BC with their life-like gold flowers , and the archive of pressed flowers that is the Hans Sloane Herbarium at the Natural History Museum. In a homage to Sloane, the necklace is presented in a marbled folio box. |
Collection | |
Accession number | M.26:1,2-2017 |
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Record created | June 9, 2017 |
Record URL |
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