If you're at all familiar with the Otherist, then you know we're madly in love with Cabinets of Curiosities. One might even say that Ye Olde Worlde Wunderkammers are one of our biggest inspirations when we go in search of new items with which to populate the shop. So it should come as no surprise that when one of our customers clued us in to Suzanne Norris' amazing new screen print Curiosity Cabinet we quite literally jumped at the chance to have this amazing work in the shop.
This print houses a collection of meticulously drawn two-dimensional specimens, perfect for the avid amateur scientist, art lover, or biology fanatic.
The deets:
- limited edition of 28 pieces
- Incisioni paper (220gsm, pH neutral, 50% cotton)
- The print measures w 39.9cm x h 47cm (15.7” x 18.5”)
- The paper measures w 50cm x h 59cm (19.7” x 23.2”)
- one colour non-toxic water-based ink (velvety black) silk screen print
Available for purchase in-store at our Leliegracht location or in our web shop.
Prior to the instant gratification of the world-wide web (we ♥ U Wikipedia!), the best place to find the weird and wonderful was the unabridged Webster's Dictionary. Even before the wonders of wordplay made themselves known, this repository of knowledge was guaranteed to be packed to the gills with meticulous engravings of the world around us (in addition to the copious amounts of words). Whether the item pictured was easily seen, unseen, or out of reach of anything but our imaginations, something about these intricate images sparked a fire in the heart of young scientists and artists alike.
In Pictorial Webster's: A Visual Dictionary of Curiosities, John M. Carrera has undertaken the arduous task of not only tracking down more than 1,500 amazing 19th-century engravings from Webster's Dictionaries, but also cleaning and restoring them to provide a visually breathtaking collection sure to both inspire and delight. With images ranging from Acorns to Zebras, Bell Jars to Velocipedes, this chunky tome "is a treasure trove for art lovers, designers, and anyone with an interest in visual history." When we first saw this book, there was no question: Yes, MUST have! This chunky little tome is chock full of drool-worthy graphical goodness. Available for purchase in our web shop or come by the Leliegracht and thumb through it in person.
There was always something infinitely and uncomfortably attractive about walking into biology class and seeing the specimens arrayed in all their yellowed, formaldehyde-y glory. The salamanders, birds and other beasts almost made the teacher's interminable lectures bearable. Almost.
So it's to be expected that our eyes were drawn like lead filings to a magnet (gratuitous science class reference!) when we first happened upon Lyndie Dourthe's Curiosités Under Glass. Hand stitched, beaded, and burned encyclopedia illustrations on stuffed canvas guaranteed to turn any 'ews' into 'aahs'; displayed under removable glass to facilitate admiration both with eyes and hands. See available pieces in our webshop.
Lyndie Dourthe's new creations, Elepoica, have arrived. An assortment of animals with gilded stars and various beads, each is carefully stuffed, stitched, and embellished by hand. They are all fitted with a silver plated stickpin which makes them easy to secure to coats, hats, bags... or keep them in their gauze lined box as a small treasure.
