A leaf out of our book

potato print of tree with birds
Our current series of blog posts is looking at the inspiration of nature on artists- previous themes being fish, birds and flowers.

leaf shaped art glass dish

This week we’re putting leaves & leaf-inspired designs into the spotlight. Sometimes it’s the whole object that takes the form of a leaf as with the glass dish above, but more often it’s the decoration.

Cathrineholm lotus pattern enamel kettle Cathrineholm lotus design enamel coffee pot

Lotus pattern enamelware designed by Grete Prytz Kittelsen for Cathrineholm of Norway – produced in many colours including green, yellow, blue, red, orange and black. Leaves lend themselves very well to simple, pared down designs.

detail of1950s waste paper basket detail of plate
1950s leaf detailing

The repeating pattern of leaves on a stem is very strong visually.

Iden Pottery vase Rambouillet plate
Iden Pottery vase :: Boch Rambouillet plate

tall jug by Villeroy & BochVilleroy & Boch jug

One of favourite designers, Stig Lindberg, used a very similar repeating leaf pattern to great effect in his Berså collection for Gustavsberg.

Berså Enamelware kettle designed by Stig LindbergBerså enamelware kettle

Grete Prytz Kittelsen and Stig Lindberg along with many other influential Scandinavian designers are covered in a great book – Scandinavian Design, Charlotte & Peter Fiell.
Designs were sometimes more free-flowing as in this 1950s Wade Pottery cup & saucer.

1950s Wade pottery cup & saucer

All the pieces above date from the 1950s, 60s and 70s – here are a couple of older examples. We love these rustic iron candle holders and have got quite a collection!

leaf shaped iron candle holder leaf shaped iron candle holder
Victorian candle holders

PS – We’re not sure precisely which day yet- but the H is for Home website is going live next week. We’ll be doing our next blog on the day we go live- so stay tuned!