About

Decorative artist Tess Newall and furniture maker Alfred Newall present Herbarium Cabinet, in celebration of the traditional crafts integral to their work. From their workshops in East Sussex, Tess and Alfred have designed and made a piece that showcases the beauty and skill in handcrafted furniture.

Herbarium Cabinet is a contemporary take on historic cabinets designed to house and preserve plant specimens. Combining their crafts as a cabinet maker and an artist, with their shared interest in natural history, Herbarium Cabinet pays homage to a botanical design lineage that runs from naturalist Carl Linnaeus to botanist Carl Lindman and designer Josef Frank, celebrating the synergy of art, craft and science. Handpainted botanical studies have been applied to the cabinet in a decoupage technique, inspired by the walls of Carl Linnaeus’ bedroom in Hammarby, Sweden.

The cabinet is on display in the library of London’s historic Linnean Society, whose collections include those of Carl Linnaeus. Original botanical specimens from Linnaeus’ collection are exhibited alongside the piece, echoing the species of plant depicted on the cabinet.

On Wednesday 14 May, Tess hosts a botanical drawing workshop with an introduction from a member of the Linnean Society’s collection team. Tickets are limited and can be purchased via Eventbrite.

press@tessnewall.com | info@alfrednewall.com