Curiouser and Curiouser

Bones, skulls and a plethora of dead insects might not be the most obvious choice when it comes to interior influences, but a British design house is making waves with its fabrics inspired by an Oxford museum’s curiosity cabinets.

Lancashire-based fabric house Tradescant & Son has created its own treasure trove of wallpaper and fabric designs with a gothic edge, all inspired by the finds of 17th century explorer John Tradescant.

Tradescant, who also introduced some of our now most well-loved flowers onto these shores, passed his love of exploring to his son Tradescant the Younger, who is largely credited with creating the first modern museum, The Ark in Lambeth.

There he housed his curiosities and showcased them to the paying public, or the curious as they were known.

It went on to form a significant part of The Ashmolean Museum in Oxford. 

Amy Hardman, Director of Tradescant & Son, said: “Like John Tradescant and his son, I am attracted to the unusual.

“John Tradescant had a remarkable passion for the natural world and for cabinets of curiosity, which was the fashion in Europe in those times, and this spirit is evident throughout these designs.”

Tradescant & Son are represented by homes & interiors PR specialists jwc

Ends

Editors notes

Inspired by the natural curiosities discovered by John Tradescant, the 17th century gardener and collector, British design house Tradescant & Son takes the unusual and turns them into something extraordinary.

Featuring exotic birds, insects, flora and antlers across printed linens, wallpapers and velvets, Tradescant & Son delivers a twist of British eccentricity to any interior scheme with its exquisite collection of archive materials reworked and re-imagined for modern interiors.

All wallpaper and fabrics are designed and printed in England using British paper, linen and velvet.

Tradescant & Son is proud to support British craftspeople and manufacturing and are represented by homes & interiors PR specialists jwc