This week Fable England and the Natural History Museum proudly presented our collaborative capsule to press and friends. Floral Engravings is an ornate collection of jewellery and accessories rooted in a story unearthed in the Museum archives by our Creative Director, Vanessa.
Fable England X Natural History Museum: A Celebration of Female Artistry
Published on 18 October 2024
Champagne in hand, with the sound of classical music playing in the background, our guests were given the opportunity to peruse pieces from the collection in the very setting that sparked their inspiration.
The concept for the collection stemmed from a chance encounter with some extraordinary drawings by an inspirational mother-daughter duo. Whilst delving into the Natural History Museum’s archive, Vanessa and our team of designers discovered the life work of Maria Sibylla Merian and her daughter Johanna. A leading entomologist of her time, Maria had aspirations that surpassed social conventions for a woman of the 17th century, and the two pioneering artists went on to revolutionise the scientific community’s understanding of the life cycle of insects, and the discovery of metamorphosis.
Floral Engravings is an homage to Maria and Johanna’s artistry, a celebration of the mother-daughter connection, and a reminder for us all to stop and smell the roses. Its hero print is a riot of flora, fauna and insect life, featuring on scarves, nightwear and accessory linings. Exotic animals abound on hand-painted enamel earrings, brooches and charms, accentuating the collection’s wild and whimsical aesthetic.
“The highlight for me was the unforgettable experience of being invited to the Museum’s Rare Books Library. I was particularly delighted to leaf through their illustrated nature studies of botany, entomology and ornithology.”
- Vanessa Radley, Creative Director
