Description
Silent Flourish
Silent Flourish is part of my Hidden Botanicals series, a body of work that explores the relationship between nature and pewter, preserving and protecting a fleeting moment in time.
Each sculpture begins as a flat sheet of pewter. Using traditional raising techniques, I gradually transform the metal by hand, carefully hammering and shaping it until the flowing sculptural form slowly emerges. This slow, intuitive process gives each piece its own character, with every subtle curve created by hand rather than by casting.
The botanical elements are carefully preserved using specialist techniques before being incorporated into the sculpture, allowing them to retain their natural beauty while becoming a permanent part of the piece. Developed through years of experimentation, this process enables me to combine delicate natural materials with hand-raised pewter, creating sculptures that appear to transition seamlessly from organic form to metal.
Pewter’s unusually low melting point makes this possible. Unlike most metals, it allows me to work with fragile leaves, fern fronds and seed heads without destroying them, capturing intricate details and creating the illusion that the botanicals are emerging from, and disappearing back into, the sculpture itself.
For over thirty years I have been exploring the creative possibilities of pewter, continually questioning how far the material can be pushed. The Hidden Botanicals series is the result of that curiosity and experimentation, combining traditional pewtersmithing techniques with a process I have developed to preserve nature within metal.
Every sculpture is individually handmade in my Sussex studio and is completely unique, ensuring that no two pieces can ever be repeated.
Size:Â Â Width 18cm x Depth 21cm x Height 23cm
About the Botanicals
The preserved leaves, ivy and ferns used within this sculpture have undergone a specialist preservation process in which their natural moisture is replaced with a glycerine-based solution. This allows the botanicals to retain their softness, flexibility and natural character rather than becoming brittle or dry.
The honesty seed heads are naturally dried and have been carefully selected for their delicate, translucent quality, providing a beautiful contrast to the preserved foliage and sculpted pewter elements.
With appropriate indoor care, the preserved botanicals are intended to remain beautiful indefinitely, retaining their softness and flexibility thanks to the specialist glycerine preservation process. Each sculpture is supplied with a soft brush for the gentle removal of dust. Displaying the work away from prolonged direct sunlight and excessive humidity will help preserve the natural materials so the sculpture can be enjoyed for generations.
Payment Options
Interest-free instalment payments are available on this sculpture. Reserve your artwork with an initial deposit and spread the remaining balance over an agreed period. Please get in touch to discuss the payment option that best suits you.
