NATURE’S SCULPTURE
Antique coral can make the most stunning focal point – but it must be responsibly sourced.
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Create a glamorous corner for reading or just watching the world go by with a mixture of statement furniture and intriguing natural history artefacts. Flow £60 Mist per roll, wallpaper, Graham & Brown. Capiz Shell ceiling light, £495, Rockett St George. Large mounted piece of coral, £1,800, Brownrigg. Bronze dolphin coffee table, £980, Lorfords. On table: large 19th-century coral, £50, Rag & Bone Bristol; large hammered brass tray, £80, Raj Tent Club; Gold Rim Shell teacup and saucer, £12, Rockett St George; late 19th-century pink coral, £30 each, Rag & Bone Bristol; books, stylist’s own; Constance Spry-style ceramic vase, £34, Old Albion. Books (on floor), from £2 each, Bookbarn International. Shell (on floor), stylist’s own. Antique leather art deco cloud armchair c1930, £5,800 for a pair, Regent Antiques. Single Rose Pink sheepskin, £65, Graham & Green. Giant clam shell basin, £1,400, Lorfords. Plants, stylist’s own. Speckled Gold Cowhide rug, £425, Graham & Green.
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Shell-shape and Bristol fashion: let a chic cabinet like this one sing out with a selection of carefully positioned standout collectables. Here, the gold is picked out in the shell lamp and pouffe. Pale Powder Estate Emulsion, £46.50 for 2.5l, Farrow & Ball. Three Captain Brown shell engravings, £2,808 for set of nine, Lorfords. Nizwa three-door cabinet, £9,420, Bethan Gray. On cabinet: String of Pearls plant in pot, stylist’s own; early French gilt metal shell table lamp, £310, Muir Antiques; large shell, £45, Chloe Antiques; vintage Jaeger-LeCoultre Marina Angel Fish desk clock, £2,300, Regent Antiques; three glass decanters, £28 each, Focus on the Past; decanter labels, £9 each, Focus on the Past; large coral on stand, £750, Lorfords. Speckled Gold Cowhide rug, £425, Graham & Green. Metallic Gold Moroccan leather pouffe, £150, Graham & Green.
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An old printer’s tray, either left plain or painted, is an inspired way to display a collection of small shells and curios. You can mount it on the wall or prop it up securely on a cabinet and rearrange your treasures to your heart’s content.
Curio Seafern wallpaper, £85 per roll, Cole & Son. Printer’s tray, £38, Focus on the Past. Selection of shells, £2.50 a bag, Dunelm.
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Plates such as these were made to be seen, not just eaten from or used as serving platters. Put on display on a dresser or arrange on the wall as artwork.
Top platter, row: Blue £45, Shoal John of Lewis Fish & Partners. £245 Oval for 12 fish plates platter, and a platter, Trilogie Antiques. Second row: Octopus for Tea fine china plate, £35, Chase and Wonder. Blue and white carp plate, £85 for six dinner plates and an oval serving platter, Beau Chateau Boutique. White Oyster plate, £95 for 12, Amy Perry Antiques. Third row: seafood plate, £68 for six, Trilogie Antiques. Grey oyster plate, £85 for six plates and a platter, Beau Chateau Boutique. Johnson Bros seaweed and fish plate, £15, Rachel’s & Michael’s Antiques. Plate (just seen), part of same set as oval platter in top row. Bottom row: green and coral plate, £150 for 12 plates and an asparagus server, Trilogie Antiques. Fish-shaped plate, £395 for a 14-piece service, Lorfords. Johnson Bros seaweed and fish plate, £10, Rachel‘s & Michael’s Antiques.