BexSimon and Art Nouveau posters

Where did my love for Art Nouveau posters begin?

We popped in to see Lucy Quinnell at the Fire and Iron gallery the other day and ended up exchanging ghost stories and this got me thinking about the Art Nouveau posters I grew up with.

Lucy recounted how a little girl who was at her house some time ago, was sat quietly watching something, as if there was something moving across the room.  When Lucy asked her what she was looking at, she replied ‘I was watching the man cross the room’.

Lucy definitely has a few ghost stories to tell. The beautiful house she lives in, on the site of the gallery, was built 666 years ago this year!!!!

When I was little, my older sister and I shared a room, and so did my brothers. At night, I used to sit at the top of the stairs, waiting for her to come up to bed because I didn’t like being on my own.  But I used to watch in terror as foot prints would appear and disappear in the carpet.  I would watch the carpet pile ruffle up into the shape of one foot print and then ruffle flat, then the next one would appear in exactly the same way and so on, as if an invisible man was walking along our landing towards me.

I would sit, terrified, watching them, every night desperate for my sister to come to bed.  The one thing that I would do to try and move my mind into a happy place was stare into the pictures that lined the walls of the stairs.  My folks had about 4 or 5 Toulouse Lautrec Art Nouveau posters.  I never knew what they were about, or who they were by, but in them I would escape.

There was one Art Nouveau poster in particular, Divan Japonais, which I really love (click on image at the top of the page to open).  Now, if it wasn’t for the ghost foot print thing that was going on in the carpet next to me, I probably would have found some aspects of this poster scary, but that wasn’t an option. I needed a fantasy to take me away and it was the body-less arms that conducted the atmosphere and made music play in my ears.  The empty glass had quenched my throat, the Cruella Deville like lady was my friend and so was the bearded gentle man with his crooked Cane.  I would dance on the stage with the girl in the Jane Avril poster, with our lace up boots and huge frilly skirts, to the adoring whistles and shouts from the audience.  From that stage I would look down into the darkness and see the instruments and hands of the orchestra moving perfectly in time with music, which pumped out into the smoke filled room.  Little did I know these posters were Toulouse Lautrec’s interpretation of the night life in the bars of Paris.

So is this where my love for Art Nouveau began?  I never really thought about it until recently.  I feel comforted by these Art Nouveau posters, as if I am home, slipping into the magic and dreaming.

It was Alphonse Mucha’s particular way of illustrating these Art Nouveau posters and paintings that soon caught on and were initially termed  the Mucha style, but this soon changed to the French words for ‘new art’ which is what we know as Art Nouveau.  He would draw beautiful women, draped in flowing clothes with halos on their heads, surrounded by flowers.

The Art Nouveau movement was also full of symbolic matter, which I love and try to identify what each symbol represents.

It’s these Art Nouveau posters that have inspired me to recreate my own female Blacksmith poster to help tell our brand story, taking into account all of these qualities.

In my drawing I have made the female very feminine, with the shadow under the breast and slim arms, she has long flowing hair and on her head instead of (health and safety) ear defenders, she has a crown with flowers covering her ears.  As she draws her arm back, about to strike her metal, the Union Jack is flowing from around her neck, falling behind her raised arm, almost as if it were an angel’s wing.  She has a tattoo of a Serpent and there is also one above her head, these both represent the good and evil….the opposites.  In the top left corner are a group of hammered leaves (anthuriums), my BexSimon signature hand made pieces.

Guarding her, curled at the ground is a Lion with its main riding up and leaping into flames.  My star sign is Leo, a Lion and this is also a fire sign.  The Lion also represents the hearth which she is using to heat up her iron.

Her pink anvil is place on a tree stump with creeping leaves climbing up.  Art Nouveau is all about nature and these creepers (another piece of BexSimon art work) are in the shape of hearts; this is forrepresents our strap line; Forged with Love.

The swirling trail of stars, show that her idea’s and designs come to her in the night and this is what she must forge, using her hammer and iron.

Written down the side is  ‘From the Blacksmith’s Tea Room Creation Began’   because this is also where BexSimon Collections began!  Over a cup of tea and a chocolate hobnob at the back of the forge, I would dream of creating a range of products that would go to retail and I would dream about all the things I would design and make and how the business would grow and I would be able to one day own my own Workshop/forge.

Art Noveau posters are a wonderful way of telling a story.

Dragonflies and Butterflies in Art Nouveau

Unsurprisingly, dragonflies and butterflies have been used for inspiration by artists for 100’s of years and, as an artist myself, I just love them.  Here, I am going to have a look a little closer in to why these insects were so inspiring.

There are many pieces of work to look at over the years, especially in Art Nouveau, but why have they captured the imagination of so many people?

Is it because of their fantastic transparent and iridescent wings with their incredible structure and almost engineered lattice framework?  Or is it the beautiful metallic colourings on the thorax?  Or is it their magical ability to transcend from one life to another, escaping the aquatic realms of their larval past to make their ascension to the other life, to float free spirited on warm summer’s winds.

Art Nouveau

Dragonflies, in particular, are a very poplar subject matter in the Art Nouveau movement. Art Nouveau, with its wonderful flowing lines and hidden fantasies, is full of symbolism.  The movement was a response to the profound social changes and industrialization of every day life and the style of the moment was, in part, inspired by Japanese art.

Japan had just been opened up to the rest of the world. It was known as the Land of the Dragonflies and it was a very inspiring symbol of wealth and power, a renewal after great hardship. The belief was so strong that the mighty Samurai warriors decorated their armour with its image. Even today the dragonfly is still Japan’s national emblem and Japanese farmers believe that the presence of dragonflies in their rice fields means that they can expect a good harvest.

Art Nouveau jewellers borrowed these images of butterflies and dragonflies from Japanese art.  They would use the most exquisite enamel, a material that emulated the transparent features of an insect’s wing.  This is what make’s these piece’s so magical and stunning.

In metalwork, Gaudi’s fantastic Art Nouveau entrance was inspired by the butterfly wing.  This is one of my favourite pieces by him.  And Likewise, Louise Comfort Tiffany also used both butterflies and dragonflies in his lamps.

When my Granny passed away, she left me her Tiffany style Art Nouveau lamp because I loved it so much.  When the light was switched on, I would immediately be immersed in all the different colours of the glass; and all the flowing lines and little details of nature would add a touch of fantasy.  The dragonfly wings would stand out to me against the light and this must have made a mark in my brain, kind of like when you look at a light and then switch it off and the light remains burned into your retina.  But this vision never left and so it was from this that I drew my inspiration for my cast iron cookbook stand.

BexSimon’s Dragonfly/Tiffany’s inspired Art Nouveau cook book stand

April’s Gate was another work of mine inspired by dragonflies.  It was a gate commissioned by a primary school in Hersham to commemorate the death of one of the pupils, April, who died from cystic fibrosis.

I worked with the kids to design the gate which was based on the story of the water beetles who kept loosing their friends, never to be seen again after they climb up the water lily stem.  The story tells how when the beetles reach the top of the stem they break through the water onto the lily pad and transform into a beautiful dragonfly to fly in the warm sun, but they can never return to the bottom of the pond to tell their friends what happened.

And so these insects not only inspire us and those before us in the Art Nouveau movement in creating beautiful art but help our children in understanding death.

Award winning show stand for 'most innovative design' - Spring Fair 2012

With Spring Fair just about to kick off in approximately 3 hours time, we have a mixed feeling in the depths of our stomachs, churning up excitement and dread…

…It looks great and so real! BUT what have we done?… will they get it?… will they see the wit?… will they understand the art?… will retailers and buyers be turned off by the stark hideous filth? or will they fall for the brand and it’s raw, honest heritage like we hope?

Our stand is not conventional to say the least.  It breaks all the rules of retail.  Bright lights and perfect lines and vivid colours have been replaced, in the main, by grey soot stained walls with mouldy damp corners, and dirty hand prints and scribblings on the wall above the stained tea mugs and grimey kettle.

But I can tell you this… our stand sticks out like a sore thumb amongst the samey same typical exhibition hall clones.  It doesn’t matter many pounds (£) and Watts they throw at their massive ‘space only’ stands, they still all look the same.  Safe.  In bright halogen arcs, and curvey ply shaped beams, stark white walls with a flash of branded colour.  Do people really think  of them anything beyond, “this is a big company – they are safe”.  But where is their story and brand identity – if there is anything Kitchen Housewares and Dining is missing – it’s a story?

Welcome to our world… the #blacksmithtearoom, hidden at the back of a forge in an unused Edwardian tram depot in East London.  Out of this mire of harsh fluorescent tubes and mouse droppings, rises the creative scribblings and sketches of an artist, reaching out to the bright and organic beauty in life beyond the dripping #blacksmithtearoom walls.  Our bright pink display cases and striking cast iron accessories at the front of the stand represents the rise of this beauty and creativity against the harsh backdrop of the #blacksmithtearoom.

By Thursday we will know if this strategy will have been successful.  It is a risk, but how else can a new comer with no budget stand out amongst the big boys, how else can we turn heads and get people to talk about us?

All comments are welcome.  And please let us know your thoughts by Twitter using #blacksmithtearoom.

The Sheer Wonder of Damascus Steel

Damascus Steel was a type of steel used in sword making from about 300BC to 1700AD.  Personally, I think its appearance is breath taking when you consider the process untaken to achieve this steel.

In the early Iron age, armourers discovered that, by blending hard and soft metals together, a blade not only would flex during battle, but would have incredible piercing and cutting capabilities.  These swords weren’t made for their beauty but for a powerful weapon and were incredibly tough and resistant to shattering.  Unsurprisingly, they were feared by enemies.

One of the most complex examples of all pattern-welded swords, and my absolute favourite, is the Sutton Hoo Sword on display at the British Museum dating from the early 7^th Century.  Although the blade is rusted, under X-ray it reveals a very high quality Damascus Steel.

It was forged from eight bundles of seven fine iron rods, either twist-forged with alternating twists or left untwisted, all hammered together back to back on an anvil to form the blade.  This shows that it was not a ceremonial piece, it was a war-blade, a true weapon.

The replica blade displays this amazing process.

In the tang (the bit that connects the blade to the handle) of the replica blade, there is a stamp in Old English runic letters with the name of its maker- Scott.  This is how the old smiths would in scribe their blades, and in this case Scott Langton was the maker.

Damascus Steel today

I was luckily enough to attend a Bladesmithing course with him, when I did my work experience at the Ornamental Metals Museum in Tennessee, America.  I made a lovely little knife with a handle made out of some olive wood someone from the group kindly donated to me.

The ‘Modern Damascus’ we refer to today is best described as pattern-welded steel and is made from several types of steel and iron slices welded together to form a billet.  This is then drawn out and folded until the smith has the number of layers he requires.

I was also very lucky to visit Daryl Meier, who is the master of Damascus steel.  One of the pieces he is well known for is the American Flag Bowie.  It is unbelievable how he managed to perfect this mind blowing piece.  The detail is just incredible when considering the process.  Each star of the flag has all of the points.  The flag repeats 13 times for the 13 original colonies.  This amazing detailing is visible on both sides of the blade.

Back at the Museum one of the lads that were working there showed me a test he was working on.  It was mix of wrought iron and stainless steel.  After being etched with acid it looked like a piece of drift wood it was just wonderful.

Pattern-welded Damascus Steel is very time consuming and a complete art form.   There is only a few hundred people in the world who actually have the knowledge to produce Damascus steel.

Have a look at some of these examples.

Queen of Metal meets Queen of Shops at Interiors UK, NEC.

Leading female Artist/Blacksmith Bex Simon is to pitch her new range of designer cast iron kitchen accessories to the Mary Portas and House of Fraser team in front of a live audience at the Interiors UK trade show at the NEC.

Following a national search for new talent, the Artist/Blacksmith was chosen as one of just thirteen finalists.  All the finalists will have their collections showcased in a spectacular shop setting created by the House of Fraser’s legendary visual merchandising team at January’s Interiors UK trade show.

On Tuesday 24^th January, Bex Simon and her business partner Dave Harris will be pitching their range to the Mary and House of Fraser team, which includes Peter Cross, Mary’s business partner and leading marketing and brand strategist.  The pitch will be performed in front of a live audience at the Interiors UK show following Peter Cross’s speech to delegates.  If Bex is successful, the range will be sold at the Mary and House of Fraser stores.

Bex is due to launch her range of designer cast iron kitchen accessories to trade at Spring Fair the following week.  “This is incredible timing for us and has given us a real boost in confidence before our official launch.  The fact that we have been selected as a finalist by Mary and House of Fraser shows that we are on to something special and I believe that will come across at Interiors UK.  We are not trying to be clever with this range; we are simply offering quality design in the form of organic functional art but using traditional cast iron as the medium.  I believe this range will hit a chord with consumers looking to invest in something special and uplifting for the home that will last for generations”.

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Notes to Editors

For more information on the product range visit our “Female blacksmith casts a spell of art in your kitchen” press release or please contact us directly.

The Interiors Show will take place at the NEC between 22 – 25 January 2012.  Spring Fair will be between the  5-9 February 2012 at the same venue.  We will be in Hall 1, Stand 1J25.

This is the invitation to the first ever forge-in at Plymouth College of Art.  I have been invited by the College as a Guest Judge and will be delivering a talk on my work.  If any one is interested, the forge-in event is open to the public and I would encourage you to come down and have a go at the forge!!

Read more →

Female blacksmith casts a spell of art in your kitchen.

Leading female artist/blacksmith Bex Simon is launching a range of contemporary cast iron kitchen accessories in February 2012, at Birmingham’s Spring Fair. She wants to bring an affordable new look to the kitchen, through designer functional art.

Bex Simon has been designing and making very organic and exciting metal work since 1999 in her London based workshop for both public and private commissions (Video of recent work). Now, through her new business BexSimon Collections, she has produced a range of affordable cast iron kitchen accessories, including trivets, mug trees and cookbook stands. The design of the cast iron range shows a departure from the traditional styles often associated with the material and arrives at a more modern and striking, yet timeless approach.

Bex says: “I was trained as a traditional blacksmith but went on to create contemporary metal art, and wanted to follow the same principles with our Art for Kitchens range. Cast iron has been around for hundreds of years, so in using the traditional casting techniques combined with my love for the Art Nouveau movement, we have produced some very
beautifully tactile, yet modern forms for the kitchen.”

With the recession dragging on far longer than most anticipated, Bex believes consumer attitudes have changed again and thinks her new product range fits the bill. “Cast iron is a durable, but humble and natural material that suits current trends of consumers wishing to invest in long term, practical products with interesting designs. I believe there is now a real movement away from the throw away mindset of recent times – people now make carefully considered purchases.”

Bex Simon first came into the public domain when she appeared on the primetime BBC1 TV show ‘High Street Dreams’ with Jo Malone. She was followed by film crews over three months as she developed her first cast iron product, the pestle and mortar, under the guidance of UK designer Nick Monro. The TV show was the starting point for developing the kitchen range for BexSimon Collections, but not without heartache. Bex was devastated when Jo Malone decided Bex needed more time to develop her business and kept her back from making the final pitch to a retailer. “After the show, we set about carefully developing our range, to ensure each piece is unique but instantly recognisable as a BexSimon – we can’t wait for the launch in February, I’m very proud.”

BexSimon Collections video

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 Notes to Editors
For more information or high res images, please contact:
Bex Simon      Tel: 07789773867           email: bex@bexsimon.com
David Harris  Tel: 07917663631            email: david.harris@bexsimon.com
Office               Tel: 020 8740 6250
Website:          www.bexsimon.com

Birmingham’s Spring Fair will take place 5‐9 February 2012 in NEC Birmingham. We are in Hall 1, Stand 1J25

More information at www.springfair.com.

These are the first new products in our cast iron kitchen accessories range – Art for Kitchens from BexSimon Collections. We are using traditional sand casting to create contemporary, Art Nouveau inspired, functional art.

We would love to know what you think about the designs and price points?

Pestle and Mortar £49.95
Mug Tree £44.95
Trivet £29.95
Spoon Rest £29.95

What would be great for an autumnal evening?
You can’t beat sitting out in the garden drinking wine and laughing with your family and friends, and now that summer has ended, the cooler evenings are forcing you inside! But not if you have a fabulous fire pit!
Fire pits have slowly become the new must have garden accessory. Some friends of mine commission me to build one for them and they use theirs throughout the year. It was a cold New Years Eve in London and we were all dressed up in black tie and cocktail dresses and I kid you not we had a great time standing and singing around the fire pit with no need for our coats! Not only was the amount of heat coming out from it incredible but it also looked really fantastic and quite dramatic!

So, I have chosen 5 of my best fire pits. They vary a lot from quirky to stylish.

Bex’s No. 5

Number 5 is the oil drum! This is from thefirepitshop.co.uk and it’s going back to basics with its quirkiness. Very simple and quite cool. They remind me of the Rocky films with the homeless guys stood around their oil drum fire pit in the streets of Phillidelphia, singing sweet harmonies.

Bex’s No. 4
	At Number 4 is the Halo fire pit from trendsblog.co.uk with this very sleek and stylish. Definitely a fire pit for all you minimalists out there!
Bex’s No.3
	For starry number 3 I have chosen something more along the fantasy root. This fire pit is from fireplacemantelblog.com. I love the way the design lights up and is swallowed in flames.
Bex’s No. 2
	Number 2 has a touch of the slightly more industrial look. This fire pit is from chrisbom.com It is smart but has the edginess from the rusted steel finish and a lovely chunkiness to it.
Bex’s No. 1 Fire Pit
	So at number 1, the must have fire pit for every Autumn and Winter night, I am going to have to say is this medieval looking one by www.BexSimon.com ……….yes it is the one we were all stood around on new years eve! When the fire is burning and the flames are jumping around the crown shaped bowl the shadows of the tendrils dance around on the floor, making the whole piece come alive! It’s very mesmerizing and quite beautiful (everybody tells me)!!

Fire Pit Offer

To celebrate the arrival of cosy warm firey Autumn evenings we are offering a 20% sale price on all our firepits. Contact us for more details. info@bexsimon.com

Elizabeth Brim was the first female blacksmith I had ever heard about. I remember reading that she wore pearls while working and it became her signature.  This apparently was because her mother didn’t think blacksmithing was very lady like.

My First female blacksmith Inspiration

Elizabeth Brim started out in Ceramic’s, just like myself and then found the forge.  As a female blacksmith she built very female objects out of steel.  Pieces like high heels, aprons, handbags, tiaras and pillows.  This was also how she stuck out in the blacksmithing world!

My first British Female Blacksmith Inspiration Avril Wilson was the first British female blacksmith I saw working at the Fire and Iron Gallery.  She was this very little person building this massive arch commission by Banbury Town.  I watched her in ore!  I think at that moment it reinforced that that was what I was definitely going to do.
When I came across female blacksmith Shelly Thomas’s work, it really stuck out for me!  She was creating pieces that I just adored.  They were fun and quirky and had all sorts of interesting things going on.  She has a really cool workshop at Kew Bridge Steam Museum.  When I met her, she was just fantastic.  She was very complementary to me about my work, which meant so much to me.  I found her very inspiring and we both have the same mad curly hair!I came across her work at the Fire and Iron Gallery which bring me on to Lucy Quinnell.
Lucy, another female blacksmith, owns and manages the Fire and Iron Gallery in Leatherhead.  Her grandparents founded the forge on the site in the 1930s.  Her father, Richard Quinnell, was awarded an M.B.E. for his part in the revival of British Blacksmithing.  Lucy has metal in her blood.  It’s lucy that works so hard to make this gallery such an amazing place.  Not only is everything beautifully displayed and looked after but she helps and encourages each and every blacksmith. She never seems to have a day off.  She gets involved in so many brilliant things and is hugely passionate.If it’s not doing radio or building some amazing garden for the RHS or promoting something for a really good course it’s probably about a million other things.I have been knocking around the Fire and Iron Gallery for years now and every time I go there I am greeted with the same lovely warm welcome I did all those years ago.