Telling Tales

The exhibition Telling Tales at the V&A is just brilliant and is definitely worth a visit. A selection of furniture and product designers are let loose with the theme of the dark and rather eerie side of fairytales and story telling. What results is a combination of furniture and objects that you would only dream of existing in real life - the question is, is it art or is it just amazing furniture?

The whole exhibition seems to revolve around blending the boundaries between art and design. It is an issue that is almost impossible to resolve and that seems to throw up more questions than answers. Here are a few pieces from the exhibition:

'Heatwave' Radiator by Joris Laarman. This radiator was playfully based on a Roccoco fireplace from Winchester House in London from about 1750.

This chair and ceiling lamp named 'The Divine Comedy' by Niels van Eijk has been etched with the story of the same named poem by Dante, with thieves suffering in hell depicted on the chair and angels from heaven on the lamp.

The 'Rubber Baron Table' by Studio Job was my favourite piece of the exhibition (aside from the slippers made out of moles!) It is based on the 19th Century industrialists whose affluence and power was unequalled.

Wandering though Alfies there are always objects that make me think of storytelling and whisk my imagination away to distant lands.

Colin Thompson on the second floor at Alfies is the perfect place to start the search for fairytales. He has a large range of storybooks for both children and adults. Stuwwelpeter is one of my favourite books, by German author Dr. Heinrich Hoffmann.

This re-upholstered chair from The Upholstery Workshop is fit for a princess. As is this gorgeous 18th Century Swedish sofa (with pull-out bed and the original horse hair cushions) from Christopher Hall. It would make anyone feel like a real life sleeping beauty.

Have you ever visited the second floor mezzanine? It feels like you are stepping into a glass wonderland. The impressive chandeliers by Vincenzo Caffarella with their incredible shapes and forms would easily transform any room into a magical place.

Francesca Martire on the first floor also has some stunning chandeliers like this one below made from hundreds of white glass flowers.


Something that really caught my eye this week was this very unusual Danish cow hide chair from Tycho Andrews.

I'm not sure what sort of history could be attached to this but in my opinion it would make an incredible story telling chair. Imagine on a dark winter's evening in front of a crackling fire, the children gather round ready to be scared stiff and delighted by the old tales their grandfather tells them... or is that just me?!