Australian Museum Store celebrates Scott Sisters Exhibition with exquisite hand-crafted designer gift range
22 February 2017; Sydney: Inspired by the exquisite illustrations of 19th Century artists, Helena and Harriet Scott, the Australian Museum Store (AM) has commissioned a collection of unique, hand-crafted jewellery, along with wearable decorative and designer gifts available exclusively at the AM Store, located at the historic William Street museum.
Reflecting the beautiful details of the Scott Sisters’ illustrations of Australian butterflies and moths featured in the current exhibition at the AM, the stunning gift range includes intricate jewellery by renowned bohemian jewellery designer, Victoria Spring, limited edition silk scarves and a pocket square featuring glorious images of flora and fauna along with notebooks, calendars, cards, kitchen ware, and even a delicate pocket mirror perfect for any handbag.
“The Scott Sisters’ artworks are truly breathtaking and this new range is not only a great example of mixing the old with the new, but also showcases the extraordinary talents of Harriet and Helena Scott and their significant scientific art works,” commercial manager of the AM, Serafina Froio said.
In addition to the range available in the AM Store, the Australian Museum is pleased to partner with The Store by Fairfax on the sale of exclusive high quality archival prints of the Scott Sisters’ work. Online shoppers looking for an outstanding artwork to keep for generations can select from a limited edition of 22 images of butterfly and moth paintings in a range of sizes, framed or unframed. Each print comes with a certificate of authenticity.
“This exclusive collaboration with The Store by Fairfax ensures the Scott Sisters collection is now available to the wider public. These iconic Australian illustrations have long been confined to the AM’s archives and occasional exhibitions and now their beauty will be able to be shared in homes and other venues across Australia,” Ms Froio said.
About the Exhibition: From the 1850s, sisters Helena and Harriet Scott collected, studied and drew the butterflies and botany of New South Wales in precise detail. Working for the Australian Museum, together they produced an archive of more than 600 intricate and beautiful paintings and drawings. As part of the AM’s 190th anniversary, and to celebrate the launch of the new range of merchandise inspired by the drawings, the AM has opened a new exhibition Transformations: The Art of the Scott Sisters. See the sisters' extraordinary work and watch their art come to life through animated projections.
“... these drawings are equal to any I have ever seen by modern artists ... whether, in short, we look to the exquisite and elaborate finishing, the correct drawing, or the astonishing exactitude of the colours, often most brilliant, and generally indescribably blended, there is no poetic exaggeration in saying: ‘The force of painting can go no further’” — William Swainson 1851, Entomologist (Review of Australian Lepidoptera and their Transformations, Drawn From The Life, Sydney Morning Herald 1851).
Online visitors can also explore and experience over 100 interactive illustrations through the Scott Sisters phone app. Featuring biographies, history and flora and fauna information, these scientific paintings from colonial Sydney’s most renowned natural history artists are vividly brought to life in the palm of your hand. Available through the App Store or Google Play.
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MEDIA CONTACT
Claire Vince | Media & Communications Advisor
claire.vince@austmus.gov.au | M 61 468 726 910
