Tennant & Tennant

Fashion and fine art meets natural history and craft made by hand in the first Tennant & Tennant interior collection.
 
Isabel Tennant and her sister Stella grew up in the Scottish Borders. Isabel was trained as a gilder and decorative artist at City and Guilds Art School, London and has been a decorative artist and gilder for 30 years. Before Stella Tennant became one of the UK’s most distinctive models, she trained as a sculptor at Winchester College of Art.

Isabel and Stella now share a studio in Scotland where collection of gilded objects goes under the name Tennant & Tennant. Their work is a collection of lamp bases, mirrors, tables, panels, carved flowers and decorative pieces made by exploring both water gilding and oil gilding.

These traditional techniques remain unchanged and are identical to those used by Renaissance artists and craftsmen. The gold leaf is burnished using polished agate to give a high shine. Sometimes it is then rubbed down so as to see the coloured clay or watercolour beneath. Gold leaf comes in many shades from rose pink ‘Moon Gold’ to pale green ‘Lemon Gold’ as well as classic yellows. Silvery palladium and caplain are also used.
 
The sisters are both fascinated by the natural world while other and designs are based on Japanese geometric patterns.

Works are made to order, all commissions considered. 
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