Festival Time

HARVEY NICHOLS

Moorcroft’s The Fairy Queen at VQ

Saturday 11^th June 2011

meet

Moorcroft Designer Emma Bossons FRSA (Art Potter)

signing her 15 year Queens Choice designs

11am-3.30pm

Light refreshments served

at

James Macintyre & Co, Leeds VQ

Emma Bosson’s luxuriant imagination pours out in her design work, frequently following her ponderings on fairy mythology. This year marks the 10th anniversary of her renowned Queens Choice design that is described by many as ‘quintessentially Moorcroft’ and is inspired by the words of Titania, Queen of the Fairies, in Shakespeare’s play, A Midsummer Nights Dream, allowing Emma to craft two enchantingly stunning vases.

It seems that Titania wasn’t the only character to capture the imaginations at Moorcroft.

“At a school play at the age of 11 years, I was drawn to the character Puck from Shakespeare’s ‘A Midsummer Nights Dream’,” Catherine Edwards, Head of Moorcroft PR, explains. “Puck embodies Shakespeare’s deepest desire to connect with his audience and make them smile. Represented in many old legends and folk-tales, fairies are generally noticeable for their beauty, the same being the case with all their surroundings. Shakespeare’s poetry draws us into the honey trap of the natural world just as it was with the verse that inspired Queens Choice”.

For many months, Emma has been working on two special vases where honey-bags are stolen from bumble bees, glow-worms light up the design, and sun-kissed orange butterflies flutter gently amongst the succulent fruit of this Moorcroft classic. A sumptuous feast, including apricots, dewberries, grapes and green figs are captured in clay to be enjoyed by all.

The first vase is the inaugural use of the 85/11 shape, a larger version of a new shape first used in 2010 as the Collectors’ Club annual vase. Not even the inside of this artistic trumpet failed to escape Emma’s sensitive touch. Two butterflies literally flutter around its rim.

 The 85/11 Queens Choice (height 11”/28cm) vase comes as a numbered edition and is only available to order until 31st August 2011, priced at £880

The second commemorative vase is presented on an even grander scale. The RM3/27 (height 27”/68cms), and one of the largest pieces Moorcroft produces, is a true masterpiece of design, with no less than 15 butterflies dancing and fluttering among the colourful clusters of ripe fruit. The shape has not been used since 2006, when it was selected by Emma, as the lead piece in her 10-year design collection Hidden Dreams. Now celebrating her first fifteen years as a Moorcroft designer, Emma has reached new heights of artistic achievement with this glorious and prestigious vase.

The Queens Choice RM3/27 Height: 27”/ 68cms also comes as a numbered edition and will remain available to order after the end of August, priced at £9950.

For more event or product information, please contact:

James Macintyre & Co

23 County Arcade, Victoria Quarter, Leeds, LS1 6BW

T: +44 (0)113 234 6363 F: 0113 234 6364 E: macintyres@moorcroft.com

James with VQ Centre Director John Bade

 

Tailor Made at VQ

Leeds based independent tailor James Michelsberg opens in VQ in June, further enhancing the great mix of stores in the centre.
Since first opening in the Calls area of the city in 2006, James has developed a growing reputation for bespoke clothing, adding subtle details that mark his garments out as something special. Speaking of his impending arrival in VQ, James commented,
“My business was born on the kitchen table and five years on we are setting up shop in the Victoria Quarter. Clothes have always been my passion and brands such as Paul Smith and Jefferey West have graced my wardrobe since my early twenties. How wonderful to now have them as my neighbours.
The opening party is on Thursday 23rd June and is thanks to my family, friends, customers, suppliers and journalists who have gone out of their way to support me throughout these early years. The next chapter begins...”
John Bade, VQ Centre Director added, “It’s always good to see local, independent businesses opening in the centre, and I think James will add greatly to our appeal.
I’m particularly pleased to see another independent in the centre and with stores such as L’Occitane and Wolford also arriving soon; it’s gratifying that brands, big and small, continue to invest in both VQ and Leeds in these challenging times.”
James Michelsberg Tailoring will open at 24a Queen Victoria Street above Kiehl’s on Thursday 23rd June.

An audience with Lily Allen and Sarah Owen