Adam & Arthur has created a striking example of straw marquetry in a sculptural piece that combines art, craftsmanship and design.

The project is a considered piece created with straw marquetry, a technique that encompasses the art of handcrafting decorative patterns from ribbon-thin, flattened slithers of rye straw. Traditionally white straw is never seen in straw marquetry, as it is challenging to create. After much experimentation a system was created to produce a rich pearlescent tone, requiring over 16,000 individual ribbons of straw.

The result explores sculptural forms and their intersection with straw marquetry to allow the emergence of one form from the other, much like the relationship between mother and child.

This project has been longlisted in the furniture design category of Dezeen Awards 2022.

Designer: Adam & Arthur

Project: Mother and Child Cabinet