Putting together a Naturalist’s desk

This week I created a naturalist’s desk in the old schoolmasters house to display rocks and mossy twigs gathered on country walks. A place to keep the fragments of nineteenth century crockery found in the garden along with a series of pinecones in different stages of their wooden flowering.

This is the start of dressing the bare walls, giving them some character. Bringing the outside in, furthering the connection between the house and the surrounding countryside. I see this wall growing organically, layers being added over time.

Shelving becomes the frame around the natural objects, showcasing their beauty. The start of a collection, how a group of things takes on a different character to just one item- you see the basic similarity but also, like snowflakes- how every one is unique.

Also a good area for an odd bod collection of op shop paintings- choosing the ones with parchment tones and goldy pinky highlights. I love putting old photos on art walls. Found a group shot of the NSW United Victuallers Association from the 30s – a collection of men in oval shapes, all looking pretty stern. I wonder what they would make of being placed next to an unscientific rock and pinecone collection some 80 years later…

Only after I had put it all together did I hear about Charles Darwin’s study at Down House. Found some wonderful black and white photos on the internet. Now a new inspiration – and certainly a lofty one for what is basically a styling exercise!

Yet strangely starting this nook, going out on walks now with an eye to finding things, has made me realize how little I know about basic geology. These strange rock formations pushing up out of the ground, collapsing in shards around the centre thrust like a lost city. It makes me want to know more…