Objects
A pressed botanical herbarium contains a real leaf or flower rather than a printed botanical image. The specimen is gathered, pressed flat and mounted by hand on natural paper.
At a glance
Maker: 23janvier
Place: South-west France
Material: Real pressed plant material on natural paper
Sizes: A6 or 10 × 10 cm, depending on the specimen
Display: Supplied unframed in a protective paper folder
What is a pressed botanical herbarium?
In this small-format work, a herbarium is a preserved plant specimen mounted on paper for display. It keeps the recognisable structure of the leaf or flower: the veins of a ginkgo leaf, the pointed shape of Japanese maple, or the softer forms of hydrangea and fern.
This is different from botanical illustration or a photographic print. The plant itself is present on the page, so texture, edge and natural variation remain visible.
How are the 23janvier herbariums made?
Each piece is gathered, pressed and mounted by hand by 23janvier, the studio of visual artist Marie-Charlotte in south-west France.
The Pressed Ginkgo Leaf Herbarium places a real ginkgo leaf and fern on thick, natural white handmade paper. The Pressed Japanese Maple Herbarium uses a real maple leaf on acid-free natural paper. The Pressed Hydrangea Herbarium combines a hydrangea floret and fern on handmade cotton paper.
Why does each piece look slightly different?
No two leaves grow with exactly the same outline, colour or surface. Pressing preserves much of that difference rather than removing it. A ginkgo leaf may be more golden or more muted; a Japanese maple may have a slightly different spread; a hydrangea floret may sit differently beside its fern.
That variation is simply the result of using real plant material.
What sizes are available?
The ginkgo herbarium is A6, measuring 10.5 × 14.8 cm. Its longer format suits the fan-shaped leaf and gives it room to stand clearly on the page.
The Japanese maple and hydrangea pieces each measure 10 × 10 cm. Their square format works well alone in a small frame or as part of a group of botanical studies.
How should pressed botanical art be framed?
Frame the work behind UV-resistant glass where possible. Keep it away from direct sunlight and strong sources of heat. Natural plant colour changes slowly over time, even when carefully protected, so golden leaves and chalky petals will gradually move towards softer tones.
Handle the unframed paper with clean, dry hands and hold it by the edges. A simple frame with breathing space around the specimen lets the plant form remain the centre of the piece.
Which pressed botanical should you choose?
Ginkgo has the strongest graphic shape and the largest format. Japanese maple is more angular and architectural. Hydrangea is softer, with the added detail of fern. The useful choice is the plant shape and scale that belong in the place you have in mind.