Objects
A pressed botanical is a real leaf or flower, not a picture of one. These are gathered in south-west France, pressed for weeks and mounted by hand on heavy paper, so the plant itself is on the page.
At a glance
- Made by: 23janvier, a paper studio in south-west France, for their 23fleurs collection
- Method: gathered, pressed for three to five weeks, mounted by hand, stamped on the reverse
- Sizes: A6 for the ginkgo, 10 cm square for the maple and hydrangea
- Arrives: unframed, in a protective paper folder
- Price: £14 to £16, with free UK delivery
- Framing: what size frame to use
What is a pressed botanical herbarium?
A herbarium, in this small format, is a preserved plant mounted on paper for display. It keeps the structure of the leaf or flower: the fan and ribbing of a ginkgo, the serrated points of a Japanese maple, the papery petals of a hydrangea. Unlike an illustration or a print, the plant itself is present, so its texture, its edges and its small irregularities are all still there.
How 23janvier make them
23janvier is the studio of the visual artist Marie-Charlotte, founded in 2013. For the 23fleurs collection, seasonal plants are gathered, pressed for three to five weeks and mounted by hand. Each piece is stamped on the reverse with the 23fleurs mark, and each is different, because no two leaves grow alike.
The three plants
| Plant | Size and paper | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Ginkgo | A6, 10.5 x 14.8 cm, handmade acid-free paper, 285gsm | £16 |
| Japanese maple | 10 x 10 cm, thick acid-free paper | £14 |
| Hydrangea | 10 x 10 cm, handmade cotton paper, 285gsm | £14 |
Ginkgo. A single leaf, gathered in autumn and pressed until it has gone the colour of old gold, with one small green fern at the foot of the stem. The fan holds its ribbing so clearly it could be mistaken for an engraving. It has the strongest shape of the three, and the largest format.
Japanese maple. Two leaves, still green, joined at the stem with a single winged seed caught between them. The serrated edges come through the pressing intact. It is the most architectural of the three.
Hydrangea. A single floret, four petals pressed to the thinness of paper, settled into a pale lilac that fades towards cream at the centre, with a fern frond beside it. The softest of the three, and the one to look at closely.
How to frame pressed botanical art
They arrive unframed, so the frame can be the second half of the present, or left to whoever receives one.
For the A6 ginkgo, an A5 frame with a mount cut for A6 is the usual choice. The 10 cm squares look best with plenty of space around them: a 20 cm square frame with a wide mount gives the plant room to be the only thing to look at. Use an acid-free mount, and ask for UV-filtering glass if the frame will hang anywhere bright.
Hold the paper by its edges, with clean, dry hands, when you put it in the frame.
Will the colour change?
Gradually, yes. Real plants change colour slowly over time, even when carefully protected, so golden leaves and lilac petals drift towards softer, quieter tones. UV-filtering glass and a wall out of direct sunlight slow that down. The change is part of having the real thing rather than a print.
Which one to choose
Choose by the place it will hang. Ginkgo for a single strong shape on a small wall or a desk. Japanese maple for a clean, graphic note in a kitchen or hallway. Hydrangea for somewhere it will be looked at closely, by a bed or a reading chair. Two or three together, framed alike, make a small botanical wall.
They are small, flat and unframed, which also makes them one of the easier things to give someone whose home you do not know. There are more ideas in gifts for someone who has everything.
Questions
Are the leaves and flowers real?
Yes. Each is a real plant, pressed for three to five weeks and mounted by hand by 23janvier in south-west France.
Do they come framed?
No. They arrive unframed, in a protective paper folder, so the frame can be chosen to suit the room.
What size frame do I need?
An A5 frame with an A6 mount for the ginkgo, and a 20 cm square frame with a wide mount for the 10 cm maple or hydrangea.
Will the colours fade?
Slowly, towards softer tones. UV-filtering glass and keeping them out of direct sunlight make a real difference.
Is delivery free?
Yes, in the UK. They travel free by Royal Mail 2nd Class, flat in their folder.