Alex Randall Catalogue for Web

8/2/2019 Alex Randall Catalogue for Web

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ALEX RANDALL

oto Credit Claire Rosen


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Alex Randall was born in 1982 just outside

London in the UK. She attended the Chelsea

School of Art where she studied sculpture

and later the Falmouth College of Art where

she completed an MA in Professional

Writing. During this time she started to

develop thoughts through her texts about

the memory of everyday things that would

ultimately drive her to start making lighting

art-works.

Randall is well known for her bespoke

large-scale pieces in hotels, bars, restaurants

and private residencies all over the world. As

well as being fundamentally useful, her workis also highly collectable among private art

buyers.

She usually works with a combination of

reclaimed objects and modern technology,

but in 2008 Randall started working with the

controversial medium of taxidermy as a form

of lighting art.

Working from her studio in the heart of

London, Alex has at her hands a wealth of

inspiration in the form of everyday objects

and skills that are abundant in the city and

countryside around her. A typical day will see

anything from sourcing animals from culls

or hunts, meeting with the local blacksmith,

scouting for atmospheric shoot locations toinvestigating architecture.

Randall collaborates with the US

photographer Claire Rosen and their images

have already won multiple awards at The Prix

de La Photographie in Paris and The Sony

Worldwide Photographic Awards.

1982

2008


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Alex specialises in one-off pieces for specific

sites and clients, therefore a lot of the work in

this book is sold. If you would like to discuss

your own requirements please contact Alexs

studio in London or a local representative.

Some standard and limited edition pieces,

including prints in collaboration with Claire

Rosen, are available to purchase directly

through retailers.

www.lanecrawford.com

[email protected]

400 120 1483

Lane Crawford

Home Store

One Island South

Hong Kong

Alex Randall

www.alexrandall.co.uk

[email protected]

+44 (0) 203 302 7136

In Europe:

In Hong Kong and China:

Claire Rosen


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THE ALADDINCHANDELIER

The Aladdin Chandeliers created by Alex

consist of nine antique Aladdin blue flame

heaters.

9

These heaters were designed and made inthe UK by Aladdin who were established in

1919 and were most likely used during WW2.

Not only were they designed to offer both

heat and light but they were also used to

cook on.

1919

80 x 95 x 95 cmNine vintage Aladdin heatersSteel frame


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THE ANTLERCHANDELIER

The Antler Chandelier consists of ten pairs of

antlers hanging from giant chromed wishbone

shaped hooks.

The antlers naturally lock together to form a

ball shape providing protection for the hand

blown glass central light.

180 x 140 x 140 cmHumainly removed red deer

Antlers from DevonHand forged steel and chromedwishbone hangersHand blown glass


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12/94to Credit Randall and Rosen


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Where past seasons have seen many

designers referencing the antler as a motif,

most choose to beautify the object, removing

the antler from the action of death.

Unsurprisingly, Randall moves the opposite

way, hanging hers from a series of meaty

hooks for an effect thats still beautiful but

more sympathetic to the lineage of the item.

Richard Prime

www.coolhunting.com


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BAKELITE PHONELAMPS

The award winning Bakelite Telephone Lamp

was the first design created by Alex. Its

simplicity and beauty has made it a modern

day classic with a quintessential English

flavour.

30 x 25 x 20 cmAntique Bakelite phone lampFlexible gooseneck armLED bulb


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Each lamp is made using an antique bakelite

telephone and updated with a flexible arm

and LED bulbs.

LED

There are many different telephone options

available: black, white, red, green and even

copper.


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BLACKSMITHSBELLOWS

The bellows were rescued from a decaying

barn in East Devon. They were made by

Godwin Warren & Co. in Bristol and were

originally framed on decorative iron legs.

Amazingly the leather and wood had survived

and still puffed air through their massive gills.

Stamped on the top of the bellows reads:

Prize Medal 1851

Prize Medal 1862

Special Gold Medal Paris

Godwin Warren & Co

1851

1862

95 x 55 x 55 cmAntique leather and woodbellowsHand forged steel top pieces


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Godwin Warren & Co. were a successful

engineering and manufacturing firm for well

over one hundred years, but when plastics

and cheaper foreign imports took over from

British-made metals in the 60s, the firm could

not compete. Eventually Godwin Warren was

sold in 1988 to Tully.

Godwin Warren & Co60

Godwin Warren1988Tully


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THECARRIERS

23 taxidermied pigeons carry this spiny ball

through the air. When Alex started conceiving

this piece she was thinking about the anti-

pigeon spikes that are so abundant around

our architecture. Pretty quickly however, it

took on a more religious theme.

23

170 x 120 x 120 cmHumainly sourced taxidermypigeonsAged steel frame


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IN MEMORY OF THECARROUSEL

These rawhide casts are of antique carrousel

horses that were popular during the Victorian

era.These individual hanging lamps can be

clustered together or used individually to

amazing effect.

85 x 50 x 28 cmRawhideTwisted silk chord

Photo Credit Randall and Rosen


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CHAINCHANDELIERS

These chandeliers cut an impressive form in

the evening but also allow natural light to flow

through during the day. Traditional in shape

but not in material, the chain chandeliers are

industrial yet elegant.

In the very centre of the chandeliers hangs

a salvaged ships light from which the chains

billow and sparkle. Before a time of plastics,

lights like these were hand made in copper

and brass. This is true quality and

craftsmanship that will last a lifetime.

Varying dimensionsBrass and steel chain

Antique ship lanternSteel frame


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For the ultimate space these huge

chandeliers have everything: character,conviction and understated elegance.


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THE CHIMNEYCOWL

The Excelsior Chimney Cowl Chandelier was

saved from a dreadful fate when Alex

discovered the piece at a Devon scrap yard.

Stamped with a Brass Plate the piece reads:

HILL & HEYS PATENT HALIFAX

The Excelsior Syphon Ventilator

HILL & HEY

And bears the British coat of arms Dieu Et

Mon Droit (God and my Right).

Dieu EtMon Droit

Very little is known about the company Hill &

Hey.s They are mentioned in the 1883

Newcastle-upon-Tyne exhibition report, where

they were awarded a certificate of merit fortheir work on Double Current Aerentilators.

Hill & Hey1883

55 x 60 x 60 cmVintage chimney cowl


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THE CYMBALCHANDELIER

The Cymbal Chandelier was first created for a

store in central London.

Its complete form (made from anything up to

50 separate cymbals) hangs together from

a central column, the light radiating from

random points under the cymbals.

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There is something innately beautiful about

this piece with its almost waterlily-like nature

and reflective quality.

90 x 110 x 110 cm29 brass and metal cymbals ofvarying sizes


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DUCK DESKLAMP

Alex specialises in using reclaimed

materials in chandeliers and lamps. Looking

at this work you can see a re-emergence of

taxidermy as a reaction to a decade when

sameness reigned be that Eames or Ikea.

----

Theres a desperation to reintroduce

character to our homes says Randall.

45 x 35 x 30 cmHumainly sourced taxidermyMallard duck (comes withlicence)Silk cord and shade (availablein any colour)Steel base


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Taxidermy is incongruously an ethical design

choice. If an animal is already dead, why not

preserve it? Most of the animals we use are

shot as vermin and their bodies either used

as food for other animals or left to rot. By

giving them a purpose, they become quite

beautiful Randall remarks.

Rats, ravens and crows play into taxidermys

inate Gothicism. Yet once creatives get their

hands on a furry or feathery body, the results

can be playful rather than dark and

depressing. Here the aristocratic trophy

tradition is twisted into something

anti-establishment.

Words: Francesca Gavin, taken from Wallpaper

magazine, Fatal Attraction April 2009.

Francesca Gavin2009 4


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FLY-TOX

The Fly-Tox Wall Lamp has been made using

an antique insect spray cannister and 50

dried Appiaslyncidavasava. The Butterflies

cluster around the lamp creating a warm,

shadowy glow.

50

60 x 30 x 30 cmDried butterflies

Antique insect spray cannister


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IN MEMORY OFFREDDIE

The statue In Memory of Freddie has been

created with the permission of Queen, using

a rawhide skin cast over the original statue in

Montreux.

The skin forms an imperfect mould of the

original - it is affected by the climate it dries

in, in this case the crisp air around Lake

Geneva and the mountains, and by the nature

of that particular animals skin. Some hides

curl and some lie flat; some have holes and

some are solid. Each imperfection is picked

up by the varying degrees of light that

radiates through the skin.

Queen Montreux

320 x 130 x 95 cmRawhideMirrored baseFlexible Neon, LED lighting


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The concept behind this material is to denote

that whilst something may be gone, it is not

forgotten and that our memories are rarely

perfect. Rather than an exact replica we are

left with a discarded chrysalis.

Because of the symbolic importance of this

statue Alex felt it only appropriate to dedicate

the profits made by the sale of this piece to

the charity set up in Freddies name, The

Mercury Phoenix Trust.

Mercury Phoenix Trust


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THE GRAMOPHONECHANDELIER

A modern day design classic, The

Gramophone Chandelier has won critical

acclaim across the board for its

provocative design and use of the classic

horns.

110 x 110 x 110 cm12 Gramaphone hornsSteel central piece


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No longer relics of a bygone era, the brass

horns sing again with purpose.

The Gramophone Chandelier is available to

order to your specific size

requirements.


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LOST

Lost is a piece consisting of a swallow taking

flight carrying an antique wedding band with a

lamp attached by string.

It was with sadness that Alex found this bird

dead after its long journey from Africa.

These birds have long been the symbol

of mariners and of lost souls. It was once

believed that if a sailor died at sea the birds

would carry their soul to heaven. Even in the

most isolated oceans these birds would

appear as they migrate, bringing comfort to

the sailors with hopes of land.

40 x 30 x 30 cmTaxidermy swallowGold wedding ringBrass and silver threadSteel base


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LOUDHAILER

This chandelier has been created using 15

loudhailers, each acting as individual light

sources. Because of the swiveling mounting

brackets, this piece allows for total flexibility

in lighting direction and can be adjusted

whenever required.

15

100 x 65 x 65 cmMetal loudhailersSteel frame


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THE MILKINGMACHINE

It would have been easy to turn this antique

milking machine into a simple floor lamp of

a respectable nature but I knew it deserved

something more says Randall.. There is

something so slightly embarrassing about the

nature of the cluster (the milking pipes) that

fills the piece with humour, I knew it couldnt

be photographed in a simple studio. Living

just a few hundred yards from a milking farm

certainly had its use on this occasion. Robert,

the farmer at Diptford Downs Farm warned

us that the calves could be a bit frisky so to

keep a close eye. After planting the lamp in

the straw we watched as the calves started

moving closer. I watched in amazement as

they licked and smelt the lamp and before I

knew what was happening one had mounted

it. Fortunately I had the perfect shot already!

100

Diptford Downs

110 x 110 x 30 cmAntique milking urn andclustersPolished steel frame


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ORGAN PIPECHANDELIER

One of Alexs most impressive pieces to date,

the Organ Pipe Chandelier has been created

using 18 bespoke brass organ pipes.

Organ pipe making or voicing is one of the

oldest craft practices still alive in the UK.

These organ pipes have been made in theUK in the traditional way with the fluted ends

spun on a wooden last. This is an

incredibly skilled hands-on practice whereby

the frictional heat of the spinning mould

slowly shapes the metal.

18

210 x 130 x 130 cmHand-spun brass organ pipesSteel centre piece


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The incredible quality of the golden light

formed from the horns casts haloes of light

in all directions. Even when not switched on

the chandelier is a beautiful glowing sculpture

that reflects some of the UKs finest

traditional craftspeople.


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PATIENCE

Patience is an unusual floor lamp made from

base mounted antique wooden prosthetic

legs.

The legs are thought to have been made

around 1915 in Roehampton, near London,

at Queen Marys Hospital.

1915

Between 1914 and 1921 over 41,000 British

soldiers lost at least one limb as a result of

their injuries.

Queen Marys Hospital was set up in order

to deal with the vast number of men awaiting

limbs where arms and legs were made on-sitein the basement and in huts.

1914192141,000

82 x 55 x 40 cmAntique wooden prosthetic legsWooden base


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PARTIDGEDANCE

These Red-Legged Partridges are one of

the most colourful game birds we have in the

UK; we source ours from carcasses that are

disposed of after the hunting season.

Rather than flying, these Partridges prefer

to run most of the time, however they will

fly to perch in trees and nest. Because of

this, these birds have evolved bizarrely small

wings that are only good for very short flight.

The playfulness and rather silly nature of

these birds comes across in this

chandelier. These birds are the jesters of the

game world, clucking loudly as they try totake off.

100 x 90 x 90 cmHumainly sourced red-leggedpatridgesHand forged steelTwisted silk cord


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PIGEONPENDANTS

The first Pigeon Pendants were created for

a store in London. Through the store the

Pigeons flocked carrying with them their own

individual light.

Many people see them as vermin but Alex

has always admired something else about the

Pigeon, their ability to adapt to the city from

their majestic Egyptian background.

20 x 38 x 30 cmHumainly sourced taxidermypigeonTwisted silk cord - available inany colour


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They are kicked at, fed chewing gum and

shot. What is it we hate so much about

Pigeons?

Look at a pigeon closely and you will see the

shimmering green and purple on their neck,

the thousands of tiny soft feathers on theunderside of their wings and tail, and the

camouflaging stripes upon their backs.


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RAMS HEAD WALLLIGHT

Made using a brand new technique

developed by Alex; this wall light is formed of

a single piece of untreated Scottish deer skin

that has been shaped and stretched around a

rams head.

50 x 30 x 20 cmRawhide


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THE RAT SWARMLAMP

This controversial piece was first unveiled at

New York Design Week in May 10 to critical

(albeit shocked) acclaim and has since been

causing a stir in London.

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It was reviewed as The Most Nightmarish

Lamp Ever Created by Susan Labarre (www.fastcompany.com) who said, its probably the

sickest and oddly, one of the prettiest, objects

to debut at New York Design Week

Susan Labarrewww.fastcompany.com

50 x 30 x 50 cmHumainly sourced taxdermyrats


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Other reviewers have called it a thing of

dark pleasure (Richard Prime,

www.coolhunting.com) and a seductive

mixture [of] repellent and magnetic (Jaime

Gross www.dwell.com)

Whatever your opinion, it certainly doesnt

fail to bring smiles to (almost) everyone who

sees and swarms around it.

Richard Primewww.coolhunting.com(Jaime Grosswww.dwell.com)


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THE SANCTUARYCHANDELIER

Hanging central to the Sanctuary Chandelier

is an original, solid brass church light from

the 19th Century.

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Within the church the sanctuary lamp is tradi-

tionally kept burning where it represents the

ever-lasting presence of Christ in a

sin-darkened world.

This particular lamp is an exceptionally fine

example of the popular neo-gothic style. From

the quatrefoil openings on the chain to thecathedral spires on the lamp itself, this piece

represents Roman Catholic churches of that

period.

130 x 60 x 60 cmAntique church lampBrass chain


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Photo Credit Randall a


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SAW BLADECHANDELIER

The Saw Blade Chandelier consists of 26

antique saw blades hanging

independently from meat hooks on a spiral

frame.

26

380 x 130 x 130 cmAntique saw bladesHand forged steel top

The largest saw is an antique pit saw used tocut planks of wood and measures well over 2

metres long.

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The frame hangs from a hand forged metal

rope that is fraying, so that the whole piece

appears to be hanging dangerously from a

single thread.


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SQUIRREL WALLLIGHTS

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The grey squirrels were introduced into

England during the 19th Century. They were

released into parks mainly for the novelty

factor by wealthy Victorians who would enjoy

watching and feeding the characterful critters.

This is still done, and to this day people visit

Londons parks just to feed the vivacious

squirrels.

50 x 10 x 10 cmTaxidermy squirrelMetal wall plateSilk shade and twisted flex(available in any colour)


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80/94oto Credit Randall and Rosento Credit Randall and Rosen


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The grey squirrel is yet another display of the

devastation caused by humans

introducing an alien species to our already

sensitive ecosystem.

They are regularly culled by the ForestryCommission and private land owners in an

effort to regain some natural balance.

Since then though the grey squirrel has

devastated Britains native red squirrel and

woodland bird population. They brought with

them North American parasites and diseases

that our native squirrels could not competewith. Not only that but they are bigger, faster

and seemingly fearless.


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TACKLE BLOCK

The Tackle Block Lamps are made using

ancient wooden triple blocks found in

Plymouth on the south coast of England. They

most likely came off a traditional wooden Tall

Ship and were used to hoist/lower sails and

keep the mast and beams tensioned.

The shade on this piece has been made out

of one continuous piece of hand forged metal

which resembles the traditional piece of rope

that would be running through the block.

65 x 35 x 25 cmAntique wooden blockHand forged metal rope


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TEA CHESTCHANDELIERS

This old couple were discovered in a

warehouse in Devon. They were coated in

rust and the lids were entirely stuck. After

some sand blasting the lids finally came off

to reveal the original labels inside. They were

Finest Tea Chests for a Mr Houghton of

Houghton and Sons.

Houghton and SonsHoughton

The idea for these pieces came from the

unpeeling of an orange. It just goes to show,

you never know where or when inspiration will

strike.

80 x 60 x 60 cmVintage tea chests split open


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TUBACHANDELIER

Eight huge antique brass and silver tubas

form the body of this gargantuan chandelier.

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The tuba is the largest and lowest pitch brass

instrument and tuba directly translated from

the Latin means horn. Although the

instruments are no longer able to createmusic, the craftsmanship can still be admired

and enjoyed in its new use.

tuba

100 x 115 x 115 cm8 vintage brass and silvertubasSteel centre


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IN MEMORY OFTRIUMPH

This lamp is a replica of the ancient statue of

Triumph which is in the Louvre in Paris.

This has been created using Alexs new

technique of casting shapes in rawhide.

These pieces provoke thoughts of abandoned

skins or chrysalises. Like those of snakes orbutterflies, these abandoned cases become

only memories of their former occupants.

160 x 90 x 80 cmRawhide castSteel central pole

Available as hanging or floorlamp


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THE VALORLAMP

The Valor Daylight oil tank was found in a

barn in Devon. Originally operated with a

manual hand pump, this container has been

revitalised into a beautiful industrial

chandelier.

95 x 65 x 65 cmSplit open Volor daylight oilcannister

Photo Credit Randall and Rosen


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www.lanecrawford.com

[email protected]

400 120 1483

Lane Crawford

Home Store

One Island South

Hong Kong

Alex Randall


[email protected]

+44 (0) 203 302 7136

In Europe: In Hong Kong and China:



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Alex Randall Catalogue for Web