Treasure Tree

[All images courtesy the Design Lab of sofa.com]

English block-printer Cameron Short's tangle of rough branches, ivy and oak leaves holds more than what initially meets the eye. Second and third glances reveal a host of ornaments collected by the tree's resident magpie, including a Faberge egg. Aptly named, this Short design pictured above in indigo is  Treasure Tree.

It seems fitting that the design holds so much mystery; the artist behind it generally resists the limelight. A veteran of London's glossy advertising world, Short now resides deep in the English countryside with his young family where he pursues his first passion, printmaking. Working from a shepherd’s hut, he draws and hand-carves each of his own wood-backed lino blocks, then moves on to his 1904 proofing press. Like the creations of his mentor, Marthe Armitage, Short's designs conjure a rustic realm. The printmaker also has a strong sense of the narrative.

Three of his wonderfully earthy, folkloric prints are currently available as upholstery through the UK-based sofa.com. The retailer recently opened a showroom in New York, too. While I've singled out Treasure Tree. in pumice, on the Margot loveseat, you can see the full collection here.