Mill Blog ♥

Introducing Hermetica and the terrarium trend

Friday, October 12, 2012

Autumn is well and truly making itself known in the UK this week, and the windows of our London Great Marlborough Street office are following suit. Filled with terrariums and drawing plenty of passers by to peer through the glass, I caught up with curator and creator Ken Marten of Hermetica to find out what inspired the display (and what on earth a terrarium actually is..)

Tell me about Hermetica?

I started Hermetica London in March this year as I wanted to make a change from floral design. I have been thinking about doing terrariums for at least 7 years, as I could see the appeal of an easy-to-look-after miniature garden for people who did not have time or space for a full size garden. I have watched terrariums trend in the states and Australia for the last couple of years and thought to myself 'now or never!'

The name Hermetica refers firstly to the idea of a hermetically sealed environment, becoming its own self sustaining eco-system, which is essentially what a terrarium is. Hermetica is also a reference to 'secret knowledge' invisible to people who don't know or care to look at what is in right front of them.



To those of us who hadn't ever heard of a Terrarium until now, what are they and where do they originate?

Terrariums evolved from Wardian Cases, devised in the early 1800s by enthusiastic botanist, Nathaniel Ward. A fern he grew in a jar, sealed off from the polluted London air, flourished. So he took his discovery (beneficial in the age of sea travel, by allowing expeditions to bring home tropical plants from voyages when fresh water was scarce) and created Wardian cases, which were displayed at the Great Exhibition in London in 1851, one holding a fern that had not been watered in 18 years! Many a Victorian home had a proud display of ferns and tropical plants in ornate Wardian cases, which were a kind of indoor greenhouse, but sealed off from London's sooty air, as it would have killed the plant collections inside them. Terrariums saw a big revival in the 70s, and there are still books found in charity shops showing you how to make them, as well features on blogs and the latest edition of The Plant Journal magazine.

Who and what inspires you?

At the moment, I am inspired by the trends of the 70s when hand craft, and especially terrariums, were extremely popular. The internet has allowed many new businesses to start selling handmade items in a way that was not possible before, so we are currently experiencing a revival of crafts not seen for a long time. My next plan is to make that other 70s trend, macramé (essentially hand knotted creations) cool again.

I also love the idea of a Wunderkammer, a 'cabinet of curiosities' which a collector of fossils, crystals and other natural forms would assemble to make a miniature version of the world as they see it and represent their obsessions. I share the Victorian love of ferns, which feature heavily in a lot of Victorian designs for fabrics and furniture. Ironically, there was actually quite a big Victorian revival in 70s also!

I really like the 80s black and white photography of Paul den Hollander, who's style is being unknowingly imitated by many an Instagrammer. The designer Lee Broom is a big favourite, as he seems to be channelling a 70s spirit in his work and also I'm very inspired by Miguel Nelson, who's a designer/inventor/art director/stylist-type.



How did you approach The Mill window?

I wanted my window display for The Mill to be large enough to be be noticeable to people hurrying by, but detailed enough to hold the attention of people wanting to take a longer look (have you spotted the stick insect yet?). With the display being in place during Halloween, it gave me licence to include a subtle Gothic element, through the use of giant stems of dried Hemlock, more carnivorous plants and animal skulls.

The end result is a narrative of my expedition to create the display. The wooden display boxes are made by a set designer from floorboards I scoured from the streets of Hackney. Jars and small eclectic items came from trips to car boot sales and flea markets. Stones and driftwood came from beaches in Wales and Southend. The Mill window display is a diary of all the things I like, my own Wunderkammer. I believe if you are enthusiastic and sincere, this will show through in the final result and be appreciated by many other people.


--Thanks Hermetica for this fascinating trip through the thought and inspiration behind the window. If you're in London, be sure to come and get your nose pressed to the pane and a take a good long look at the treasures awaiting.