Ferry van Tongeren and Jaap Sinke are driven by their absolute love and respect for the natural world. Every magnificent creature and beautiful bird that they exhibit has been saved from the garbage can and the incinerator. They began their taxidermy partnership in 2013, when they founded, ‘Darwin, Sinke & van Tongeren’ (their ‘sleeping partner is their natural history hero, Charles Darwin), having previously worked as advertising creatives.

What is so ground-breaking about their work is that they have in effect torn up the taxidermy manual and reinvented the craft as a whole new episode in art. They take their inspiration from the fabulously rich and colourful work of 17th-century Dutch painters, such as Jan Weenix, Melchior d’Hondecoeter and Adriaen van Olen; and also early natural history artists, such as the American John James Audubon and his German counterpart, Ernst Haeckel. Central to their art is the fact that they regularly scour auction rooms and antiques emporiums to find just the right objects with which to display their compositions, whether that be vintage glass cases salvaged from museums or antique pedestals on which specimens proudly stand. Their art director’s eye is apparent at every stage of the journey, from the bespoke moulds they create for each individual creature to the series of ‘Unknown Poses’ photographs that they sell as limited-edition prints.

Ferry also works one day a week in the taxidermy department of the Museum of Natural History in Leiden, one of the oldest and most revered taxidermy collections in the world, continually adding to his knowledge and expertise. Of their new career, he says, “I am curious about how every bird or animal we work on is constructed – and I am always impressed by that inner design. Jaap and I are always learning because taxidermy demands so many different skills, from welding mounts to hairdressing a horse’s mane”.

Coade stone was originally made in 1769 at the Coade factory in London, under the guidance of Eleanor Coade, who employed some of the finest artists of the day to produce objects and sculptures for houses, gardens and public spaces. But when the factory closed in 1840 the formula and techniques for making Coade stone were lost. After extensive research and experimentation, Steven Pettifer has rediscovered that formula, and now produces high quality Coade stone with a ceramic body that is extremely durable and resistant to weathering.

Jamb is proud to be the representatives for Michael S Smith collections of country house fabrics in the UK as we feel there is a synergy that fits seamlessly with the Jamb aesthetic.

Michael Smith is one of the most original and respected talents in the design industry today. His style is a seamless blend of European classicism and modernism.

There are two collections hand crafted by the world’s finest artisans; comprising over two hundred linen, silk, wool, hemp and velvet fabrics of the Jasper range and the intricate print and woven fabrics in the Templeton collection. Inspired by James Templeton Crocker whose life long aim was to own the most beautiful objects in the world and worked with the most respected designers in the 1920 and 30’s in America to create an aesthetic that Vogue magazine in 1929 described as ‘ perhaps the most beautiful in the world.”

To view the collection visit on line www.michaelsmithinc.com
For all UK enquiries please contact info@jamb.co.uk