In 2010, Curiousa & Curiousa founder, Esther Patterson, had recently graduated from Nottingham Trent University with a First Class Degree in Decorative Arts and had just begun the Curiousa & Curiousa journey by launching her first collection.
From humble beginnings in the caravan parked on her drive that served as her studio, she has since spent the last decade building the brand to what it is today. Employing a small team at the Wirksworth Headquarters at Haarlem Mill, and drawing upon the very best of traditional, local craftsmenship, Curiousa & Curiousa is now well known for its innovative designs and hand blown glass lighting pieces.
Esther initially launched the Curiousa & Curiousa range to include wallpapers, fabric and furniture as well as ceramic lighting, but it was her range of glass lighting which really caught the public’s imagination as well as gaining an Elle Decoration award in the early days.
Esther thanks Liberty London and Jamie Oliver for being early supporters of her work that really helped to launch the Curiousa brand. Her designs were commissioned to hang in Liberty’s café and Jamie Oliver’s restaurants, as well as finding an early retail outlet listing via Liberty. A first large commission came from Harvey Nichols and since then, Esther has never looked back!
The Hayward Gallery approached Esther and commissioned a new lighting design to hang in their shop alongside their Light Show in 2013. From this commission, the Triptych Stacks were born and have since become a firm best-selling design in the Curiousa & Curiousa range.
This development was another turning point for Curiousa & Curiousa and as Esther comments about the Hayward Gallery commission, “This really opened up the possibility to create much larger lighting installations. We now produce not only a whole range of ‘sculptural stack lights’ but also large stairwell and statement chandeliers.”
Each piece is designed not only with its visual appeal in mind, but with its installation and maintenance also considered from the start. This approach, along with a dedication to innovation, has been central to the growing reputation of Curiousa & Curiousa. Having achieved IP65 accreditation, the majority of the range can now be used in wet areas such as bath and shower rooms as well as outdoor spaces.
Having introduced a new range of hand-made silk lanterns as well as launching bespoke wall coverings and fabrics, Esther is excited to expand the range further still. The Umes were received to great accolade at Decorex International in 2019, and have allowed Esther to go back to her roots in exploring fabric and wallpaper design, which is where her journey began.
In 2020 Esther also plans to work with slip cast china again – reintroducing this beautiful material into her range in 2020. “It’s really exciting to explore new ways of working and I can’t wait to launch my new collection, including the lovely translucency of bone china, a material that works so well with hand-blown glass.”
If you would like to talk to us about a bespoke lighting commission, or discuss products in our current range, then get in touch with our sales team on +44(0) 1629 826284 or email us on studio@curiousa.co.uk. You can download the new brochure to see our full range, or take a look at our range right here on the website.