Crafting curiosity: James Latham supports Plaey’s Henry Moore Studios commission

James Latham supplies 3-ply Douglas Fir to help realise Plaey’s ‘Explore with Moore’ commission for Henry Moore Studios

Commissioned to design a bespoke trolley for the new Sheep Field Barn gallery and education space at Henry Moore Studios, Plaey workshop founder Matt Kelly turned to James Latham for the materials. The finished piece, Explore with Moore, is built around 3-ply Douglas Fir supplied by James Latham and sits within the artist’s former home and studios in Hertfordshire.

Shaping a sculptural brief

The trolley, or ‘art cart’, is a functional sculpture commissioned by Annie Shrosbree of Henry Moore Studios. Reflecting her original design vision and inspired by the artist’s famous organic forms, it features drawers filled with workshop resources for visitors of all ages, while a cabinet of curiosities on top displays natural objects gathered from the surrounding gardens and farmland.

Finding the right material

Matt Kelly specified 3-ply Douglas Fir to complement the Sheep Field Barn interiors designed by DSDHA Architecture. High-quality Douglas Fir can be difficult to source, so he turned to James Latham to supply the ideal material.

The 3-ply Douglas Fir offered the chunky sculptural quality, clean end-grain detail and gentle curve-forming capability Plaey required, while providing the durability needed to withstand daily use. Brown Valchromat was selected for the drawer fronts, chosen for both its durability and complementary colour.

“Working with James Latham, you just feel so confident in the materials they have available and the expertise on tap,” says Matt Kelly, founder of Plaey. “So much time and love go into making this stuff, and if you’re not using the right product, it defeats the object.”

Standing the test of time

Plaey’s previous art carts have lasted eight or nine years in busy gallery environments, and the Henry Moore commission was built to the same exacting standard. With just three months from initial brief to opening, a reliable supply chain was essential to ensure the trolley was completed and installed on schedule.

“We decided to collaborate with Plaey on this trolley to give our visitors a space for learning, a space to be creative, sculpt and step into the shoes of Henry Moore. We created a section on top of the trolley that acts like a cabinet of curiosities. Matt has beautifully responded to the space that we have just reopened. He matched the wood perfectly to the Douglas Fir that we have used. It’s been great working with Matt at Plaey. He completely understood my vision from the get-go,” says Annie Shrosbree, Learning and Engagement Manager at Henry Moore Studios.

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To find out more about Plaey, see www.plaey.co.uk

For more information on James Latham, visit www.lathamtimber.co.uk