Cole And Son

Filled with characterful New World charm, the wondrous fabled ‘flying machines’ of Macchine Voltanti evoke childhood fantasy and adventure.

Explore the outer limits of your imagination by getting lost in the enveloping skyscape filled with man, machine and ethereal creatures 

Satara Camp in Kruger National Park is known for its Big Cats. It was here that a magical scene of a mother leopard and her cub climbing into a tree was witnessed. Sataracaptures the leopard's fiercely protective maternal instinct as she helps her cub to the next branch.

This peaceful design includes fans of leaves and curving trunks and vines, all richly ornamented with precise stripes and scallops. The leopards' fur has a more untamed pattern, in tawny orange, soft metallic gold and bronze, as well as a ghostly mica sheen, as if in a dreamscape.

The Savuti is one of Africa’s most loved and well known national parks where hoopoes and hornbills call and sing whilst baboon monkeys and chameleons sun themselves in flowering Coral Trees.

This wonderful African garden has been recreated as a wallpaper in seven colourful and distinctive colourings each offering a different look - a bright orange and charcoal with a monotone engraved feel – a duck egg and old stone with a more faded and antique illustrative tones, and a series of three brightly coloured more child-like colourings on grounds of cream, dark petrol and khaki.

One of the most beloved and iconic Cole & Son wallpapers has been reintroduced to reveal two brand new colourings.

Alongside the classic duck egg, soft blue and cream grounds, two additional renderings include jewel toned birds fluttering on a dramatic indigo blue ground and softer prettier birds on a delicate ivory. These new versions of Hummingbirds are produced on a non-woven base paper.

Frutto Proibito gloriously combines different archival Fornasetti motifs from the 1940s and 50s. Mischievous monkeys, originally conceptualised as striking wooden panels for the Milanese patisserie, Dulciora, sit amongst sprawling pomegranate tree branches.

The playful composition of flora and fauna is quintessentially Fornasetti, mixing lifelike etchings with decadent, bold prints.

The Procuratie facades of St Mark’s Square in Venice provide a primates’ playground for these mischievous monkeys, wrapped around the classical arches and ornate balustrades. Drawn in a simple intaglio style, the timeless soft palettes of Stone and Powder Blue, and Soot and Snow enhance the intricate line work without detracting from the design’s stunning scene.

Leaves, fronds and flowers form a lush and peaceful labyrinth within Hoopoe Leaves canopy; a closer glance revealing nature's bustling wonder. What appear to be blossoms are, in fact, the feathery crowns of exotic Hoopoe birds hiding in the foliage alongside wildly embellished beetles and a wide-eyed praying mantis. Every leaf, feather and insect wing is lovingly adorned with intricate patterns evoking Zulu beadwork.

Created in a rich range of colours including sharp spring greens and lush olive tones, balanced with warm pinks, corals, sunny yellows and hints of soft blue, with the ground hues evoking an inky night sky or a dusty savanna afternoon.

The owl, forever associated with darkness and gloom, can see and move deftly in the dark, hence its symbolism as the embodiment of wisdom and foresight.

This ambivalent and mysterious symbol fascinated Piero Fornasetti, who used it as a motif on numerous accessories and porcelain items.

Taking its name from the peacock genus, Pavo Parade is an opulent host of metallic-toned peacocks. Their subtly ombréd trailing tails pay homage to a technique pioneered by Cole & Son, whilst the subtle framing of the design creates a panel-like effect emphasising the birds' grandeur.

Rich, lustred colourings of Metallic Silver on Denim; Metallic Bronze on Midnight; Metallic Gilver on Racing Car Green; Metallic Gold on Soot; as well as the arresting Metallic Petrol on Ink make this design a lavish interior option.

The charmingly designed Safari Dance features a trio of elephants dancing horizontally across the African plains.

Intricately rendered, they are taken from a series of large decorated urns painted by Zinhle Nene which take pride of place in the Ardmore museum. Colourings are paired back in order to enhance the fine hand-drawn elements – charcoal and sand and stone provide a softly speckled backdrop to black and white, as well as soft mulberry, rust and cool chalky greys.

Flamingos remains one of Cole and Son’s most popular designs, with its charming repeat of nonchalant birds and subtle background foliage. Presented in four complementary colour palettes of Olive, Ballet Slipper, Lilac Grey, and sumptuous Ink and Alabaster Pink.

Cole & Son’s designers took inspiration for Chamber Angels from the unique, carousel style structure found on the ceiling of The Presence Chamber, which forms part of the King’s State Apartments at Kensington Palace.

Originally designed by William Kent, one of the most influential names in early 18th century design, the celebratory style of the pattern is evocative of the essence of the room, being a place where the king entertained and received courtiers, ministers and foreign ambassadors. Dancing figures have been combined with delicate foliage and the ripened fruits, once found in the Kensington Palace Orangery, create a decoratively decadent design.

The design of Ardmore Cameos is a very personal representation of a series of plates which were created originally as a wedding gift for a friend of Ardmore. With each animal portrait, including a rather haughty zebra and a quizzical leopard, set against a backdrop of softly drawn giraffe spots, this delightful cartouche wallpaper is offered in colourings of soft olive, grey, pale khaki and a striking black and white.

A parade of King Cheetahs with their distinctive three-striped back stalk through the feather-like grasses of the alluring Cheetah Prowl. Famed as one of the rarest animals in the world, the elusive King Cheetah is both mythical and beguiling.

Palettes of Grass, Bronze, and Slate are akin to the South African landscape across the seasons, with a hot Cerise adding truly vibrant colour and pattern.

Injisuthi’s immersive scene of playful cats and water-filled pools takes its inspiration from the waterfalls found within the Drakensberg mountains, a wild and beautiful UNESCO World Heritage Site close to Ardmore’s studios.

This lush display contains numerous animals, including big cats, flamingos, and fish, with more unfolding the further you look. Injisuthi’s three colour palettes are representative of this changing botanical landscape with the verdant Jade showing the scene in full abundance; Viridian turning the scene from day to dusk; and Stone & Sand showing that even when the seasons become arid and plant-life becomes parched, life continues and rejuvenation is waiting just around the corner.

The whimsical and slightly surreal Protea Panthera is an ode to the beauty of Ardmore’s ceramics. Proudly centring around South Africa’s national flower, the protea, big cats dance along its central vine and a pair of striking green eyes look out from one prominent bloom. Surrounded by intricately embellished flowers, leaves and bugs, Protea Panthera’s grand scale captures the wild beauty of South Africa.

Precious palettes of Stone, Onyx, and Rose Quartz enhance this conversational design with Clementine’s zesty ground colour creating an eye-catching, modern space.

A companion design to Tree of Life, Baobab Botanica takes the scene’s buoyant flora and fauna and creates a beautifully interconnected network of nature’s garden. Adding to the natural palettes of Stone and Sky Blue, this effervescent design has also been coloured in a candy Blush pink, classic Duck Egg, earthy Safari, and midnight Onyx.

Royal Giraffe is a captivating design of maternal love. Capturing a fleeting moment of two regal giraffes, a child turns towards her mother’s embrace as they stand amongst the highly decorative acacia leaves and bean pods around them. A serenity exists within the elegance of these majestic, towering creatures.

Each giraffe is embellished with incredible hand-painted details, each proudly displaying their markings. A monochromatic colourway of Pebble provides a gentle softness to the design, whilst Stone & Mulberry and Safari offer quintessential Cole & Son exceptional colour. This design is also available in a truly Royal Gilded palette that gives the scene a golden hour glow, with a subtly textured base allowing for the light to enhance each detail.

Royal Giraffe is a captivating design of maternal love. Capturing a fleeting moment of two regal giraffes, a child turns towards her mother’s embrace as they stand amongst the highly decorative acacia leaves and bean pods around them. A serenity exists within the elegance of these majestic, towering creatures.

Each giraffe is embellished with incredible hand-painted details, each proudly displaying their markings. A truly Royal Gilded palette gives the scene a golden hour glow, with a subtly textured base allowing for the light to enhance each detail. Royal Giraffe is also available in a monochromatic colourway of Pebble which provides a gentle softness to the design, whilst Stone & Mulberry and Safari offer quintessential Cole & Son exceptional colour.

The Tree of Life has been an endless source of inspiration for both ateliers, with all the collection’s designs borne of the Baobab. This fantastical panel celebrates the fruits, flowers, and vibrant ecosystem of South Africa, embodying a rich narrative of nature throughout the seasons.

Artists from both design houses hand-painted the ornamented fauna within this expansive tableau; the distinctive Cole & Son hand blending seamlessly alongside Ardmore’s characteristic style.

Adding a brilliance to the collection is Tree of Life’s Platinum colour palette. Printed on a luxurious, fibrous base, it has a hand-crafted feel of burnished precious metal. This captivating design is also available in two further palettes with the sunrise-bleached skies of Stone and a high-noon Sky Blue.

Monkeys appear throughout the Milanese Atelier’s work and, for the first time, are available emerging from the dense foliage of Chiavi Segrete. The playful composition of flora and fauna is quintessential Fornasetti, with the delicate organic study juxtaposed by the hiding primates.

Depicting a wonderfully exuberant tree of life, inspired by the Palace of Fontainebleau outside Paris, Fontainebleau comprises leafy stems upon which a flock of exotic and colourful birds perch.

This striking design is presented in colourways of rose pinks on duck egg and fuchsia and emerald greens on a neutral ground.

Beautifully exotic and lush, Woodvale Orchard is a reimagined design from the Cole & Son archive, the original block print of which is still housed there today.

Plumose parrots sit amongst a flourishing canopy of leaves and sun-ripened grapes, surface printed to ensure the traditional print mark-making textures are retained in this modern day reproduction.

Hues of Hyacinth, Lilac & China Blue on Ochre are full of summer sunshine, whilst the deep grounds of Violet, Purple & Forest on Ink; and Ruby, Rose & Olive Green on Charcoal, create an opulent interior, as does the classically elegant Rose, Hyacinth & Forest on Parchment.

Uccelli, meaning birds, originated as luxurious folding screens depicting vibrantly coloured birds of all species adorning sparse branches. Since translated to a beautifully intricate wallcovering panel design, this delicate motif brings an ornate quality to a stand-alone feature wall or, used in repeat, creates a stunning aviary rich in detail and colour.

Each roll of Uccelli contains two drops creating a full decorative panel measuring 104cm wide by 240cm high. The design features an extra 40cm of ground colour above the trellis so that it can be trimmed from the top to perfectly fit the wall it adorns.

At once sprawling and serene, Jasmine & Serin Symphony is a contemporary update of a graceful Arts and Crafts-style print. Depicting ethereal birds perched among trailing jasmine vines, its flora and fauna create a subtle ombré as the design fans in gentle arcs across the wall.

Presented in soft botanical shades of Rose & Racing Car Green on Dark Viridian; Yellow & Leaf Green on Dark Forest Green; Coral & Petrol on Ink; and Chartreuse & Olive Green on White.

The historic wallpaper design Winter Birds was discovered hiding in the bottom of an archive drawer. This wonderful old print reveals garden birds perching amongst thorny briars and rose bushes. Coloured subtly in earthy tones of greys, olives, blues, and ochre.

The amusing companion to Procuratie features two monkeys wandering amongst pillars and arches. Offered in the four directly matching colours of Procuratie, the monkeys are picked out in coordinating shades. 

This design also repeats at 68.5cm wide and is sold on a 10 metre roll.