The ancient Greeks’ idea of the four classical elements of the universe being air, water, fire, and earth was the start of modern chemistry. Being fascinated by science and the development of concepts, I wanted to highlight the importance of this theory across history, by using references of the idea and language for ‘Earth’ throughout time.

In ancient Greek philosophy, ‘Earth’ was commonly associated with qualities of matter, heaviness and the terrestrial world. “The Alchemists’ Terrarium” reflects all of these;
The quality of matter is reflected in the solid shape with volume and by dark, heavy straight lines. The heaviness of ‘Earth’, attracting everything to it because of its weight and sturdiness, is illustrated by the spiralling crinoline coming gradually closer to it.

The handmade felt rose represents the life and delicate beauty of the final quality of ‘Earth’ – the terrestrial world and all that grows in it.

In the first centuries AD, alchemists took forward the Ancient Greek idea of four elements as they attempted to purify, mature and perfect certain materials. The main focus of the headpiece is the alchemical symbol for Earth, a downward-pointing triangle bisected by a horizontal line. From front on, this shape can be seen as a subtle but key representation of ‘Earth’. Alchemists sought to create gold, which I added to the flower to represent the natural world’s alchemy in creating beauty from ‘Earth’.

The term ‘Terrarium’ was first used in the late 19th Century and comes from the Latin word for ‘Earth’: ‘Terra’. It means ‘a place of earth’. I chose coloured acetate for the ‘glass’ as its green is associated with the classical element ‘Earth’. I wanted to design a Terrarium in the shape of the alchemical symbol for Earth which floats above the head like an idea and philosophy.

Note: Entries have been not been edited or proofread to protect the integrity of the maker's original meaning.