Wooden House Plants - Large Pansy

• The pansies carry the picture: yellow ones with dark centres, lilac and violet ones, a blush-pink bloom, and a few that trail over the edge of the pot.
• The pot is painted in washes of indigo, lavender and peach, so it looks soft and slightly misty rather than sharply drawn.
• The enamel gives the printed surface a glossy, almost glass-like sheen that catches window light.
• The outline follows the flowers and leaves, so the edge is scalloped and organic rather than a plain rectangle.
• It needs no watering, no light and no care for the plant, only a place where you will see it.

The body is mango wood, and you can see its warm honey-brown edge all the way around, with a ripple in the cut that echoes the shapes of petals and leaves. Wood and enamel work well together here: the grain's warmth frames the cool, bright colour of the front. Because it is natural wood, the tone of the edge will vary a little from piece to piece.

The broad silhouette makes it a natural centrepiece. Set it on a mantelpiece among candles, on a windowsill where the enamel can catch daylight, or on a spacious shelf with books and a few small objects around it. It sits well beside real plants and reads as an extra pot in the family, one that stays in bloom all year.

Pansies have long carried a gentle meaning in the Victorian language of flowers, where they stood for thoughtfulness and remembrance. That makes this a quiet, fitting piece for a room, or for someone you are thinking of.

Wipe the surface with a soft, dry cloth to keep the enamel glossy. Keep it away from standing water or prolonged damp, as with any wooden piece, and place it indoors on a dry surface.