Gwen, N4 by Ella Merriman

Ella Merriman reclaimed an abandoned stool using joyful colour and the ancient craft of rush seating. Discovered on Blackstock Road in North London, the piece was restored with rush harvested by hand by the artist in Somerset.

This piece is part of a collection of sculptural furniture inspired by nature’s teachings and the rituals of healing. Each work is created in collaboration with natural materials, reflecting the belief that inner knowing and ancestral memory can serve as guides. The artist learns continuously from this process, viewing the materials themselves as her teachers. Rather than following traditional methods, she develops her practice by listening to intuition and working symbiotically with the natural world.

This collection brings together Ella’s reflections on the connection between humans and plants, and on the importance of valuing and heeding the lessons they have to share with us.

Product Information

Ella Merriman
Gwen, N4
reclaimed wooden stool, British rush, furniture paint
30 x 30 x 29 cm
2025

About the Artist

Ella Merriman lives and works in London. She is an artist and designer who works with the endangered craft of rush basketry. Her work explores the disconnection between humans and nature, drawing on her fascination with plant-human relationships. She combines rush with found objects from London streets, seeking harmony between urban and rural life. Rooted in slow, tactile processes, her practice is guided by intuition and her materials. 

A Furniture & Product Design graduate (First Class Honours, 2018), she has exhibited across the UK and Europe. In 2024, she received the Worshipful Company of Basketmakers’ Award and has a studio in London. 

Shipping & Collection

Items will only be shipped or available for collection after 16th December 2025. For requests to ship or collect items before this date, please contact shop@vangoghhouse.co.uk.

Fragile, larger and/or higher-value items are ineligible for standard shipping. To arrange courier services, please reach out to shop@vangoghhouse.co.uk.

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