Nautilus Prime

About this work

Black on black is the starting point: a nautilus shown in cut-away, so that its inner chambers lie open to view. Only the edges of those chambers carry gold, and the thin lines curve one inside the next towards a single gold dot at the centre, which is where the eye finally settles. Scattered around the chambers are small numerals from the Fibonacci sequence, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8 and onward, placed like labels on a scientific plate. From across a room there is little more than a tall dark panel with a fine gold coil in it. Only as you approach do the numbers and the nested chamber walls appear. The surface looks smooth and deep, almost lacquered, and the restraint gives it a measured, nocturnal mood.

The chambered nautilus has lived in the deep waters of the Indo-Pacific for millions of years, and its shell is a clear example of steady growth in nature. Each new chamber repeats the shape of the one before at a slightly larger scale, so the spiral never changes its form. The grid behind the shell refers to the golden ratio of about 1.618 and the Fibonacci rectangles used to frame it, a way of placing a natural form inside a human system of measurement. The subtitle, The Mathematical Sovereign of the Void, names that meeting.

Choose it when a room already has plenty going on: patterned rugs, full shelves, strong furniture. It brings depth without competing. Charcoal, olive, warm grey or deep navy walls suit it, in a study, lounge or dining room furnished in dark wood. A thin black frame lets the ground run straight to the edge, while a narrow brass moulding repeats the gold lines. Give it a warm picture light from above, because the chamber edges come alive in a low glow. At larger sizes the small numerals become readable from a chair. The Chronos Equation, also from The Archive, makes a quiet partner for it. The file prints sharply to about 76 cm on the long edge at 300 dpi.