Cheltenham

[yetloh]

Went to the Celebration of Craftsmanship Exhibition yesterday. Some brilliant work there both from a design and an exection point of view. There were a few pieces which were not as impeccably made as I have come to expect but it is nice to see that some of them are fallible. One cabinet (can't remember by whom) had a door hinge wiwth a burred over brass screw far from fully screwed home; a late night "oh sod it" job perhaps, but I couldn't have left it like that.

I have often admired Phillip Dobbins' pieces both for their design and execution, and this year was no exception, but he seems to have gone over to piano gloss tops which I didn't like.

Lack of time stopped me entering the chair competition but I was surprised how many of them failed the basic comfort test which is surely a prerequisite for any chair to get a vote. I thought Brendan Devitt Spooner's chair was particularly elegant, very nicely made and also confortable.

Favourite piece? No doubt about this, Martin Grierson's oak drop leaf tables. They look nothing in the catalogue picture, but are wonderfully proportioned with a design which is quite complex but at the same time calm and elegant. Fabulously consistent choice of materials and exquisite making. If only I could afford the £11k and had the right space for them.

Any other observations and favourites?

Jim

 

[Doug B]

I really liked the Simon Thomas Pirie table & the James Long wall cabinet.

My wife was taken with the mirrors by Fortune Designs & the David Barron wall cabinet.


The was also a lovely table in Padauk & Ash (i think?) the colour combination was stunning & is definitely a combination i will use in the future.


Cheers.

 

[Modernist]

Le Corbusier sideboard for me, and Andrew Lawton has grasped the rudiments!

I'd echo the comment about some dodgy construction and some of the pieces are quite old (and still not sold).

Overall some tremendous pieces and wonderful cabinetmaking.