International studio (60.1916/1917)

National Society of Craftsmen


CUSHION DESIGNS BY MAXWELL ARMFIELD

National society of crafts-
men—the WORK OF THE
ARMFIELDS. BY JULIA C. HARRIS
A notable feature of the exhibit of
the National Society of Craftsmen, now being
held in New York, is the work of the Eng-
lish designers, Constance and Maxwell Armfield.
It comprises a group of embroidered wall-hang-
ings, embroidered samplers, and panels for chairs
by Mrs. Armfield, and painted boxes, sketches
for costume designs, and book illustrations by
Maxwell Armfield. The striking feature of the
work of both these artists is its sanity, its sim-
plicity and its joyous energy; and one realizes
with pleasure, after an interview with the Arm-
fields, that their beautiful decorations, so full of
brightness and vigour, and revealing such knowl-
edge of the principles of design, are but a com-
plete expression of their personalities.
The Armfields are not only designers, but
writers and painters as well, and the distinction
and inventiveness shown by Mr. Armfield in his
drawings for the works of William Morris, Vernon
Lee and others place him in the front rank of
modern illustrators. However, the chief interest
of this gifted couple lies in their love of the hand-
crafts, and it is their desire to help in forwarding
the movement that has brought them to America.

As a student at the Birmingham School of Art,
Mrs. Armfield came under the instruction of
Air. A. J. Gaskin and Mr. C. M. Gere, both of
whom had worked with William Morris. It is
not strange that from them she should have im-
bibed the philosophy of the Master Craftsman
and apostle of democracy in art. As a result of
these influences, she organized, with the help of
her husband, at their home in Gloucestershire,
the “Cotswold Players” and later, in Chelsea,
London, the “Green-leaf Players.” The first-
named band was recruited from the simple neigh-
bourhood working folk, who, under the direction
and encouragement of the Armfields, soon found
themselves acting plays and designing and exe-
cuting scenes and costumes, and thereby develop-
ing unexpected dramatic and artistic gifts. Arm-
field is not interested in designing for huge com-
mercial productions, but rather in working out
plans hand in hand with the actors themselves, as
in these small non-professional groups.
The Armfields have watched with growing in-
terest the crafts movement in America and for
several years they have been planning to join
the workers in this country. The opportunity
came a few months ago and, during the past
summer, while most of the New York art colony
were taking their vacations by the sea or amidst
the hills, the Armfields were studying our big

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