Studio: international art (9.1897)

The Arts and Crafts

same time, it is true that only the letter of English
design has been copied so far, and that not literally ;
its spirit is quite beyond them yet.

The case of metal work designed by W. A. S.
Benson included a large number of most admirable

examples of electric light fittings, and other domes-
tic objects. The Pendant Lamp here illustrated
(page 284) is a typical instance of Mr. Benson's
legitimate use of the right materials. Despite the
high polish of the copper and brass surfaces in
most of these objects the form is severely simple
278

and the ornament strictly subsidiary to the whole
effect. The Bond Street show-rooms are always
full of lovely things, so that perhaps one is apt to
take the high standard of design maintained there,
as one takes other everyday beauties of Nature and

Art, and does not always be-
stow upon them their due and
well-merited appreciation.

The three embroidered
panels for a Reredos by Mary
J. Newill have already been
illustrated and noticed in The
Studio. Amid so much fine
work they maintained their
place easily. A cover for the
Kelmscott Chaucer, here illus
trated, is a pleasant piece of
work. Studies for Book Illus-
tration, and stray Studies from
Nature, by the same artist,
exhibited those qualities which
have already been the subject
of appreciation in these pages.

A chest of Acacia wood
(page 279), covered in red
leather, with a design in brass-
headed nails, adapted, exe-
cuted, and worked by Mrs.
Willingham Rawnsley, was
shown also at the Home Arts
and Industries Exhibition. It
is a good example of a method
of decoration which calls only
for some amount of simple,
although precise handiwork.
Those who lack the artistic
skill required for carving,
inlay, or painting, might do
worse than revive this ancient
and simple craft. The chest,
as it is, would not disgrace
any library, or hall, and would
be a most useful and handy
place for storing prints, music,
or many other loose objects,
which have to be kept at hand
for reference, and which if
left unclassified become the
despair of tidy people.

The contributions of Edgar Wood, which did so
much to give a local flavour to the Manchester
Arts and Crafts, were here limited to a single
example. Those who saw the number of beautiful
objects in the former show cannot avoid a feeling

EMBROIDERED COVER FOR THE KELMSCOTT CHAUCER

DESIGNED AND EXECUTED BY MARY J. NEWILL