DOI Heft:
No. 73 (April 1899)
DOI Artikel:Vallance, Aymer: Mr. Arthur H. Mackmurdo and the Century Guild
DOI Artikel:Studio-talk
DOI Seite / Zitierlink:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.19231#0204
A. H.
buted now and again to its pages, but though
generously financing it all the while, he elected
to withdraw from the active conduct of the pub-
lication, an office which his colleague, Mr. Home,
having developed a remarkable literary gift, was
amply qualified to fulfil. For seven years the
magazine was published regularly, and, if its ap-
pearance now is fitful to the point of extinction,
it is not because its promoters, having laid their
hands to the plough, have given up through faint-
heartedness ; but rather because the land that
long was fallow is now brought well under culti-
vation, because the work which they undertook
at the beginning to do is already accomplished.
From literature to the subject of music is no
far-fetched transition. And it is an interesting
fact, as illustrating well the extent of Mr. Mack-
MIRROR DESIGNED (l88o) BY A. H. MACKMURDO
188
SKETCH FOR A BOOK-PLATE
DESIGNED (1897) BY A. H. MACKMURDO
murdo's active sympathy with other arts beside
those in which he was immediately engaged, that
his house became the cradle of the movement for
reviving genuine antique music accompanied by
old-world instruments, and that it was in Fitzroy
Street that the gifted enthusiast Mr. Dolmetsch
assembled his first audience.
Though Mr. Mackmurdo was already estab-
lished in his practice as an architect, it was not
until after the second journey to Italy that he, in
conjunction with the other members of the Cen-
tury Guild, took steps to institute workshops for
the execution of furniture and metal work, and
also to arrange for the carrying out of their designs
in other departments. Messrs. Jeffrey & Co., of
Islington, undertook their paper-staining for wall-
hangings, while their textile printing in cretonnes
and velveteens was entrusted to a firm in Man-
chester. In the last-named place carpets were
woven to designs of the Guild; Mr. Heaton was
responsible for their cloisonne enamel work ; and
Mr. Rathbone (as may be seen by reference to
The Studio for September, 1893) superintended
the production of a certain number of lamps after
Mr. Mackmurdo's drawings.
A special feature was made of decorative
buted now and again to its pages, but though
generously financing it all the while, he elected
to withdraw from the active conduct of the pub-
lication, an office which his colleague, Mr. Home,
having developed a remarkable literary gift, was
amply qualified to fulfil. For seven years the
magazine was published regularly, and, if its ap-
pearance now is fitful to the point of extinction,
it is not because its promoters, having laid their
hands to the plough, have given up through faint-
heartedness ; but rather because the land that
long was fallow is now brought well under culti-
vation, because the work which they undertook
at the beginning to do is already accomplished.
From literature to the subject of music is no
far-fetched transition. And it is an interesting
fact, as illustrating well the extent of Mr. Mack-
MIRROR DESIGNED (l88o) BY A. H. MACKMURDO
188
SKETCH FOR A BOOK-PLATE
DESIGNED (1897) BY A. H. MACKMURDO
murdo's active sympathy with other arts beside
those in which he was immediately engaged, that
his house became the cradle of the movement for
reviving genuine antique music accompanied by
old-world instruments, and that it was in Fitzroy
Street that the gifted enthusiast Mr. Dolmetsch
assembled his first audience.
Though Mr. Mackmurdo was already estab-
lished in his practice as an architect, it was not
until after the second journey to Italy that he, in
conjunction with the other members of the Cen-
tury Guild, took steps to institute workshops for
the execution of furniture and metal work, and
also to arrange for the carrying out of their designs
in other departments. Messrs. Jeffrey & Co., of
Islington, undertook their paper-staining for wall-
hangings, while their textile printing in cretonnes
and velveteens was entrusted to a firm in Man-
chester. In the last-named place carpets were
woven to designs of the Guild; Mr. Heaton was
responsible for their cloisonne enamel work ; and
Mr. Rathbone (as may be seen by reference to
The Studio for September, 1893) superintended
the production of a certain number of lamps after
Mr. Mackmurdo's drawings.
A special feature was made of decorative