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#0205
A. H. Mackmurdo
painting applied to furniture, notaoly in the
earlier specimens of the Guild work. It was done
at headquarters by the several members of the
Century Guild contributing each his share: as
also, though some objects, it is true, may be as-
signed to an individual owing to their particular
characteristics, others again represent the co-
operation of all the members together, merging
their private identity in one collective design.
Such colour decoration as was adopted was
subject, it should be understood, to scrupulous
reserve, consisting, as it usually did, of little else
than staining the wood green, with a touch of
gold here and there, or the sparing use of an oc-
casional copper ornament by way of enrichment.
An instance of painted decoration is to be seen in
the chair with an elaborate fretted back (p. 186).
PANEL IN REPOUSSE COPPER
DESIGNED (1886) BY A. H. MACKMURDO
EXECUTED BY KELLOCK BROWN
IRON GAS BRACKET
DESIGNED (1884) BY A. H. MACKMURDO
The latter ornament is a type of floral form
which recurs not unfrequently in this artist's
work. It appears again, for example, in the
embroidered screen panel; and may, indeed, be
recognised as the precursor of much later orna-
ment in various materials by designers who have
no avowed connection with the Century Guild
whatever. There are other artists—Mr. Voysey
is a case in point—who, not formally members
of the Guild, have been in close communication
with it for years, and have known the benefit of
resorting to it for advice, encouragement, and
sympathy in their youthful days of struggle, while
yet their success and fame had not been attained.
The influence of the Guild has been widespread,
notwithstanding they never made a bid for popu-
larity, nor ever came at all prominently before
the public, unless one excepts the occasion when,
in early days, they fitted up a music room at the
Inventions Exhibition.
To summarise Mr. Mackmurdo's design as a
whole, if there is one leading quality which
dominates all the rest it is that he consistently
recognises proportion to be the fundamental
189
painting applied to furniture, notaoly in the
earlier specimens of the Guild work. It was done
at headquarters by the several members of the
Century Guild contributing each his share: as
also, though some objects, it is true, may be as-
signed to an individual owing to their particular
characteristics, others again represent the co-
operation of all the members together, merging
their private identity in one collective design.
Such colour decoration as was adopted was
subject, it should be understood, to scrupulous
reserve, consisting, as it usually did, of little else
than staining the wood green, with a touch of
gold here and there, or the sparing use of an oc-
casional copper ornament by way of enrichment.
An instance of painted decoration is to be seen in
the chair with an elaborate fretted back (p. 186).
PANEL IN REPOUSSE COPPER
DESIGNED (1886) BY A. H. MACKMURDO
EXECUTED BY KELLOCK BROWN
IRON GAS BRACKET
DESIGNED (1884) BY A. H. MACKMURDO
The latter ornament is a type of floral form
which recurs not unfrequently in this artist's
work. It appears again, for example, in the
embroidered screen panel; and may, indeed, be
recognised as the precursor of much later orna-
ment in various materials by designers who have
no avowed connection with the Century Guild
whatever. There are other artists—Mr. Voysey
is a case in point—who, not formally members
of the Guild, have been in close communication
with it for years, and have known the benefit of
resorting to it for advice, encouragement, and
sympathy in their youthful days of struggle, while
yet their success and fame had not been attained.
The influence of the Guild has been widespread,
notwithstanding they never made a bid for popu-
larity, nor ever came at all prominently before
the public, unless one excepts the occasion when,
in early days, they fitted up a music room at the
Inventions Exhibition.
To summarise Mr. Mackmurdo's design as a
whole, if there is one leading quality which
dominates all the rest it is that he consistently
recognises proportion to be the fundamental
189