Studio: international art (37.1906)

Arts and Crafts Exhibition. First Notice

excellent example of the application of natural
effects to decoration ; it supplies a high conception
of the laws upon which a legitimate and beautiful
decorative value may be obtained, and which frees
the designer from any obligation to attempt more
artificial methods of ornamentation. We think
that much more work of this kind might be done
than hitherto ; there must be an interesting field of
progress still unexploited along these lines if only
more attention were given to the subject. Mr.
Gimson also exhibits a sideboard in elm, fully as
interesting as the piece we have described, and a
writing-cabinet with raised panels in English walnut.
Mr. W. R. Lethaby this year is represented by a
neatly designed writing-table, and among other
noticeable designs are a painted dresser executed by
Malcolm C. Powell, painted by Mr. A. H. Powell;
a mahogany cupboard, by Mr. E. J. Minihane;
and a mahogany armchair by Mr. Charles Spooner.
A gate-legged dining-table in oak, by Messrs. Spooner
and A. J. Penty, also calls for attention. A
writing-cabinet with tooled leather, by Mr. C. R.
Ashbee, is reminiscent of an old Spanish cabinet.
The interior leather design is not the least attrac-
tive part of this piece of furniture; upon the doors
the leather is bound with steel, presenting a novel
effect. We notice among the furniture a fire-
screen by Mr. Joseph S. Southall, with a Langdale

writing cabinet designed by ernest w. gimson
executed by h. davoll

hand-made linen panel, executed by Mrs.
E. Southall. The linen panel has been
designed and cut with a true sense of
decoration and with great skill. The
large sideboard by Mr. W. R. Lethaby,
whilst showing some remarkable inlaid
work, does not commend itself to us in
shape. A clothes-press in mahogany,
designed by Mr. G. LI. Morris, otherwise
a distinguished piece of work, seems
spoilt by the two large circular panels of
pewter and enamel let into the front. An
oak chair designed by Mr. W. B. Dalton
and a cabinet of drawers on stand by
Mr. A. J. Penty, are commendable
designs. Messrs. Morris have exhibited
in a previous Arts and Crafts Exhibition
a somewhat similar inlaid mahogany
sideboard to that shown this year, and
designed by Mr. George Jack. The
inlay work in it is of remarkable excel-
lence, but in our opinion carried a little
too far, oversteppinu the boundary which

carved panel designed and executed BY W. hart ' FF"»b uuuuucuj vvinv_n

for the guild of handicraft defines repose. A mahogany cupboard

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