DOI Heft:
No. 156 (March, 1906)
DOI Artikel:The arts and crafts exhibition at the Grafton Gallery, [2]
DOI Seite / Zitierlink: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.20714#0150
Arts and Crafts Exhibition. Second Notice
child's chair by london county council
technical institute, shore-
ditch, under percy a. wells
strong exhibits in the departments of craft relative
to domestic architecture and domestic equipment.
In passing to the more dilettante side of the exhi-
bition—to that side of it which witnesses to the
enormous interest now taken in the fine crafts of
bookbinding, needlework, and jewellery—we pass
to the strongest side of the Society's present work.
We are also made aware how great an interest is
now taken in those crafts which are in the nature
of revivals. With the diminishing activity in house-
hold designing, with the diminishing enthusiasm
—unfortunately only too apparent—for the reclama-
tion of domestic design from debased fashions still
prevalent in certain of the trades, comes an out-
burst of enthusiasm and activity on the side of crafts
which are ornamental and pleasant, crafts which
are certainly useful in an abstract way, as making
for beauty, but administering on the whole to
the arts of luxury rather than of use. The arts
and crafts in this exhibition, almost failing to
contend for improvements in the practical necessi-
the covers of books we shall read, and jewellery
that will be worn in the evenings : these have
occupied the genius of some of the members and
the ingenuity of others.
From the point of view of pure craftsmanship in
these departments, the work exhibited this year leaves
very little to be desired. Certain names stand out
prominently—Mr. Douglas Cockerell and Mr.
Cobden-Sanderson—as contributors of work which
may almost be said to be historical in its per-
fection. Their pupils and imitators, be it said,
have in some cases succeeded not only in imi-
tating very closely their good craftsmanship, but
also in capturing some of the imagination and
sympathy with which these designers have worked.
Not a small part of the influence of their work has
been in the elevation of taste and in inculcating a
regard for perfect things because they are perfect,
for finish and beauty as symbols for patience
and care, and the doing of things for their
own sake.
In those arts which are a revival we find Mr. Graily
Hewitt decorating in black letters as perfectly as
if that art had been continued in its practice since
r 1 c i i . chestnut chest designed by ambrose heal, junk.
ties of domestic comfort, have taken very seriously ok drawers exhibited by Messrs heal & son
130
child's chair by london county council
technical institute, shore-
ditch, under percy a. wells
strong exhibits in the departments of craft relative
to domestic architecture and domestic equipment.
In passing to the more dilettante side of the exhi-
bition—to that side of it which witnesses to the
enormous interest now taken in the fine crafts of
bookbinding, needlework, and jewellery—we pass
to the strongest side of the Society's present work.
We are also made aware how great an interest is
now taken in those crafts which are in the nature
of revivals. With the diminishing activity in house-
hold designing, with the diminishing enthusiasm
—unfortunately only too apparent—for the reclama-
tion of domestic design from debased fashions still
prevalent in certain of the trades, comes an out-
burst of enthusiasm and activity on the side of crafts
which are ornamental and pleasant, crafts which
are certainly useful in an abstract way, as making
for beauty, but administering on the whole to
the arts of luxury rather than of use. The arts
and crafts in this exhibition, almost failing to
contend for improvements in the practical necessi-
the covers of books we shall read, and jewellery
that will be worn in the evenings : these have
occupied the genius of some of the members and
the ingenuity of others.
From the point of view of pure craftsmanship in
these departments, the work exhibited this year leaves
very little to be desired. Certain names stand out
prominently—Mr. Douglas Cockerell and Mr.
Cobden-Sanderson—as contributors of work which
may almost be said to be historical in its per-
fection. Their pupils and imitators, be it said,
have in some cases succeeded not only in imi-
tating very closely their good craftsmanship, but
also in capturing some of the imagination and
sympathy with which these designers have worked.
Not a small part of the influence of their work has
been in the elevation of taste and in inculcating a
regard for perfect things because they are perfect,
for finish and beauty as symbols for patience
and care, and the doing of things for their
own sake.
In those arts which are a revival we find Mr. Graily
Hewitt decorating in black letters as perfectly as
if that art had been continued in its practice since
r 1 c i i . chestnut chest designed by ambrose heal, junk.
ties of domestic comfort, have taken very seriously ok drawers exhibited by Messrs heal & son
130