Regional Furniture Journal articles now available online

June 28, 2017 by RFS

The sharp-eyed amongst you may have noticed that we have gradually been making past Journal articles available on the Journal back issues page of this site.

Volumes 1 -23 (1989 -2009) – that’s 20 years of regional furniture research articles – are now accessible to read and download for study and enjoyment. Included are all the special and themed issues of the Journal.

We hope to publish the 2010-2014 volumes shortly. The current issue (Volume 30 – 2016) of Regional Furniture is, of course, only available to RFS members, but the back issues will be published on this website after a three year delay.

Happy reading!

Save the Judges’ Lodgings Museum in Lancaster

March 19, 2016 by RFS

The Judges’ Lodgings museum, along with several other Lancashire museums, has been scheduled to be shut down in Spring 2016. The government budget cuts for local councils has forced Lancashire County Council to take drastic measures including closing down local facilities and putting thousands of people out of work.

Of particular concern to RFS members is the antique Gillows furniture, which is held at The Judges’ Lodgings and is the world’s largest Gillows and Gillows and Waring collection.

From the petition:
“The Gillow furniture collection is a jewel in the nation’s crown. If the Judges Lodgings Museum closes, this would mean the dispersal of the finest permanent collection of Gillow furniture in the world, housed yards away from where it was manufactured hundreds of years ago. If you care about our British history and heritage you must unite to stop the closure of this important museum.”

Please take the time to sign the online petition here:
https://www.change.org/p/lancashire-county-council-save-the-judges-lodgings-museum-in-lancaster

New Book: The Laurence Cadbury Collection at Selly Manor

September 14, 2015 by RFS

RFS members will be interested to see this new publication on the outstanding contribution of Laurence Cadbury who created a wonderful collection of early furniture, domestic objects and archives for Selly Manor. Written by Museum Manager Daniel Callicott and based on original research, this book catalogues the collection with detailed historical descriptions and photographs of the objects, which date from the 16th – 19th centuries. With over 170 full colour images this is a fascinating, illuminating and colourful publication that brings this important collection to print for the first time.

How Laurence Cadbury acquired such an impressive collection is documented through photographs and archives, and the book describes his relationship with local antiques dealer Oliver Baker.

All proceeds from the sale of this book will go towards the conservation and preservation of the Laurence Cadbury Collection at Selly Manor, ensuring these objects will be enjoyed by generations to come.

To purchase your copy of this book (£15) please contact:
sellymanor@bvt.org.uk or call 0121 472 0199
or visit Selly Manor Museum
Maple Road, Bournville, Birmingham, B30 2AE

www.sellymanormuseum.org.uk

BBC 4 8pm Handmade Episode 3: Wood

May 6, 2015 by RFS

A little late to this as the programme is on at 8pm this evening, but as part of the BBC4 Goes Slow schedule tonight’s episode in the Handmade series is on wood and looks at the making of a Windsor chair. The programme link is here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b05tpx1l and should be available on BBC iplayer after transmission tonight, if you miss it. Apologies for late notice!

A Trinity of Trinities

December 23, 2014 by RFS

RFS members who attended the July conference will recall the almshouses at Castle Rising which miraculously retain their original furniture. They were built by Henry Howard Earl of Northampton, an antiquarian with an interest in architectural design, who was a key figure at the heart of the Jacobean establishment and who brokered James VI of Scotland’s succession to the throne of England.

The December 10th edition of Country Life magazine includes an article A Trinity of Trinities. This year three historic almshouses celebrate the 400th anniversary of their founders death. John Goodall explains the origins of their creation.

Newsletter research articles – a complete list

November 22, 2014 by RFS

Christopher Claxton Stevens has assiduously recorded every research article published in the RFS Newsletter since the first issue in 1985. This not only provides the Society with a comprehensive list of the shorter articles that have been produced over the years, but also a very useful finding aid for those accessing the Newsletter via public library collections. You can see the list here: Newsletter research articles.

Many thanks to Christopher for all his hard work in producing this document and very impressive to see the depth and diversity of RFS research over the years.

Regional furniture online

August 12, 2014 by RFS

This week sees the publication of a blog post by the RFS chairman Chris Pickvance on an important medieval chest at Gressenhall on the Norfolk Museums Shine a Light project website. The Shine a Light Project “seeks to unlock the potential of the Norfolk Museums’ fabulous reserve collections, by making them accessible to all” and Chris’s post certainly does that – looking in close detail at the construction, condition and history of the chest.

The chest at the Norfolk Collections Centre, c.1400s from St Margaret’s Church, Norwich (NWHCM : L1974.29.3)

Another RFS member, Max Kite, has set up his own blog “aimed at raising the profile of James Reilly, a prolific chairmaker, inventor, innovator and entrepreneur in Manchester, England, between 1850-1889” which is worth a look: jamesreillychairs.wordpress.com.

If readers are aware of other online resources relating to regional furniture we would like to hear about them – email regionalfurnituresociety@gmail.com with your suggestions. Have a look at the Links page to see what’s out there already.

From the Country House to the Laboratory

May 16, 2014 by RFS

This week’s issue of Country Life magazine (May 14th) includes an article by RFS journal editor Adam Bowett.

From the Country House to the Laboratory celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Furniture History Society which was founded in 1964 and he suggests some ways that the society may advance. Adam explains how research into furniture history and its related fields (largely through innovations from across the Atlantic) has moved forward in leaps and bounds over the succeeding years and how neglect by the FHS of the exciting field of vernacular furniture studies led to the formation of the Regional Furniture Society twenty years later.

He illustrates his arguments with photos of the evolution of period room displays at the Geffrye Museum in recent years and examples of scientific timber analysis of a 13th century coffer from Westminster.

Whilst promoting the work of both furniture societies, he ends his article by challenging the FHS to revisit it’s original aims and appears to suggest the unification of the two societies. Do get a copy before it disappears from your newsagent’s shelves on Tuesday.

Monty Don’s Real Craft

April 17, 2014 by RFS

You may have caught the first episode of a new series, Monty Don’s Real Craft on More4 earlier this week, in which “Monty Don helps gifted amateurs revive crafts of the past as they compete to win a prized commission from a prestige buyer.” Episode 2, to be shown on More4 on Monday 21st April at 9pm, is called ‘Wood’ and involves three amateur furniture-makers competing “for the chance to work with one of the UK’s most respected furniture companies.” It will definitely be worth a watch as some of the programme was filmed earlier this year with Dr Bill Cotton at his home in Cirencester.