This 2-day symposium, developed as part of the exhibition ‘Part of the Furniture: The Library of John Bedford’ (Treasures of the Brotherton Gallery, University of Leeds, 9 January – 21 December 2024), and in collaboration with Temple Newsam, Leeds, seeks to explore furniture history as a subject and to reflect on what furniture history of the future might look like.
The history of furniture remains one of the dominant areas of interest within the history of the so-called ‘Decorative Arts’. Since it emerged in the 19th century, scholarship focused on furniture history has expanded far beyond the interests of its earlier pioneers, transforming furniture history as a discipline.
The symposium programme includes a facilitated tour at Temple Newsam (part of Leeds Museums & Galleries) to explore the world-class furniture collections at the house, as well as an opportunity to see extra materials from the collection of John Bedford at the University.
Bookings details and the conference programme are in this link.
Picture credits: Chair designed by Ernest Gimson after 1888, V&A Circ.232-1960; Munstead Wood, designed by Edwin Lutyens for Gertrude Jekyll, 1896; Lily wallpaper designed by William Morris 1873, V&A E.484-1919.
THE 48TH ANNUAL SYMPOSIUM OF THE FURNITURE HISTORY SOCIETY
Art Workers’ Guild, 6 Queen Square, London WC1N 3AT
Saturday 23 March 2024, in person or live-streamed via Zoom. 10.30 am – 5.00 pm.
In person registration from 10.00 am
‘New Light on Arts and Crafts Furniture and Interiors’
The 2024 annual symposium will focus on Arts and Crafts furniture and interiors between about 1880 and 1920, including new research into the iconic British interiors Kelmscott Manor and Emery Walker’s House, with their rich and complex mix of furnishings, and the National Trust’s new acquisition, Gertrude Jekyll’s house Munstead Wood. In the second sessions speakers will present fresh information on individual designers and makers, on the transmission of design traditions and the influence of published photographs. The day will feature papers from an eminent panel of curators, scholars and furniture makers.
PROGRAMME
10.00-10.30am Registration and coffee/tea
10.30-10.35am Welcome by Christopher Rowell, FHS Chairman
10.35-10.40am Introduction by chair of morning: Tessa Wild – Designers and Interiors
10.40–11.05am Evidential Choreography: Recomposing the interiors at Kelmscott Manor
Dr Kathy Haslam FSA, Curator, Kelmscott Manor
11.05–11.30am Emery Walker’s House: The London Arts & Crafts Home
Mallory Horrill, Senior Curator at Emery Walker’s House, Curator of Collections & Exhibitions at the William Morris Society
11.30–11.40am Short Break
11.40am–12.05pm Gertrude Jekyll at Munstead Wood: the home of the ‘artist-gardener’
Dr Caroline Ikin, Curator, National Trust, Munstead Wood
12.05–12.30pm Evolution, not revolution. Interpreting Ernest Gimson’s designs through the generations
The Marchmont Workshop: Richard Platt & Sam Cooper, Furniture Makers
12.30–12.45pm Q & A
12.45–2.00pm LUNCH – for attendees who have booked in the Master’s Room at the Art Workers’ Guild. Otherwise various cafes/restaurants nearby.
2.00–2.05pm Introduction by chair of afternoon: Martin Levy – Designers and Makers
2.05–2.25pm TheEarly Years of the Art Workers’ Guild
Peyton Skipwith, Fine art consultant and author
2. 25–2.45pm BIFMO and the Arts & Crafts Exhibition Society Catalogues, 1888-1916
Clarissa Ward, BIFMO 19th/early 20th Century Editor & Jo Buckrell, BIFMO Research Assistant and Researcher, Haslemere Educational Museum
2.45–3.10pm A Question of Attribution: the contemporaneous appropriation of architect designed Arts & Crafts furniture.
Tony Peart, Senior Lecturer in Illustration at the University of Cumbria
3.10–3.25pm SHORT BREAK
3.25–3.50pm Augustus H. Mason: ‘Cabinet Maker, chiefly special designs’
Annette Carruthers, Honorary Senior Lecturer, University of St Andrews
3.50–4.15pm ‘Garden of Hearts: A Case Study of an American Arts and Crafts Masterpiece’
Daniel S. Sousa, Assistant Curator, Historic Deerfield, Massachusetts, USA
Special Collections at University of Leeds Libraries & Leeds Museums & Galleries
CALL FOR PAPERS
What is Furniture History?
Thursday 6th June – Friday 7th June 2024
University of Leeds (& online)
Henry Lawford The cabinet of practical, useful and decorative furniture designs (1855). Image copyright, the University of Leeds Libraries
The history of furniture remains one of the dominant areas of interest within the history of the so-called ‘Decorative Arts’. Since it emerged in the 19th century, scholarship focused on furniture history has expanded far beyond the interests of its earlier pioneers, transforming furniture history as a discipline. This 2-day symposium, developed as part of the exhibition ‘Part of the Furniture: The Library of John Bedford’ (Treasures of the Brotherton Gallery, University of Leeds, 9th January-21st December 2024), and in collaboration with Temple Newsam, Leeds, seeks to explore furniture history as a subject and to reflect on what furniture history of the future might look like.
We invite submissions for papers on themes related to the history of furniture, focused on any period, any geography, from scholars, museum professionals, collectors, dealers, and furniture makers. We invite papers through any lens, including methodological papers on furniture history as method/approach, case studies on objects and collections, papers on furniture historians, as well as work-in-progress papers on possible futures for furniture history.
Contributions might address (not exhaustive):
The history of furniture history
Furniture historians
Publications of furniture history
The sources and materials of furniture history
Furniture collections in museum/historic houses
Collectors and collecting furniture
Studies of individual examples of furniture
Studies of types of furniture
Furniture dealers; the market for furniture
Societies and communities of furniture enthusiasts
The themes of furniture history (style, biography, material, geography etc)
Furniture history of the future
Papers should be 20 minutes in length; participation can be in-person or online (Microsoft TEAMS).
The symposium programme will include facilitated tours at Temple Newsam (part of Leeds Museums & Galleries) to explore the world class furniture collections at the house. As well as an opportunity to see extra materials from the collection of John Bedford at the University.
DEADLINE for submission for proposals (c.200 words) is – MONDAY 15th April 2024 to (m.w.westgarth@leeds.ac.uk). Successful speakers will be notified by FRIDAY 26th April 2024.
Speakers – Free
Conference delegates (in person) £25 per person (2 days) £15 per person (1 day), includes refreshments and lunch and transport to Temple Newsam. Online delegates – Free.
NB: The RFS is pleased to support the costs of attending the What is Furniture History conference in person, for five early career professionals in the field or students (part- or full-time). This special event bursary will cover the ticket fee (£25 two days/£15 one day) and UK travel costs (standard class rail or reasonable alternative) but not overnight accommodation. The bursary is open to existing or new RFS members. Non-members, please note: RFS annual membership costs only £28 by banker’s order (£20 for students) and includes numerous benefits, almost certainly much less than the cost of attending the conference without a bursary, so this may be a perfect opportunity to join the RFS.
Applicants should email the Grants and Bursaries Secretary Nick Humphrey nickhu@vam.ac.uk providing details of your early career professional post or course of study, and the attendance and travel costs you wish to claim. Successful applicants will be required to provide receipts for reimbursement. Applications will be dealt with on a First Come, First Served basis.
Regional Furniture Society 
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