Arts & Crafts Furniture
Hugh Birkett (Ex-Oliver Morel) Arts & Crafts Cotswold School English Yew Bureau
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An Arts & Crafts Cotswold School English Yew bureau by Hugh Birkett (ex-Oliver Morel who trained with Edward Barnsley at his famous workshop at Froxfield) made in 1986. A quite exceptional item with exquisite attention to detail, made in every way to the standard you would expect of this leading Cotswold School maker. A very well proportioned and attractive design, providing the perfect compact work area and storage. Made to a special commission for Geoffrey H. Alpe (1908-2008), former Managing Director of Parker Knoll, featuring:
- Made in Solid English Yew
- Gimson style hayrake stretcher
- Three lower drawers (made with solid drawer carcasses joined with hand-cut lap and through dovetails and solid bases)
- Handmade shaped handles
- Upper area enclosed with a fall front containing 6 drawers, three vertical pigeon holes, three horizontal pigeon holes, two lockable central drawers and a secret compartment
- Leather writing pad on the inside of the fall front
Approximate dimensions:
- overall height 120 cm (3 feet 11 and a quarter inches)
- overall width 87 cm (2 feet 10 inches)
- overall depth closed 44 cm (1 foot 5 and a quarter inches)
- overall depth open 88 cm (2 feet 10 and three quarters inches)
1986
Made to a special commission for Geoffrey H. Alpe (1908-2008), former Managing Director of Parker Knoll. Signed and dated on the stretcher
Very good original condition with tight joints, smoothly sliding and snugly fitting drawers, snugly fitting doors and fall front. A few minor knocks and surface scratches and marks visible on close inspection. If you wish to have further specific photographs or talk to us for a more detailed condition report then please do not hesitate to contact us
Hugh Birkett (Ex-Oliver Morel Who Trained with Edward Barnsley at His Famous Workshop at Froxfield) (1919 to 2002): A very highly respected furniture maker and master craftsman who was heavily influenced by the work of Ernest Gimson, Romney Green and Edward Barnsley. He trained with one of the foremost former Edward Barnsley craftsmen, Oliver Morel before he established his own workshop in 1949 in Solihull and then in 1966 moved to Moreton-in-Marsh in. He made exceptional quality furniture in the tradition of the Arts & Crafts Cotswold School and was a member of the Red Rose Guild of Craftsmen, The Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society and The Crafts Centre of Great Britain
English Yew: Although not technically a hardwood Yew's annual growth rings are so tight that it is usually harder and heavier than your average hardwood. It requires a great deal of skill to work with it successfully. The finished result can be very attractive and unique with a fine grain with numerous interesting and varied crossgrains, knots and pips. Its smooth texture give it a lustrous finish. It is a very tough, resilient and durable wood (Yew was the wood of choice for English longbows) which is relatively uncommon, especially in sections of timber larger enough to make furniture
The Cotswold School was a development of the Arts and Craft Movement started largely by Ernest Gimson and the brothers Sidney and Ernest Barnsley. The furniture is instantly recognisable with its simple lines, attention to the finest of details, and use of beautiful materials. Cotswold School designs were crafted from local materials using traditional tools and techniques and with decorative details derived largely from utilitarian elements: exposed joinery, unusual panels, interesting pulls and latches crafted either from wood or from metal using traditional smithing techniques, and close attention to form as well as to wood grain and pattern. Where decorative details were added they generally took the form of traditional embellishment such as exposed joints, chamfered edges and chip carved edge details. The style was embraced and developed by other designers and craftsmen including Gordon Russell, Stanley Webb Davies in Cumbria, Sid Barnsley's son Edward, Arthur Romney Green in Hampshire, Robin Nance in St Ives and Ambrose Heal are a handful of such men out of many. The best developed their own style within the established tradition
Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or wish to discuss items further
Delivery
Delivery
We are happy to arrange delivery for you which can be added at checkout, or you can collect items in person.
Delivery typically takes about 2 weeks, but may take up to 4 weeks (and occasionally longer if you live somewhere very far flung), and is a 'one man' service so assistance may be required at your end.
It will be by a specialist courier that will handle you item with great care and contact you in advance of arrival to agree a suitable day and time. They will also be as helpful as they can with times and dates, but will have multiple deliveries and collections to schedule into a practical route and timetable, so please bear that in mind. Please contact us for faster delivery options or a two man service.
You are also welcome to collect or make your own arrangements for collection via a carrier such as Mailboxes, Alban Shipping or Silversprint, if you prefer, but we would not then provide a packing service for the items.
We can also arrange international deliveries. Please contact us for a quote. Please note that for international orders, you will be responsible for any import taxes, duties or charges and these are not included in our pricing.
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Return Guarantee
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Returns
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Viewing
Viewing
You are very welcome to visit our workshop which is just 5 minutes drive from Junction 40 of the M6, and is open by appointment.
We won't try and hard sell you anything, and its fine to just browse, so if you don't find anything to buy, that's fine. If you do find something you love enough to buy, that's a bonus. You can park free immediately outside.
Use the form below to book a visit or contact us by phone, message or email if you prefer.
You can get directions at https://arts-and-crafts-furniture.co.uk/pages/directions
