The Furniture Makers Company installs Jonathan Hindle as Master
Hindle calls for: "a greater focus on design, particularly investment in design by British manufacturers"
London, 13 May 2013: The annual installation of the new Master of the Furniture Makers - the City of London livery company which is the British furnishing industry's central organisation, charity and patron - took place at Guildhall on May 13. As well as installing the new Master, the event included an awards ceremony.
Jonathan Hindle, who succeeds Charles Vernon, commented: "This is a very special occasion. We are marking 50 years as a fully-fledged Livery and 63 years since forming originally as a Guild. With the FTBA, we have a combined history of over 150 years of charitable giving."
"As a designer, it is hardly surprising that the principal focus of my year will be on design, particularly investment in design by British manufacturers. The UK is home to some of the rising global stars of design and they are being engaged by enlightened international manufacturers. Those UK furnishing companies who are currently growing and exporting are all distinguished by their investment in design.
The Furniture Makers will be seeking to create forums where design studios can meet prospective furniture manufacturers who want to engage them. We will also be looking to encourage more graduates to join our industry. We must do more to highlight our industry as a wise career choice, with varied opportunities for the entrepreneurial and inventive."
At the event, two awards were made:
A lifetime achievement award to Raymond Leigh MBE who has been involved in the furniture industry for over fifty years. Ray trained as an architect from 1945, and worked with Professor Dick Russell on The Lion and The Unicorn Pavilion at the Festival of Britain in 1951.
In 1967 he joined the famous Gordon Russell Company in Broadway. He was Director of Design, Managing Director and Chairman up until 1980. He is a Past President of the Design Industries Association, Past Chairman of The Contract Design Association, The British Furniture Council and The Furniture Industry Research Association. This contribution to our industry was recognised with the award of an MBE in 2001.
He has always used his talents and experience to help others. He also founded the Furniture Industry Strategy Group, which later became the BFC (British Furniture Confederation). He was Master of the Furniture Makers Company in 1994.
The Claxton Stevens Prize was awarded to Jake Phipps for the 'Stellar Console' sculptural table in stainless steel that he designed and made. The console table not only sparkles like an amethyst, it also changes colour throughout the day as the ambience of its environment changes. The Claxton Stevens Prize of £1,000 has been awarded annually since 1989 for the most outstanding piece of furniture awarded a Bespoke Guild Mark during the previous year.
"It is a great honour to receive this award particularly when compared to the outstanding winners in previous years. I am certain that the award will open avenues for future commissions and enable me to push further the boundaries for the design and making of contemporary bespoke pieces" said Phipps.
About The Furniture Makers
The Furniture Makers, the City of London livery company, is the British furnishing industry's central organisation, charity and patron, which fosters and supports the craft and the industry, the education of students, and the industry's needy.
It encourages the highest standards and best practice in the design, making, marketing and selling of all kinds of furniture and furnishing throughout the UK.
It provides support and assistance to those in need who are working or have worked in the UK furnishing industry.
It offers many training opportunities for younger people and recognises quality through the award of its Guild Marks.
For more information on the Furniture Makers, visit www.furnituremakers.org.uk or write to us at: The Furniture Makers Company, Furniture Makers' Hall, 12 Austin Friars London EC2N 2HE.
