This section is from the book "Arts & Crafts Magazine Vol1-2", by Hutchinson & Company.
White Altar Frontal, Exhibited by the Rev. mother of the House Of Mercy, Horbury. Executed by the Sisters, from a Design by Bodley.
Jewellery By Miss Agnes Pool
Gold Necklace In Enamel And Opals
Silver And Enamel Cross, Set With Rubies And PEaRls
Designed By John Williams
Executed By John Williams And D. W. Evans
Wrought Silver Chalice, set with Cairngorms.
Coloured Faience Plaque. by Conrad Dressler.
Letter-box Front.
By Miss E. M. Rope.
Morgan and C. Bilsborough, was interesting but rather roughly finished. Kendal had a few examples of furniture, among them a good chair in fumed oak with pigskin covered seat, by John Shearer. Manchester's exhibit was small but interesting. An inlaid mahogany table by G. Heath was a splendid piece of work, the ornament being simple yet very effective. Some clever black and white work was shown by W. Mellor; we shall have more to say about it next month. The few examples of bookbinding showed careful
Oak Sideboard
Designed by Joseph Armitage
Executed by C. Brierley and A. Dawes
Exhibited By The Bromsgrove Guild of Applied Arts workmanship and excellent taste. The Newcastle-on-Tyne Guild sent little of special interest.
The Sheffield Guild excelled in metal work, chiefly through the exhibit by H. H. Stansfield. A number of pieces of door furniture by this artist gained, we believe, a high award at the Glasgow Exhibition; they showed wonderful variety in design and treatment. The Bolton, Chester, Derby, Stockport, Eccles, Blackburn, and Bettley Guilds were also represented. We now turn to the work of the unattached and non-members. These came from all parts of the kingdom, and included work of well-known craftsmen. C. R. Ashbee's Guild of Handicraft, as usual, made a notable display of jewellery and silverware. The workers of this Guild, it is evident, have had thorough technical training; for, quite apart from design, the beautiful workmanship of their products alone calls for high praise. We take the more pleasure in directing attention to this feature because it has been sorely lacking in much that has been seen lately at similar exhibitions. "Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings" one may learn wisdom, and it is not beyond the truth to say that something is to be learned by certain pretentious but careless craftsmen from such work as is turned out by the Potteries Cripples' Guild, an association whose usefulness has been greatly developed through the energy and generosity of the Duchess of Sutherland. Starting as the Hanley Cinderella Club, the members later, receiving instruction in craft work, rapidly developed into capable craftsmen, who now execute orders in fenderkerbs, grilles, overmantels, goblets, caskets, jewellery, and a variety of work in metals and enamels, some of which would do credit to their seniors of far riper experience. Certainly their exhibit at Manchester went far to justify Her Grace's enthusiasm on behalf of her proteges, for they sent some of the best metal work in the exhibition. We would mention specially the candlesticks in copper, and a copper repousse plaque with enamel, both executed by W. Jervis. All the work
Writing Cabinet Inlaid with Pewter and Ebony
Designed
BY
Ambrose Heal, junr
Exhibited by Heal & Sons was designed by Mr. R. Newey, and well designed, too. If this gentleman continues to direct this side of the Guild's work, success is certain, for, as we have pointed out, the workmanship already is excellent. F. Braddon, some of whose productions in connection with the Barnstaple Guild are familiar to our readers, had a capital display of metal work. We liked especially the steel candle sconce, set with azurites, in which copper was employed with a rich though quiet effect. We have spoken so lately in praise of Mr. Howson Taylor's beautiful "Ruskin Pottery" that it would be superfluous to refer in detail to his exhibit at Manchester. It is enough to say that he repeated there his success at Leeds and Leicester. We may add, though, that it would be gratifying to see the Ruskin pottery more generally on sale in the London shops, where, at its extremely moderate prices, it should speedily oust from public favour the more showy and high-priced Continental ware of the same genre.
The Mercian Guild had a striking display of their pottery, several of the pieces being those we illustrated last month. Most of the designs were by F. Rhead, executed by L. and H. Rhead, J. Mayer, F. Loffil, W. Murray, J. Barclay, and M. Turner. We hear that there is a likelihood of this excellent Guild being broken up, but at least we have the consolation that the work of the various members will continue. So little good pottery comes from the Hanley district that the attempts of any band of workers to improve this condition of things should be encouraged. In this connection should be mentioned the pottery designed by G. R. Rigby. It is named the "Peacock," and is made by E. Brain & Co. There were but a few pieces on exhibition, as the manufacture has only (recently been commenced. We' shall illustrate some of this work next month, when we may be able to say more about it. An extensive show was made by the Delia Robbia Pottery Company, which is under the able direction of Mr. Rathbone. This pottery is shown so often and is so well known that to describe it would be superfluous. A. F. P.
 
Continue to: