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The Arts and Crafts movement was at its zenith from around 1880 until the start of the First World War, but its influence not only in furniture design but elsewhere continued well into the first half of the 20^th Century.

The movement was of course led by William Morris and the writer John Ruskin and resulted from a backlash to the industrial manufacture and commercialisation of the early Victorian era. It was based on traditional craftsmanship using simple forms, but often incorporating medieval and folk designs.

Previous items of furniture sold were by the celebrated cabinet maker Peter Waals (1870 – 1937)

Born in Holland he was introduced to Ernest Gimson in 1901. Walls became foreman/chief cabinet maker at Gimsons workshop in the Cotswolds. After Gimson’s  death, he continued the business in the village of Chalford.

Other Cotswold School designers include the celebrated Gordon Russell, based in Broadway, whose designs and influence did indeed span the whole of the 20^th Century and Ernest Barnsley with his brother Sidney were also associated with Ernest Gimson. The business was continued by Sidney’s son Edward and a blackbean wood dining table.

The Arts and Crafts movement would also not be complete without the mention of the firm of Shapland and Petter based in Barnstaple, North Devon. Founded by Henry Shapland and Henry Petter, the company produced significant numbers of pieces in the Arts and Crafts manner, although the extensive use of the most up to date machinery of the age meant that its principles were somewhat different to those of simplicity and handcraftsmanship of William Morris.

A prime mover in the Arts and Crafts movement was Charles Robert Ashbee (1863 – 1942). He set up his guild and School of Handicraft in London in 1888 and in 1890 had workshops in the Mile End Road and a retail outlet in Brook Street, London.

Sir Ambrose Heal was also a significant name in design of Arts and Crafts furniture and like Gordon Russell, the firm of Heal and Son contributed greatly to furniture design throughout the 20^th Century.

It is interesting to note that the simple designs in oak made by Ambrose Heal when he joined the company in the 1890’s and which were associated with Arts and Crafts furniture were regarded by the sales staff as ‘prison furniture’.

Like Shapland and Petter, the firm of Heal and Son used up to date machinery to provide Arts and Crafts furniture to a wider audience in contrast to the principles of the movement’s founders.

Liberty and Company were significant in the Arts and Crafts movement under the direction of Leonard Wyburd, who ran the furnishing and decoration studio at Liberty from 1883 to 1903.

A lecture from Arthur Lasenby Liberty in 1903 provides a goal definition of Arts and Crafts furniture and the movement in general when he stated that ‘Utility, which means fitness is in itself beauty if rightly understood’.