Guild and School of Handicraft
The Guild and School of Handicraft was established in 1888 in London, later moving to
Objective
The guild was a craft co-operative modelled on the medieval guilds and intended to give working men satisfaction in their craftsmanship. Many of the members were
To seek not only to set a higher standard of craftsmanship, but at the same time, and in so doing, to protect the status of the craftsman. To this end it endeavours to steer a mean between the independence of the artist— which is individualistic and often parasitical— and the trade-shop, where the workman is bound to purely commercial and antiquated traditions, and has, as a rule, neither stake in the business nor any interest beyond his weekly wage.[4]
Established in London
From 1888 to 1902 the guild prospered, employing about 50 men. Ashbee set up the Guild and School of Handicraft in 1888 in London, while a resident at
Move to Chipping Campden
In 1902 Ashbee relocated the guild out of London to begin an experimental community in the old silk mill in Sheep Street, Chipping Campden in the picturesque Cotswolds in Gloucestershire.[6] The guild at first flourished at Chipping Camden, where a sympathetic community provided local patrons. However the market for craftsman-designed furniture and metalwork was saturated by 1905 and the Guild was liquidated in 1907. Some craftsmen stayed, contributing to the tradition of modern craftsmanship in the area.[7][8][9] The "Centre for Crafts" at Chipping Campden offers a permanent exhibition of their work.[10][11]
Style of products
The guild's work is characterized by plain surfaces of hammered silver, flowing wirework and colored stones in simple settings.
Members
People associated with the Guild included:
- Frank Baines
- Charles Robert Ashbee
- Frederick James Partridge
- Ethel Mairet
- F. L. Griggs
- H. J. Massingham
- Ananda Coomaraswamy (husband of Ethel Mairet)
Further reading
- Ashbee, C.R., The manual of the Guild and School of Handicraft: being a guide to county councils and technical teachers, London, 1892 The manual of the Guild and School of Handicraft : being a guide to county councils and technical teachers
References
- Cheltenham Art Gallery and Museum. Archived from the originalon 26 October 2015. Retrieved 19 October 2015.
- ^ "THE OLD SILK MILL, Chipping Campden - 1342026 | Historic England" Archived 28 September 2019 at the Wayback Machine, THE OLD SILK MILL
- ^ "Buildings and other landmarks | Chipping Campden History" Archived 28 September 2019 at the Wayback Machine, The Old Silk Mill
- ^ "Charles Robert Ashbee (1863-1942) and Guild and School of Handicraft". Archived from the original on 20 September 2005. Retrieved 2005-09-15.
- ^ Stuart MacDonald, A Century of Art and Design Education, Lutterworth Press, 2005
- ^ "Guild of Handicraft". Archived from the original on 22 February 2020. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
- ^ a b "Content no longer available". 29 July 2015. Archived from the original on 13 February 2012. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
- ^ a b "Utopia Britannica". Utopia Britannica. Archived from the original on 6 October 2018. Retrieved 28 August 2010.
- ^ a b "Court Barn Museum". Courtbarn.org.uk. Archived from the original on 29 January 2010. Retrieved 28 August 2010.
- ^ https://www.cotswold.gov.uk/residents/leisure/arts-crafts/ Archived 28 May 2019 at the Wayback Machine, Arts & crafts
- ^ https://www.chippingcampdenhistory.org.uk/content/history/people-2/arts_artists_and_craftspeople/c_r_ashbee Archived 28 September 2019 at the Wayback Machine, C R Ashbee and The Guild of Handicraft
- ^ http://www.charles-robert-ashbee.com/ Archived 28 September 2019 at the Wayback Machine, Charles R. Ashbee