Future Heirlooms & Gifts To Treasure

Froxfield, 8th November 2012 - On Wednesday 7th November, the Edward Barnsley Workshop exhibited a selection of their furniture and gift items at the Aqua PR Press Day at the Langham Hotel in London. 45 members of the lifestyle, interiors and beauty press attended the event where they were treated to refreshments and a sneak preview of the latest designs for Spring / Summer 2013 and some great last minute Christmas gift items. With a fascinating history that dates back to the Arts and Crafts movement, the Edward Barnsley Workshop makes the finest bespoke furniture and also sells smaller items that make treasured gifts. Edward Barnsley CBE (1900-1987) was one of the most important British furniture makers of the 20th century. He established his workshop in Froxfield, near Petersfield, Hampshire, in 1923 in what is now a listed building, where the tradition of making the finest, hand-crafted furniture to individual commissions continues today. In addition to chairs, tables, cabinets and desks, more unusual commissions have included the oak boards for the Domesday Book and pieces for the Palace of Westminster. The Edward Barnsley Educational Trust was established in 1980 with the aim of taking on talented apprentices and training them to become future furniture makers of the highest calibre. During their time at the Workshop each trainee becomes skilled in the use of tools, the structure of joints and the interpretation of working designs, gaining hands on experience of increasingly complex pieces until they become a Barnsley craftsman. The sale of completed pieces made by the apprentices helps to fund their training. This includes a wide range of personal accessories and homeware items including jewellery boxes, hand mirrors, coin trays, bread boards, table lamps and mantle clocks - all of which make beautiful and thoughtful gifts.