Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Chairs (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Chairs

AN exciting new event entitled Chairs 2004 is coming to Westonbirt Arboretum from May 1-3.

Over 150 chairmakers from all over the world are expected and a fascinating cross section of styles from Britain, America and Europe will be on display in marquees and in Westonbirt's Great Oak Hall.

These will include some very special chairs from America including one made by craftsman George Blake, a Native American from California.

Top British designer/craftsman John Makepeace will be exhibiting, together with some who will be showing their very first chair.

Gloucestershire has long attracted craftsmen to work within its boundaries. Among those exhibiting who live and work locally will be Ian Heseltine and Declan O'Donohoe of SF Furniture at Acton Turville, members of the Silkwood Chair Company based north of Cirencester, John Morgan who actually works at the Arboretum, and Paul Spriggs of South Cerney, whose designs owe much to the influence of the Arts and Crafts Movement which was prominent in Gloucestershire a century ago.

The chairs exhibited will provide an insight into the past, with museum and antique pieces from the Cotswold Antique Dealers Association and the Worshipful Company of Furniture Makers.

The Trade and Associates Marquee will have various display stands from organisations including Woodland Heritage.

Interested members of the public will have a chance to view and buy the chairs on display as well as learn about their history and origins.

A few selected chairs will be auctioned on Monday afternoon by Christopher Claxton-Stevens, who until recently was the Master of the Worshipful Company of Furniture Makers and now heads the team at Norman Adams in London.

For more information telephone: 01666 880 220.