After visiting The New Craftsmen’s Creative Director, Catherine Lock, at home in Blackheath, we’ve invited the gallery – purveyors of contemporary crafted objects made by exceptional makers across Britain and Ireland – to share images and words from their current projects.

From their flagship Arts and Crafts store in Mayfair, The New Craftsmen curate a regularly-changing programme of craft exhibitions and events that showcase high-value collectors’ pieces alongside their range of lighting, furniture, artworks, textiles, ceramics and accessories.

‘Glass Meadow’ by Jochen Holz & Philippa Craddock
‘Glass Meadow’ is a landscape of 21 organic borosilicate glass vessels and cut flowers, epitomising spring rejuvenation, and the first in a series of collaborations where The New Craftsmen pairs a maker and a practitioner to create exceptional products.

During the design process, Jochen and Philippa visited each other’s studios to understand the other’s working practices. Infusing their deep knowledge of their craft, and guided by Catherine Lock, they have created a collection of unique vessels that possess a spontaneous energy derived from a deep understanding of how to create stunning floral arrangements.

Jochen Holz’s studio featuring his ‘Helium Table Lamp’
Jochen is one of few glass artists in the country specialising in lampworking borosilicate glass. A pioneer of innovative techniques, Jochen’s approach to design is guided by the lampworking process and the flowing forms of hot glass.

Lora Avedian’s textiles
New maker and multidisciplinary artist Lora Avedian has created a joyful series of cushions, eiderdowns and a lampshade for her first collection for The New Craftsmen. Her pieces are inspired by the gardens of country homes, such as Ham House in Richmond, where Lora spent a lot of time during her childhood. Lora favours slow processes and prefers to use antique and one-off materials such as cords, braids and ribbons when creating her pieces.

Charlotte Kingsnorth’s ‘Processing Lichen’ furniture collection in progress
From May, as part of London Craft Week, The New Craftsmen will present new work from industrial artist/designer Charlotte Kingsnorth. Charlotte is developing a new collection of bronze furniture called ‘Processing Lichen’, which features her pioneering lichen patina finish, created through an alchemy of heat and chemicals applied to the metal’s surface. Charlotte says, “My goal was to work with patina in a way I hadn’t seen before. Inspired by the lichen that was growing on a railing near my studio, I embarked on a series of studies exploring its different forms, from leaf-like branches to a cracked powder-like look. And then reinterpreted its growth and patterns on bronze, finally applying the patina to the clean, architectural forms of my new furniture pieces.”

Following their first collaboration for Design Miami 2018, The New Craftsmen was keen to support and develop Charlotte’s subversive and often irreverent practice. Craft patronage is at the heart and centre of what The New Craftsmen represents. During London Craft Week, The New Craftsmen will be hosting a panel discussion to raise awareness of the role craft patronage plays in developing careers, reminding us that craft is as much about innovation as it is about tradition. Book tickets here.

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On show now until 27th April 2019 is ‘BOTANIC’, a collection of new work inspired by the quintessential British country garden and home. Featuring a joyful collection of textiles by multi-disciplinary artist Lora Avedian and hand braided mirrors by Aimee Betts, the centrepiece is ‘Glass Meadow’; an immersive installation by celebrated glass artist Jochen Holz and royal florist Philippa Craddock.