Artisanal finds at London Craft Week: Mouseman, LOEWE, Silvia K and more

London Craft Week is drawing to a close, after a week of wonderful craft exhibitions across the city. Pictured above are some of the highlights on my tour, including;

LOEWE & MOUSEMAN AT LIBERTY LONDON:

Simon Cartwright of Mouseman of Kilman is a fifth generation master carver and son of Robert Thomson. Mouseman collaborated with leather specialists LOEWE making pieces that include both of their individual signature elements. The dividing a screen is a beautiful example, and the mouse is found on all pieces. Pieces like LOEWE’s screen, ceramic bowl and wicker bench show the brand’s beautiful use of combined materials. Mouseman’s Simon Cartwright and LOEWE’s Jonathan Anderson have demonstrated their artisanship to audiences at Liberty London this week and the collaborative exhibition can be seen at Liberty London (4th floor) until 21st May 2017.

FRITZ HANSEN STORE:

I always enjoy a visit to Fritz Hansen and Skandium to see their display of clean lined Scandinavian furniture, homewares and greenery. They’ve combined colours, textures and forms where nature and interior elements complement each other gracefully.

SELFRIDGES:

Selfridges has created a display with mini green houses, terrariums and other greenery vessels, including this terrarium by Design House Stockholm. Plants in enclosed terrariums need no water, as they are completely self contained in their environment (the image shows one with the top removed). I find them so beautiful, but it’s a shame that terrariums rob you of the purified air from plants.

THE NEW CRAFTSMEN:

Leah Jensen is exhibiting her six geometric vessels at The New Craftsmen. This is an intriguing collection of white and charcoal ceramic vessels with burnt wood bases. The geometric the pattern is made by Leah by piercing pins into Renaissance images placed on the vessel.

The shop also has a curated collection of items by artisans, some of which can be seen in the images above.

I’ve always found Silvia K‘s ceramic patterns and forms mesmerising, as they are interpretations of old artefacts such as Spanish drug jars and Iraqi dinner plates.

Jessica Light is one of only a few remaining trimming weavers. She makes unique tassels, trims and passementerie, shining new light on a traditional form that’s often disregarded as old fashioned and stuffy. Her bright colours and unusual materials, such as paper and horse hair, bring her to the forefront of her niche.

The velvety texture of the chopping board by Tim Plunkett makes it hard to leave! Here’s a selection of his beautiful work at The New Craftsmen.

Malgorzata Beny’s delicate white trinket and candle holders were inspired by the English coast and sculptors including Barbara Hepworth and Henry Moore. She aims to reflect the balance between natural and man-made.

Working mostly with wool and tweed, the tactile colourful piece pictured is by Bristol Weaving Mill, who use salvaged textile machinery to great effect. Their focus is on ecological, sustainable and ethical principles.

These makers are well worth looking at in closer detail!