We are currently in the grip of making mania – home-spun knits and hand-thrown pots, traditional weaves and locally sourced crafts. And now there is a shop where it is all beautifully gathered together and displayed in a contemporary way. The New Craftsmen, originally a Mayfair pop up shop, is now a permanent store in a stunning arts and crafts building (once a workshop for makers of leather breeches) tucked away behind the throngs of Oxford Street. But inside could not be further away from that stretch of bustling, slightly depressing mass consumption. Here the calm, airy space is dotted with the most exquisitely crafted, hand-picked pieces from glassware and ceramics to books and textiles drawn from 75 makers from across the country and the idea is to not only showcase them but to provide the opportunity to commission bespoke pieces too.
There are many, many covetable things – Cornelia O’Donovan’s gorgeous hand-painted and embroidered cushions, Ernest Wright and Sons scissors made in Sheffield, Bespoke and Bound’s hand-made albums and books and Michael Ruh’s colourful hand-blown glass jugs. Needless to say none of it comes cheap – especially really special pieces like Pedro da Costa Felgueiras’s stunning chairs which we can only dream of owning. But then these are true luxuries – made slowly, thoughtfully and to last a lifetime.
