Gimson Oak Dining Table, 1910s

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An important Arts & Crafts oak dining table by Ernest Gimson, 1910s, circular, the four-plank top and its crossed bearers raised on four octoganal supports on a concave-sided square base with open centre, the four planks of the top with full-depth butterfly joints, the base with various chamfers enhancing its geometric complexity, the cross-members of the base with protruding through tenons with bevelled ends, 72 cm high, 145 cm diameter. provenance: Harry Hardy peach (1874-1936), 'Crowbank', Leicester, England, acquired directly from Gimson, Thence by descent to the present vendor. Other notes: born and raised in Leicester, Ernest Gimson (1864-1919) was one of the pre-eminent figures of the English Arts & Crafts movement. In 1884, as a nineteen year-old articled architectural draftsman, he attended a lecture given in Leicester by William Morris after which the two men conversed for several hours, the beginning of an ongoing mutually-admiring relationship based on their shared strong interest in traditional English architecture and craftsmanship. In addition to his work as an architect (including, in 1912, submitting designs in the competition to design the new Australian capital, Canberra), Gimson turned increasingly towards furniture and other handcrafts inspired by earlier English tradition. In the early 1890s he joined with others in moving to the Cotswolds to establish a community of like-minded designer-craftsmen and artists, thus establishing what was to become known as the 'Cotswold School' within the Arts & Crafts movement. The furniture designed by Gimson and made in his workshop is widely regarded as being amongst the finest and now most sought after of English Arts & Crafts furniture. Also raised in Leicester, Harry peach (1874-1936) is today perhaps best known as the founder of Dryad furniture, a highly successful manufacturer of cane furniture, but he was in his work and interests generally another keen believer in Morris's vision to revive and promote traditional English artisanship and to bring good design and craft into as many households as possible. To this end, in 1915, alongside Ambrose Heal and others, he was a co-founder of the design and Industries Association which continues to this day (original slogan: 'Nothing Need be Ugly'). As successful business families in Leicester, the wider Gimson and peach families had been friendly for some years by the time, in the 1910s, peach began furnishing his house 'Crowbank', largely with furniture acquired from Gimson and his foreman (and successor) Peter Waals. The present and preceding lot are amongst those acquired from Gimson in this period and have remained with Peach's descendants until now.

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Oak - Native to Europe and England, oak has been used for joinery, furniture and building since the beginning of the medieval civilisation. It is a pale yellow in colour when freshly cut and darkens with age to a mid brown colour.

Oak as a furniture timber was superceded by walnut in the 17th century, and in the 18th century by mahogany,

Semi-fossilised bog oak is black in colour, and is found in peat bogs where the trees have fallen and been preserved from decay by the bog. It is used for jewellery and small carved trinkets.

Pollard oak is taken from an oak that has been regularly pollarded, that is the upper branches have been removed at the top of the trunk, result that new branches would appear, and over time the top would become ball-like. . When harvested and sawn, the timber displays a continuous surface of knotty circles. The timber was scarce and expensive and was used in more expensive pieces of furniture in the Regency and Victorian periods.
Turning - Any part of a piece of furniture that has been turned and shaped with chisels on a lathe. Turned sections include legs, columns, feet, finials, pedestals, stretchers, spindles etc. There have been many varieties and fashions over the centuries: baluster, melon, barley-sugar, bobbin, cotton-reel, rope-twist, and so on. Split turning implies a turned section that has been cut in half lengthwise and applied to a cabinet front as a false decorative support.
Heal & Co. - Heal & Co. was established in London 1810 as a feather dressing factory by John Harris Heal, and in 1818 opened a store in Tottenham Court Road trading as general furnishers.

The business expanded and by the time John Harris Heal's great grandson, Ambrose Heal (1872-1959) joined in 1893, it was one of the largest stores in London.

Ambrose Heal published a catalogue entitled 'Heal's Plain Oak Furniture' in 1898 displaying oak furniture in a cheaper Arts & Crafts style enhanced by ebony and pewter decoration with the oak sometimes darkened by smoking.

The business stayed with the family until 1983 when it was purchased by designer and businessman Sir Terence Conran, and became part of the Storehouse Group. The recession in the late 1980s led to a management buyout which revitalised the company. There was a further change in ownership in 2001 when the business was acquired by Wittington Investments Limited, Heals is still trading from Totenham Court Road at the present time.

The best known member of the Heal family is Ambrose Heal (1872-1959) who was an important patron of the Arts & Crafts movement.

He joined the firm in 1893 and extended its business to include the full range of interior furnishings. he favoured simple well designed furniture that appealed to the emerging middle classes.

He supported upcoming Arts & Crafts designers and co-founded the Design & Industries Association in 1915, which campaigned for "Fitness for Purpose" in industrial production
Bevel / Chamfer - In furniture making, a chamfered corner refers to a technique used to create a smooth, angled edge on the corner of a piece of furniture. This is typically done by cutting away a small portion of the corner at an angle, typically 45 degrees, creating a diagonal edge, rather than a sharp 90-degree angle. This technique can be used on various parts of a piece of furniture such as table legs, drawer fronts, or door frames. Chamfering can add visual interest to a piece and can help to soften the overall look of a piece of furniture. It is often used in conjunction with other techniques, such as rounding edges or using contrasting wood species to create a more elegant, sophisticated look. Chamfering is a simple way to add a touch of elegance to a piece of furniture and it is a common technique used by furniture makers.
Cane in Furniture Making - Cane, as used to make furniture is harvested from the ratan palm. The rattan palm is a type of climbing palm that is native to tropical regions of Asia and Africa. The stem of the rattan palm, also known as cane, is harvested, stripped of its skin, and then used to make a variety of furniture items. Rattan furniture is known for its durability, lightness and natural beauty. The cane is flexible yet strong and can be woven into various patterns, making it suitable for a wide range of furniture styles from traditional to modern. The furniture made from rattan cane is also known for its durability and resistance to extreme weather conditions. Popular items include chairs, tables, sofas, and cabinets. The natural colour of the cane can be preserved or it can be stained or painted for different looks.
Provenance - A term used to describe the provable history of an antique or work of art, and thus an additional aid to verifying its authenticity. Provenance can have an inflating effect on the price of an item, particularly if the provenance relates to the early settlement of Australia, a famous person, or royalty. Less significant are previous sales of the item through an auction house or dealer.
Capital - In architecture, a capital is the topmost member of a column, pilaster, or pier, which sits on top of the shaft and supports the entablature or architrave above it. The capital is typically the most ornate and decorative element of the column, and it can take many different forms depending on the architectural style of the building.

In classical architecture, the most common types of capitals are the Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian. Doric capitals are simple and have a circular shape with a flat top and bottom. Ionic capitals have a more elaborate design with scrolls or volutes (spiral shapes) at the top, and Corinthian capitals are the most decorative, with elaborate carvings of acanthus leaves and other motifs.

In other architectural styles, capitals can take many different forms, such as the bell-shaped capitals of Gothic architecture or the foliate designs of the Romanesque period. The capital is one of the most important architectural element in a building, it is the one that gives the most character and identity to the building.
Important - Important is a word used in the antique trade to indicate an object should be ranked above other similar objects, and is therefore more valuable.

The object could be considered important because it is by a famous designer or maker, has been shown at a major exhibition, is of exquisite workmanship, is rare or is a "one-off", was made for an important patron, and so on.

Even further up the pecking order are objects that are described in catalogue descriptions as highly important or extraordinarily important.
Morris, William - William Morris (1834 - 1896) an architect designer, artist, writer, poet and social activist is regarded as a leader of the Arts & Crafts movement in England.

After studying theology, ecclesiastical history, medieval poetry and art at Oxford University, Morris began work with a firm of architects for a short period.

In 1861 he formed a company Morris Marshall, Faulkner & Co. was formed to design and produce wallpaper, carpets, tapestries and stained glass, and they initially secured ecclesiastical works, later extending to domestic assignments.

In 1874 he took sole control of the company, buying out the other partners, and renaming it Morris & Co.

The origins of his designs can be traced to medieval Gothic styles but his organic flower and bird motifs encouraged later artists to seek inspiration for their designs in nature.

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