News
Waywood scoop two Bespoke Guild Marks
Waywood, a team of bespoke furniture designers and makers based in Oxfordshire, have cause for a double celebration as two of their designs, the Sculptural Sideboard and Display Table, have been awarded a prestigious Bespoke Guild Mark.
The Bespoke Guild Mark, awarded by The Furniture Makers’ Company, is the ultimate accolade for designer-makers, recognising excellence in design, materials, craftsmanship and function for exquisite pieces of furniture made as single items or a limited run of up to 12. It is awarded to beautifully crafted pieces of bespoke furniture and, since its launch in 1958, has been the apex of distinctions for UK designer-makers.
Designed by Barnaby Scott and Clive Brooks, the Sculptural Sideboard is described as a fumed oak and pear drinks cabinet with sculptural reveal handles and shaped wine shelves. The reveal handle with the mitred details was a complex process to keep the construction as minimal as possible. The doors are made from various layers for stability and cleanness of design. The sideboard was made by Simon Smith and Clive Brooks.
Commenting on the piece, Barnaby said: “We wanted to create a sideboard with flexible storage and dedicated wine storage that also serves as a feature piece with only a few standout design details.”
The Display Table, designed by Clive Brooks and Simon Smith, was made as a commemorative piece of furniture to celebrate the client’s mother and her love of flowers. The table – made from burr elm, fumed and figured eucalyptus – features eight complex laminated shapes that are joined together at the top and then fixed into a domed veneered base. The engraved glass disc sits into the formed shape base. Clive Brooks and Jered Allcock were the makers involved in the project.
Daniel Hopwood, Bespoke Guild Mark chairman, said: “As judges of the Bespoke Guild Mark, we are looking for exemplary design and attention to detail, the Sculptural Sideboard and Display Table from Waywood achieved this with these beautiful pieces and thoroughly deserve a Bespoke Guild Mark.”
Barnaby added: “We feel honoured to receive two prestigious awards for our craftsmanship and feel extremely proud to receive this recognition within our industry.”
The Sculptural Sideboard and Display Table are the 477th and 478th pieces to be awarded a Bespoke Guild Mark in the award’s 50-plus year history.
Pieces awarded a Bespoke Guild Mark are recognisably items of quality and distinction, and to substantiate and promote this accolade, Bespoke Guild Mark holders receive a certificate of authentication, PR opportunities, permission to use the Bespoke Guild Mark branding in communication materials and automatic consideration for the annual Claxton Stevens Prize – a £1,000 prize awarded to the best Bespoke Guild Mark awarded piece of the year.
In addition to celebrating the creativity, skilled craftsmanship and technical ability of Britain’s established designer-makers who win an award, the Bespoke Guild Mark provides invaluable expertise and insight to unsuccessful applicants to further improve their craft for the future.