Dear All,
Just picked up an interesting cabinet which has a distinct feel for Sidney Barnsley or Gimson, however I can't find any makers label or mark. Did they label their furniture and if so, how and where ??

Good Morning Friend,
Welcome to our Arts and Crafts forums and we hope that you will return again as many times as you wish. Personally I am not aware of the makers you speak but, I am sure there will be someone on here that will be able to help you find out some information of that you desire.

Respectfully,

Ralph Jones

Dear Ralph,
Sorry, I forgot to mention that I was based in England. From what I gather Ernest Gimson, Sidney Barnsley and his brother Ernest Barnsley were leading lights of the Arts & Crafts movement in England in the late 1800's. If I have my facts right, they were predominantly based in the Cotswolds

Welcome robo,

I've found a great website that gives lots of background and images of the life and work of Ernest Gimson.

Ernest Gimson and the Arts & Crafts Movement in Leicester

According to the museurm Gimson was famous for his ladder-back rush seated chairs. They have a collection of cabinets on line, although none of the images I found there show marks he may have put on the furniture.

I suggest you contact the museum with a photo of your cabinet and see what they have to say.

Leicester Arts and Museum Service

Lauren

Hello Lauren,
Thank you for posting the information about Gimson as it was very interesting as well as informative. I always like to read about successful craftsman and also be following their patterns we can offer many a great pieces in the A&C style.

I am also interested in what can be found about any type of markings or labels he may have used.

Since I started branding my pieces and autographing them along with the date of completion my clients are just raving how in 100 years how the value will increase. Kind of give me goose bumps.

Respectfully,

Ralph

Lauren,
Thank you for the heads up on the museum. We did infact find their website and as a result will probably be driving down to take a look at their collection over the next week or two. They are about 100 miles or so from us.

As for the signatures and stamps. I think I've established our piece is from the Cotswold School and from the information I'm gathering it appears very few pieces were infact signed or stamped. As a school, each member seems to have also been both a designer and cabinet maker which meant any big name designer could also be responsible for making another designers creation. Leads to more confusion. Confirmation is in the research and original drawings. I suspect there is plenty of actual reference. All comes down to contacts and access.