Guild Pink repousse tile.                                                                   Magpie & Stump repousse detail.

 

CHARLES ROBERT ASHBEE'S METALWORK & LIGHTING FROM THE MAGPIE & STUMP

In 1893-4 Charles Robert Ashbee designed and built a house at No37 Cheyne Walk, Chelsea,

on the site of a 16th Century Inn named the Magpie & Stump, which had burnt down in 1886.

The house retained the same name and was Ashbee's family home, together with offices and

personal studio for his Guild & School of Handicraft.

It became a testing ground for many of his Guild workers, developing techniques and ideas,

and the house attracted much critical acclaim, being featured in artistic periodicals of the day

including The Art Journal and The Studio in 1895.

Along with the Guild produced furniture, the house was decorated with painted friezes,
tooled and embossed leatherwork panels, decorative metalwork & door fittings,

and innovative designs for electric lighting.

Before the house was demolished in 1969, the Victoria & Albert Museum together with Ashbee family members saved many items, most of which are now in the collections at the V&A, with some of the leatherwork panels on display in Cheltenham Art Gallery & Museum.

 

Watercolour by Fleetwood Varley showing CR Ashbee's pewter dining room lighting in the Magpie & Stump 1901.

 

Magpie & Stump repousse ceiling rose.

CR Ashbee - Guild of Handicraft Table Lamp.