Evening star., 1945-05-13
By Leila Mechlin

Dp ASItu UI CIhtH
1t would be hard to overestimate
the interest and Importance OF the
exhibition of British arts and
crafts, which opened in the Ma
tional Museum last Thursday, to con-
tinue through May %. Not only is it
a varied and comprehensive showing,
filling the museums large lobby al
most to it's capacity and including
work in many materials, but, under
the surface, it has something to say
to us of this country and all who
may see it, something of special sig
3 nificance when so much thought is
being given to upbuilding a better
and a happier world.
This has to do with the kind and
character of the work displayed-itS
sound sincerity and adaptability to
use. There is no pretense here, no
evidence of effort. no false beauty
overlaid, but a perfectly natural en-
ployment of materials to legiti-
mate and useful end To create
something beautiful as well as use
full is the gifted craftsman's pre-
rogative and joy. British craftsmen
seem to understand this and their
works have a sturdinesS all their
own.
Charles Marriott, in his preface to
the catalogue of the current exhibit
ton, calls this "a native peculiarity,' y
which he explains as follows: THE
Englishman likes good stuff and
delights in doing things for his
own sake, irrespective of what the
results look like, tendency which
while making for stability makes
both craftsmen and manufactures
of Britain resistant to new ideas
For years these craftsmen have fol-
lowed tradition, but in so doing they
have perfected the art in which they
believe Fundamentally. There is
something fine about this, worthy of
remembrance Right things done
by right people" is the way John
DrinkWater expressed it in his Rob
inson of England" discussing Brit
ish craft work, it being his convic-
ton that ''if art meant anything at
all, it is a fundamental decency of
character on the part of those who
practiced it''-which is very true.
Arts and Crafts Society
The revival of interest in the art
crafts of Britain dates back to the
1905 when William Morris, through
the organization of an arts and
crafts society lit a flame, which
Is still burning. despite many errors
and much misunderstanding. Vari-
Gus arts and crafts centers were set
up, return to primitive simplicity
urged. The basis on which the
movement gathered strength was
that of sound principles, good work
manship, high ideals. Association
with industrial production, manu-
featuring by means of machines, was
srowned upon by Morris and his fol-
lowers, but it is through such asso-
citation that the greatest advance
has been made. Today the designer
and the machine are not rivals, enc
mics, but co-workers and friends.
In the current exhibition here are
some things designed by well-known
artist designers and produc d
through the clever use of the ma
chine, but the majority of the ex-
hibits are made as individual objects
by the craftsman designer.
Recalling one of the earliest and
finest of the crafts, are books with
typed pages beautifully designed and
with bindings finely executed. We
have to thank Morris for these, in
directly if not directly, for it was he
who revived the, printers art as well
as the bookmakers', supremely un-
conscious, it would seem, that in this
platform the union of art and indus
try would always firmly stand.
Morris had many followers exert
ing wide influence, among whom the
late Charles R. Ashbee of Chipping
Canpden was perhaps most distin-
guished 1t was in his school that
some of our best American crafts
men were trained.
British P0tferS
Britain has always taken impor-
tant place among the nations as a
rpoEor IF y,Nfta,-u 4Ia ,,or,ae of hot.