Jeremy Broun- Furniture Today

Many reading this will be aware of Jeremy Broun, the celebrated furniture maker. Inducted in to the world of designer maker furniture, initially at Shrewsbury and later at High Wycombe it was the craft revivalists of the 1970s who were among my main inspirations. Back then during my education there were perhaps a couple of dozen names, each with a style of their own who headlined the movement. Jeremy Broun was one of best known of these and now, with designer makers numbering several hundred throughout Britain it seems appropriate that he should produce what must be the seminal record of the movement. Having been there from the start he is in a unique position to clarify and bring together the pivotal parts of a largely unsung and certainly under appreciated period of material culture.
The 3 DVD set 'Furniture Today' is finally complete and available from Jeremy who can be found through his website or through Thinking Hand Video Production, PO. Box 658, Bath, BA1 6ED.
It is a must, to be honest for anyone involved in education, design history or just having an interest in contemporary culture. Much of the work from this movement comes about through the private commission system and perhaps because of this is seldom seen by other than maker and client. Producing smaller decorative craftworks such as glass and ceramic artifacts is far less time consuming, transport far too less hence speculative work is rare. Seeing some of the work included is a real joy. There are a handfull of books that have come out over the years on the subject though these have never had the best work selected for inclusion. Most show a mixture from the best work to the worst. Being a renowned maker himself, Broun is able to recognise real quality where he sees it.
This timely document of a period of our culture comes out as many of the first wave are slowing down. Sadly   the death of Alan Peters brought this home to us all. I would encourage people to buy this rather than the books I mentioned if they are interested in an accurate history.