One of the many possible lines of enquiry is the Clissett legacy. In other words, how did Philip Clissett's life's work live on after he was gone?
The Clissett workshop folded soon after Philip's death in 1913, apparently because of the First World War. Despite this, Clissett-style ladderbacks have been made throughout most of the ensuing period - right up to the present day.
The tradition was continued principally, at least in the first instance, by Edward Gardiner who had been Ernest Gimson's chairmaker partner. Gardiner produced a range of chairs he called "The Clissett" (it's often claimed that Gimson designed this range, but this is almost certainly not true - I'll write about this some other time). A photograph of Gardiner making "The Clissett" is reproduced below. "The Clissett" continued to be made after Gardiner's death by his apprentice, Neville Neal, and more recently by Neville's son Lawrence.
The Clissett workshop folded soon after Philip's death in 1913, apparently because of the First World War. Despite this, Clissett-style ladderbacks have been made throughout most of the ensuing period - right up to the present day.
The tradition was continued principally, at least in the first instance, by Edward Gardiner who had been Ernest Gimson's chairmaker partner. Gardiner produced a range of chairs he called "The Clissett" (it's often claimed that Gimson designed this range, but this is almost certainly not true - I'll write about this some other time). A photograph of Gardiner making "The Clissett" is reproduced below. "The Clissett" continued to be made after Gardiner's death by his apprentice, Neville Neal, and more recently by Neville's son Lawrence.
Who would have thought that "The Clissett" would find its way into one of the Festival of Britain exhibitions in 1951, yet here it is listed in the Guide to the Exhibition of Architecture, Town-Planning and Building Research. Quite why it was exhibited in this particular context, I really don't know. Gardiner had another chair, "The Gimson" exhibited in the Travelling Land Exhibition; it would have been seen all over the country. Good to know that these more or less traditional designs were still being appreciated at that time.
Edward Gardiner in his workshop assembling "The Clissett" in 1938. Note the high chair version in the background. (Lemington Spa Courier, 17 June 1938)
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