SIMPLE, HONEST & USEFUL

Simple, Honest & Useful, an exhibition of furniture made by Grange Furniture Industries at Monksgrange, Co. Wexford in the years from 1927 to 1931; this small home industry was established by Edward Richards-Orpen after his return from a five year period in England where he came into contact with several of the leading protagonists of the Guild of Handicraft which had been set up by the English designer Charles Ashbee. Originating in London’s East End in the 1890’s, the Guild moved to the idyllic rural setting of Gloucestershire; here some of the great craftsmen like Ernest Gimson, Edward Barnsley and Gordon Russell made their beautiful furniture that is today recognised worldwide. Orpen’s furniture, which can now be seen in this exhibition, emulates, but does not copy, the design and construction elements of the Guild products. The Irish Arts and Crafts Movement included people such as the Yeats sisters - founders of Cuala Industries and the Cuala Press - Harry Clarke, the stained glass artist, and members of groups such as the Dun Emer Guild. Clonegal architect, Manning Robertson, was a supportive influence of the Grange Furniture enterprise. Thriving at the time of the Celtic Revival under the nationalist mood of the times, the Irish movement has its own distinctive nature. The exhibition offered a unique chance to see an important part of Wexford’s heritage – furniture made in Wexford of local native timber by Wexford master craftsmen. With its direct link into the heart of the English Arts and Crafts movement, Grange Furniture demonstrates the excellence of Wexford design which was put on the world stage by Eileen Gray, the celebrated designer of 1920’s Paris, born and reared at Brownswood, Enniscorthy.