Terms of the Trade: Padouk

Padouk is the name given to the wood of the tropical Pterocarpus tree, native to Central and West Africa, and Southeast Asia. Trees can grow up to 50 metres in height, forming a long straight trunk that makes the timber an ideal candidate for logging.

The English term Padouk derives from the Burmese name for the tree, which is ‘Padauk’. Its wood is a rich red in colour, not unlike mahogany. The warm texture, coupled with the astonishing durability of the wood make Padouk perfect for use in the production of cabinets and fine furniture.

The Makers Series: Omar Ramsden

This month marks the 150th anniversary of the birth of Omar Ramsden. Arguably the most eminent silversmith of the British Arts and Crafts movement.

Born in the Sheffield suburb of Walkley in 1873, Omar was the son of Benjamin Ramsden, a silver engraver, and his wife Norah. At the time, Sheffield was the heart of the British cutlery industry, so many households within the community would have been involved in the silver trade in some capacity.

Terms of the Trade: Caryatid

A caryatid is an architectural support sculpted in the form of a female figure, most used in classical architecture as a decorative alternative to the basic column support. Perhaps the most famous example can be seen at the Erechtheion or Temple of Athena Polias at the Acropolis in Athens. Although the caryatids currently in place at the Erechtheion are later replicas, five of the originals can be seen at the nearby Acropolis Museum.

Creative Space: Lottie Fenby Milliners

In an interview originally conducted for the BADA Young Friends magazine “Inherited.”, editor Beth Hodges meets milliner Lottie Fenby.
 

This month, Inherited. is exploring the craft of Millinery. Before we introduce this month’s maker in the spotlight, it is important for us to take a look at the rich history that has led Lottie Fenby to be in the profession she is today. 

Terms of the Trade: Biedermeier

Biedermeier is a cultural movement that originated from Napoleon’s defeat at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815, and the subsequent political reorganisation of Western Europe. As France’s influence waned and a new era of peace and stability settled over the continent, so the concept of Biedermeier evolved in Austria, Germany, Northern Italy, and Scandinavia.