In a world of mass production, could it be that the individuality of British craftsmanship is enjoying a revival? While many a high street looks the same, the opportunity to purchase expertly crafted, long-lasting and handmade products seems increasingly sought after, as Rebecca Aird, co-founder of Gloucestershire-based hand-printed fabric and wallpaper house Rapture & Wright, explains. “Customers have become aware of the beauty of the hand ‘of the maker’ that adds interest, depth and uniqueness to products, creating more individual homes,” she says.
“Many people want something unique, individually crafted and finished,” agrees master patternmaker Mark Stickells of Beardmore, which makes fine door, cabinet and window hardware at its foundry on the South Coast. “Computer-generated forms tend to be too perfect, and often it is the handcrafted items that delight…
