Alice Welch, director of Robert Welch Designs is part of the prestigious line-up of judges for a new cutlery design competition. The Cutlers’ Company has launched an annual design competition, aiming ‘to create an extraordinary snapshot of British design in the 21st Century and offer young designers of the future a chance to explore the delights of making such intimate everyday objects.’
Arts, crafts and design students and graduates have been invited to create a set of contemporary cutlery, consisting of a knife, a fork and a spoon. The winning design will be produced in collaboration with a professional craftsperson / manufacturer and will be scaled up in order to produce a six piece dining set.
This cutlery will become part of the permanent heritage collection of the Cutlers’ Company but also used regularly at Company dinners. It is anticipated the competition will culminate in 95 years, in 2116 when the Company will celebrate its 700th anniversary.
“From the first conversation about this competition, I really wanted to be a part of such an inspiring idea – to offer designers the opportunity to innovate, create, consider the manufacture potential and function, whilst appreciating the nature of interaction with the user,” reflects Alice Welch. “Cutlery is more than a tool to eat with, it is a sensory experience and can make a profound difference to the dining experience.”
The Cutlers’ Company competition judging panel also includes Chris Hudson MBE, who runs Chimo Holdings in Sheffield, a family cutlery manufacturing business, part of which dates back to 1750.
The Cutlers’ Company is one of the most ancient livery companies in the City of London, having received its first Royal Charter from Henry V in 1416. The Company was a trade guild whose members’ produced items with a cutting edge, such as swords, knives and surgical instruments.
See www.ccdc.uk/
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