To be held on 20 March 2024
David Linley has established himself as one of the leading furniture designers of our day. His furniture is inspired by the past, re-interpreted for the 21st century. Fortunately he is not alone and the craft of the cabinet maker flourishes in this age of mediocrity. In this fully-illustrated talk, prepared in conjunction with Linley, we examine his work, his style, his inspiration and how his work relates to the history of cabinet-making in Britain. In making this lecture it is interesting to discover that many of the parameters that governed the life of say, an 18th century cabinet maker still hold good to-day. The search for patrons, the marketing of the finished article, the construction of the furniture and the financing of the business all raise their heads just as they did 250 years ago.
Nicholas Merchant
Nicholas Merchant is a lecturer on the Decorative and Fine Arts and lectures extensively throughout the United Kingdom and Europe. In addition, he has lectured in the United States and in South Africa. His wide knowledge of the Decorative Arts has been acquired through initially working for some of the leading auction houses including Sotheby’s and Phillip’s (now Bonhams) where he qualified as a Valuer. He subsequently was involved in the book-trade, specialising in reference books on the decorative and fine arts. His own business in this area introduced him to many of the leading antique dealers both in the United Kingdom and overseas. This business, likewise, took him not just to the principal London exhibitions but to Paris, Frankfurt and New York. Nicholas also lectures for cruise lines, such as Noble-Caledonia and Hebridean Princess. He was the West Yorkshire representative for the Art Fund helping to raise money to keep art treasures in Britain. He now lectures extensively on-line not only in the UK but to New Zealand and South Africa Nicholas’ hobbies include book-collecting, travel, the history of country houses and gardening.
