Contemporary British Crafts

A remarkable gift of contemporary crafts bestowed on the Fitzwilliam Museum by Nicholas and Judith Goodison is the subject of this highly illustrated book.

Built up over two decades, the collection numbers over 120 outstanding examples of contemporary ceramics, glass, furniture, woodwork, metalwork and jewellery by artists such as Martin Smith, Philip Eglin, Anna Dickinson, David Reekie, Alan Peters, David Poston, Adam Paxon and John Makepeace.

The purpose of the collection has been to introduce to the Museum some of the outstanding work being created by British designers and craftspeople today, thus complementing the Museum's historic collections and reflecting the quality of teaching and practice in the field. A secondary aim has been to introduce works that would create more colourful displays than the studio pottery of earlier years. The result has been to put the Museum on the 'must visit' list of anyone interested in contemporary work.

This catalogue of the collection, authoritatively edited by leading British craft specialist Amanda Game, provides a valuable record of the skills of contemporary British craftspeople and of the rich possibilities that lie not just in buying their work but also in commissioning it - and in both cases enjoying it.

The book contains a conversation between the editor and Nicholas Goodison about the collection and the craft scene. It also includes a fully illustrated catalogue and a glossary of materials and techniques. These tell us much about the craft world and are a record of skill, great beauty and elegance of design.