---

The luxury home is a paean to fine craftsmanship, with exquisite bespoke carpentry, ceramics, glassware and artworks.

---

Words by Abby Trow

The British luxury market, as luxury brand alliance Walpole has reported, is forecast to be worth upwards of £50bn in annual global sales by 2019.

A drinks cabinet in straw marquetry, by Violeta Galan
 

Bover Dome light sculpture, by Benedetta Tagliabue

 

Cylindrical Forms by Jin Eui Kim

 

Sumo Bench, from Tree Couture

Food, fashion and cars account for a large proportion of the sector, but don’t underestimate the part played by craft, because British crafts are enjoying a golden age as the super rich commission bespoke pieces to show taste and originality. And few would disagree that it is richly satisfying to own pieces of furniture or artwork made by the most skilled of hands.

Woven leather upholstery from Aiveen Daly Embroidery

Table from Matthew Burt. Photo: Ikon Studios

The abundance of craft fairs around the UK is testament to the thriving craft market, and a visit to any of them shows just how talented our designer-makers are. Individual cabinetmakers worthy of note include Matthew Burt, Tree Couture, Daniel Lacey, Philip Dobbins, Stephen O’Briain and Joseph Walsh, while small companies in ever increasing demand include Linley, Cimitree, and from Italy Promemoria.


Metalwork sculpture from Junko Mori

 

Red opaque bowl, from Gillies Jones Glass

Violeta Galan has awakened interest in straw marquetry, Japanese metalworker Junko Mori’s artwork achieves extraordinary delicacy using forged steel; ceramicists such as Sophie Cook, Keith Varney and Jin Eui Kim are highly collectible and for glassware – which as with ceramics has become highly collectible – we’re spoilt for choice with experts including Gillies Jones Glass, Elin Isaksson and Peter Layton at the London Glassblowing studio.