‘Welcome Cupboard’, 2020

Launched at London Design Festival 2020 with The New Craftsmen, the Welcome Cupboard came about after speculatively translating ideas around cladding into a functional piece of furniture.

Hand-made tiles wrap around the outside and inside of the piece, with the glaze / colour chosen to contemporise a historical British finish. This glaze was initially developed after research into Victorian pub and station facades.

The Welcome Cupboard was exhibited at ‘Ways of Seeing’ and shown alongside ‘The Rustication range’ – my first commercial tile collection which was developed with Froyles Tiles.

A green tiled cupboard sites below a a window with a black teapot and cup on top

A green tiled cupboard in front of a blue tiled wall and next to a table and chair

A detail of a green tiled cupboard showing the makers mark: a circle with the initials M R

A detail of a green tiled cupboard showing the front and inside

Matthew wanted to develop a functional piece entirely clad with tiles that would intrigue and welcome someone when they arrived home, playing with themes of familiarity and nostalgia.

The New Craftsmen

A green tiled cupboard against a white background

Links

‘Welcome Cupboard’ on The New Craftsmen

Thanks to: Kathy Lacour, Greg Wilson, Rich Miller and Philip Wood.

A green tiled cupboard with its doors open and two shelves inside

Previous project

‘Clay Station’, 2018

Collaboration with Assemble for commission by Art on the Underground. 1500+ hand-made tiles clad a kiosk at Seven Sisters Station, London

Three women sit on one of two tiled lanterns in a garden and look at a toddler in front of them

Next project

‘The Denney Lanterns’, 2019

Sculptures made for, by and in the gardens at Rainham Hall, Essex. Collaboration with community gardener Jesse Lock