June talk: The Ken Stradling Collection

 A Friend's group first visited the Stradling Collection in 2014; the first year it opened, and here's the post about that visit. After his death last year, aged 100, I hoped the Stradling Collection would be able to continue operating as a wonderful resource and repository of some exceptionally beautiful arts and crafts items for the home collected over the 60 years Ken was a buyer for the Bristol Guild.

Cleo Saunders, a Trustee of the Ken Stradling Collection gave us a wonderful illustrated talk via Zoom in June. A recording is on our website, but I'll include photos I took from the screen here along with some notes. Cleo started by talking about the fact that after the war, Ken, in 1948 went to work at the Bristol Guild which was responsible for bringing the best of design to Bristol. Local craftspeople showcased their work in the shop.

In the late 50s and 60s, people were interested in buying modern furniture such as moulded plywood seen below.

The Festival of Britain in 1951, an inspirational exhibition to demonstrate to people that art and design was about the future.

Below an interior illustrating many pieces of furniture which became available in the Guild 

In 1958 Ken travelled to Scandinavia with his wife to buy some pieces of furniture in a break from tradition of buying locally made furniture and things to decorate the home.

And also to Italy, buying stock for the Guild, but also beginning his own collection of fine things.

This table has very small drawers in it and the monkey is an articulated wooden toy

This Danish moulded glass piece is 2 foot tall;  glass was one of Ken's favourite things to collect

The Design Council in London would only stock British designed objects, a few of which can be seen below

The desk lamp dates from 1966, it was designed by Robert Welch, inspired by an astronaut's helmet, and reflecting the interest in space. I think we can all remember the stainless steel kitchen items, many of us still may have a kettle similar to the one in the photo below

Below can be seen glass by Sam Herman, jug by John Leach and a wooden bowl by Jim Partridge. We were fortunate to have many of Sam Herman's pieces and the man himself at a talk in 2016. I really like them and thought I'd see how much they are to buy; they're in the region of £5-7k.

Below the oval Rooster dish by Nicholas Vergette is gorgeous, as is the coffee pot by Michael Cardew and the bull by William Neweland

A trip to the Stradling Collection is on the cards again for me when they reopen after an August break. In the meantime, they have a window exhibition of Captain Ed's hand made shirts, what a fabulous idea.

In the photo above you can get an idea idea of what the house full of Ken's treasures looks like, and below a sample of his plate collection

This is what the outside of 48 Park Row looks like, it's small and easy to miss. I think this may be Ken and Cleo together.

Ken retired from The Guild in 2006, and transferred his lovely collection into 48 Park Row which comprises 4 stories and a cellar; it opened to the public in 2014. 

Above is the downstairs gallery area with its memorable Smile sculpture on the wall

Ken Stradling was awarded an MBE, given by Peaches Golding in 2021, and on 7 January 2022 celebrated his 100th birthday. Thank you Cleo for sharing the wonderful story of Ken Stradling MBE, and his legacy.