Crafted

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M asterful, sustainable and eminently collectable, authentic crafts hold profound value in a world so often detached from the tangible and tactile. Such objects, deeply connected to their makers, honour cultural heritage while shaping a contemporary aesthetic, set to stand the test of time.

This May, Sotheby’s is supporting London Craft Week with ‘Crafted’, a celebration of talent working across diverse media. Curated by Sotheby’s specialists, it is designed to shine a light and deepen insight into the realm of craft of all kinds. Sotheby’s will host the FiredUp4 charity auction and its ‘Secret Ceramics’ fixed-priced sale of anonymously donated pieces, to raise funds that provide ceramics classes for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds. Intoart will present a bold display of new craft commissions alongside works from its vast collection. Intoart is a pioneering visual arts organisation championing learning disabled and autistic people as visible, equal & established artists and designers. Elsewhere in the galleries, shortlisted candidates for House & Garden’s inaugural craft prize will be exhibited and Sotheby's will present a selection of leading commercial galleries showcasing the most exciting fine crafts being made today.

A major public programme will include demonstrations by master framers, needleworkers and conservators and a series of thought-provoking talks and workshops over two days: in the London Craft Week Symposium on 13 May, and at Sotheby’s own Festival of Craft on 16 May.

Image © Barnaby Ash (of Ash & Plumb) at the atelier's workshop in the South Downs. Photo by Andrew Montgomery courtesy of House & Garden.

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Workshops and Demonstrations

10:30 AM–1:00 PM | Hand Embroidery Class with the Royal School of Needlework

Spend your morning learning how to embroider with the Royal School of Needlework. In this special workshop you will embroider a motif inspired by a stunning 20th-century suzani in the Royal School of Needlework's Collection. You will learn a variety of international embroidery stitches, such as Bokhara couching, originating from northern Germany, and Romanian couching, widely used in Central Europe. The design is edged with chain stitch, a versatile stitch used all over the world and found in ancient textiles from China to Egypt. The stitches all come together on the red shot silk to result in a vibrant motif.

Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced stitcher, this workshop provides a chance to learn from an expert Royal School of Needlework Tutor in a supportive and inspiring environment.

£50 per ticket

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11:30 AM–12:00 PM | A Framing Masterclass

Join Derek Tanous and his team of Tanous Fine Art Frames based in Fulham and founded in 1905 as he demonstrates and explains how traditional frames are made using their collection of unique hand-carved antique moulds.

Free

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1:00 PM–2:00 PM | Thatching Futures Demonstration

Experience the fascinating world of traditional thatching, and learn how this centuries old craft is evolving and finding new relevance today. Robert Radcliffe’s work focuses on bringing thatching into contemporary interiors through furniture design and craft. His practice celebrates the history, culture and textural forms of this remarkable practice.

At this demonstration, Robert Radcliffe invites Master Thatcher Joe Thornton to create two new cabinets live, while sharing insights into the artistry, techniques and cultural heritage of thatching.

Free

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2:00 PM–2:45 PM & 3:30–4:15 PM | Handling Textiles with the Royal School of Needlework

Get up close and personal with a variety of historical textiles from the Royal School of Needlework's Handling Collection. These embroideries, which span centuries and continents, are used by the Royal School of Needlework students to understand how embroidery is made and used. Session attendees will get to handle these textiles, learning how to study these objects and getting hands-on experience with textiles usually behind glass.

£10 per ticket

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3:00 PM–3:30 PM | Sculpting Leather: From Material to Form

Join Silverlining for a live demonstration exploring how leather can be shaped, layered and transformed beyond its traditional use. From hand-hammering to wet-moulding and stacked construction, the session reveals the techniques behind Silverlining’s sculptural pieces.

Free

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2:00 PM–4:00 PM | Design Your Own Cardholder or Passport Cover with Elvis & Kresse

Join Elvis, one of the luxury pioneers who founded Elvis & Kresse and design your own cardholder or passport cover. Whatever colour or pattern you choose, it will be entirely your own. Their system transforms leather fragments from the production of luxury leather goods into components which you will hand weave. The crafts team at Elvis & Kresse will then hand-craft your final design and send it to you within 6 weeks in wonderful reclaimed packaging.

Whether you’re a seasoned maker or simply curious, it’s an experience that suits anyone who loves creativity, design, or discovering how things are made.

Cardholder: £150.00
Passport Cover: £180.00

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Sotheby's Talks

10:30 AM–11:30 AM The Future of Craft: How do we keep vital skills alive?

From stonemasonry and weaving to glassblowing and basketry, many traditional crafts are under threat. This conversation explores what these skills still offer, why they matter, and how innovation, technology and new models of support might help sustain them, reimagine them and carry them into the future.

Panellists:
– Daniel Carpenter, Executive Director of Heritage Crafts and advocate for endangered skills
– Lucy Brown, Chief Executive Officer at The Hugo Burge Foundation
– Louis Elton, Founder of Nation of Artisans and the British Cræft Prize.
– James Haldane, Executive Editor at Sotheby’s

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12:00 PM–13:00 PM | Craft in Fashion: Why Making Matters

In fashion, craft is what gives a garment character, authority and lasting value. Bringing together voices from design, curation and tailoring, this conversation explores how making shapes collectability, longevity and cultural worth, and why heritage skills and handwork still matter in an industry driven by speed and change.

Panellists include:
– Brendan Cormier, Chief Curator of V&A East Museum
– Ruby Slevin, Founder of Banshee of Savile Row
– Professor Shahidha Bari, Academic, critic and broadcaster

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14:00 PM–15:00 PM | The Crafted House: Keeping the Great House Alive

From upholstery and joinery to specialist finishes and textile conservation, great houses depend on skills often hidden from view. This conversation explores how craft helps historic interiors survive and evolve, and how owners, designers and makers decide what to preserve, revive or reinterpret for the present.

Panellists include:
– Dan Jackson, Head of Historic Buildings for Historic Royal Palaces
– Pratyush Sarup, House & Garden Magazine
– Julie Montagu, Countess of Sandwich; Custodian of Mapperton House
– Malcolm Wynyard, Interior Designer

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15:30 PM–16:30 PM | Henry Moore and the Art of Making

Marking the opening of Henry Moore: Monumental Nature at Kew Gardens, this conversation explores the enduring power of Moore’s work forty years after his death. Bringing together curatorial, art historical and contemporary perspectives, it will consider his sculpture through landscape, material, monumentality and his continuing influence as both artist and maker.

Panellists include:
– Dr Hannah Higham, Head of Collections at the Royal Academy of Arts
– Tamsin Golding-Yee, Sotheby’s Specialist, Modern British Art
– Max Bainbridge, Wood sculptor, and co-founder of Forest + Found
– Kate Bryan, Arts Broadcaster

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