WHAT ARE MODERN DESIGNERS DOING ? [To the Editor of
the SPECTATOR.]
Sin,—I have unwittingly appeared in the two previous letters on this subject in the role of Fair Princess and Wicked Uncle respectively. I do not know how far David Joel or myself have influenced taste in furnishing. I do not really care. But I will whisper to you, Sir, that I should imagine my friend, Ambrose Heal, who was designing pleasant furniture before I was breeched, has done more to raise the standard than the two of us together. All this, however, savours of the unprofit- able discussions on war guilt !
The real point is that the teaching of William Morris, which inspired Gimson, Heal, Weals and others, has pro- foundly influenced household things. Will anyone who doubts this look at a trade paper of thirty years ago and one of to-day. It is not easy yet to get pleasant things : thirty years ago it was all but impossible. The simpler lines, better proportions, comparative absence of trivial ornament in ordinary cheap furniture to-day will be noted and approved. But we must not forget that all these qualities and many more will be found in Gimson's or Heal's work of twenty-five years
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