School Founder and Principal, Marc Fish, has been awarded the prestigious Claxton Stevens Prize for Excellence by The Furniture Makers’ Company.
Every year, The Furniture Makers’ Company – the City of London livery company and charity for the furnishing industry – awards Guild Marks to the best pieces of furniture submitted that year in various categories including Design, Manufacturing, and Bespoke.
Out of all the pieces that received a Bespoke Guild Mark, the Claxton Stevens Prize is awarded to the best recipient from that year, recognising excellence in design, materials, craftsmanship and function for exquisite pieces of furniture.
Dids Maconald OBE, Master of The Furniture Makers’ Company, said: “Through his ground-breaking challenges to traditionalism, Marc produces pieces that are not only remarkable in their originality but push boundaries of expression. He fuses fine craftsmanship into unique and elegantly produced furniture that makes him stand out from the rest. The Vortex table is one of the finest pieces he has produced and a more than worthy recipient of the coveted Claxton Stevens Prize.”
Marc was awarded the prize for this Vortex Dining Table, which uses his signature technique of combining many layers of laminated veneers with hand-carved resin. The base was made with 2,000 individual veneers, hand placed and dyed with squid ink, and reinforced carbon fibre, while the top utilised 130kg of resin.
“I am honoured to be the recipient of this year’s Claxton Stevens Prize for the best Bespoke Guild Mark of 2019,” said Marc Fish. “The Vortex table was an exciting piece to work on as it allowed us to push boundaries and experiment with techniques, and it’s great to see that kind of work being recognised. There are so many new techniques to discover and a lot we can learn as we keep making and designing.”
Marc was presented the prize by the Lord Mayor of London Alderman Peter Estlin at the Installation Dinner of The Furniture Makers’ Company.
Christopher Claxton Stevens, sponsor of the prize, said: “The judging panel all agreed that Marc’s sheer bravado and inventiveness in design and execution made his table stand out from the other entries. It was attractive in form and proportion, the top appearing to ‘pour’ inwards towards the centre when in fact it was actually flat and functional. Marc boldly experimented with new materials which worked out really successfully.”
