Godolphin opens doors to cream of Cornish design

1:34pm Tuesday 5th August 2008

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Thanks to the National Trust, the Hidden Art Cornwall Design Fair will return to the glorious setting of Godolphin House over the August Bank Holiday weekend.

Now in its third year, the Design Fair is a celebration of the quality and diversity of contemporary Cornish design in historic surroundings and in 2007 attracted over 4,000 visitors from across the country.

The Hidden Art Cornwall Design Fair presents contemporary design from over 100 designer-makers, offering the public the opportunity to buy a wide range of furniture, accessories, ceramics, glass, lighting, jewellery and textiles direct from the maker.

There is something for all the family, from individual designer-maker stalls filling three marquees to the Hidden Art Curated exhibition inside Godolphin House, a work-in-progress showcase of the Arts Council funded project, Making it Digital, design-led games for children, a raffle of stunning clocks designed by members and friends of Hidden Art Cornwall and a charity chair auction.Sixty old swivel chairs have been given an unusual face lift and will be auctioned in aid of the Precious Lives Appeal.

Participating designer-maker, Cindy Ashbridge, is a jeweller from Par, Cornwall. Her designs reflect patterns of natural forms, pierced and etched into silver and gold.

She says: “The Design Fair exceeded my expectations, I was overwhelmed with fantastic comments and made lots of contacts and new customers. I felt people would definitely remember me and my work and return next year.”

Hidden Art Curated is an exciting exhibition presenting contemporary design in an unusual context and this year six guest curators have been invited to select work by Hidden Art designer-makers to re-furnish Godolphin House. Open for the first time to members of both Hidden Art Cornwall and Hidden Art London, Hidden Art Curated will again transform the historic rooms of this ancient manor house.

Godolphin House is one of Cornwall’s oldest homes, a National Trust owned, grade one listed mansion of c.1475, surrounded by rare and ancient gardens.