News | Chippendale School

How our woodworking school came to be

An interview with Anselm Fraser, Chippendale School Founder

The Chippendale School was established in 1985. Taking us back in time before the woodworking school was born, can you tell us where your furniture making journey began?

AF: From a very young age, I was obsessed with working with my hands. I was not, and still am not, an academic person so school was not easy, particularly as I am heavily dyslexic. I recall many an afternoon hiding in the woodshop at school, whilst my classmates were on the sports fields.

As a young man, I was lucky enough to learn the craft of antique furniture restoration at a small school that is no longer running. Whilst on this course I decided that I would like to open a school of my own, so we moved to Scotland and the next year, the Anselm Fraser School of Antique Furniture Restoration was born, later to be renamed The Chippendale International School of Furniture.

Looking back on our 35th Graduate Exhibition

Despite a turbulent year, the Chippendale International School of Furniture’s class of 2020 put on a stellar display of their work at our Graduate Exhibition & Sale in October.

Our yearly show is the opportunity for graduating students of our furniture school in Scotland to show the fruits of their labour following nine intensive months on the Professional Course. This year’s show was especially significant, highlighting both our 35^th year and the resilience of our students in the face of Covid-19 challenges.

Show goes on for class of 2020

We are hosting our annual Graduate Exhibition & Sale this October in its 35^th anniversary year.

Despite the upheaval caused by Covid-19, our Graduate Exhibition & Sale will be open daily from Wednesday 14^th to Saturday 17^th October, showcasing the fine furniture work crafted by students on the Professional Course over the last nine months. The course provides students with all the necessary skills to set up and run their own furniture business, covering everything from design techniques to marketing strategies.

Students this year include a former commodities trader who left behind a seven-figure salary to pursue furniture making and a GP with more than 25 years’ experience in health care.

Why less is more – how our spending habits are driving the trend for bespoke furniture

With the rise of campaigns like Oxfam’s Second Hand September and the popularity of Marie Kondo’s decluttering methods, more and more of us are buying less than ever before.

A 2019 study found that people who consumed less, which involves repairing instead of replacing and avoiding impulse purchases, are happier than those who engage in other ‘green’ behaviours.

Our living spaces, like our budgets, are also not getting much bigger, prompting consumers to think hard about the durability and quality of the furniture they are buying.

How Chippendale School is ensuring that traditional woodworking skills are preserved

Woodworking is an ancient craft, and at the Chippendale School we are proud to champion its immense value and promote the importance of preserving traditional techniques.

It’s vital that we look after the heritage of this wonderful craft in order to see it thrive over the next century. If we don’t teach the next generation these techniques and the history behind them, then the skill gap may be irreversibly affected.

Keep reading to find out how we preserve these age-old techniques on our courses, while at the same time combining them with modern methods to get the best of both worlds.

A current student’s story: James Bullen

At the Chippendale School, we welcome students from hugely diverse backgrounds to study the art of furniture making with us. Often, students have discovered a passion for woodworking that emerged later in life and are now acting on their enthusiasm to craft a fulfilling creative career.

These career changers have often realised their former role wasn’t quite as fulfilling as it once was – and this is exactly what happened with current student James Bullen.

James, a former commodities trader, left his role of 20 years as he felt that something was missing. He found it in woodworking – keep reading to find out all about James’ story and his experience of studying with us.