On Friday 9th March, Fred Baier – avant garde British furniture designer, craftsman and current artist-in-residence for the House of Lords -  opened the award winning contemporary furniture exhibition ‘Polished Thoughts: From Concept to Craft’, at the world-renowned Gordon Russell Design Museum in Broadway.

Established in 2009 and being held at the Gordon Russell Design Museum for the first time this year, winning designs of the annual Gordon Russell/ Rycotewood prize are on display within the original grade II Listed workshop for all visitors to enjoy, from the 10th March to the 30th June.

Sponsored by the Hands of Wycombe, the Gordon Russell/ Rycotewood Prize recognises the very best of Britain’s up-and-coming contemporary furniture designers and celebrates the legacy of the renowned 20th century furniture designer Sir Gordon Russell MC (1892-1980).

As well as presenting the winners’ finished pieces, this exhibition features each artist’s original concept, design and working drawing, alongside a contemporary glass and textile design display. Richard Paice, Chairman of the Trustees of the Gordon Russell Design Museum said: ‘The combination of clear design thinking and exceptional craftsmanship would have appealed to Gordon Russell‘s vision of the fusion of hand and machine.  These pieces on show are exemplars of quality design and knowledge of materials’.

Aviator Desk by Ben Croft, Rycotewood Furniture Centre, 2011