Craft Exhibition – Chichester Observer – Wednesday, 24 August 1927

WONDERFUL WOMEN! EXHIBITION OF HANDICRAFTS AT SELSEY. Women have a natural aptitude for crafts that require the use of nimble fingers and discriminating taste, while the instincts of the whole sex are artistic, mere man having to concede to them much in this respect. To create beauty is one of their principal objects in life, and we therefore take it as a thing granted. Nevertheless, many people received an eyeopener when they paid a visit to the handicrafts exhibition held in the Pavilion, Selsey, throughout last week. This exhibition had been arranged by Miss M. Sterling O’Reilly, of Selsey, with the main object of revealing to the public what women could do, while at the same time practically the whole of the articles shown were purchasable. Stalls and portions thereof were devoted to the work of exhibitors from all over the South of England, and in every way the display was a miniature replica and could have borne comparison with any other in the country. Variety, Beauty, Cheapness. One could not help but be amazed at the variety, beauty, and—an important factor —the wonderful cheapness of everything that made up the exhibition, and it is certain that even if one did not wish buy—although it would have been difficult to refrain —one could have spent considerable time in tour of inspection. There was leather-work, tooled and coloured, raffia-work, basketry, painted embroidery, confectionery and a hundred and one other things that cannot be mentioned, all of a quality and finish that could only result from the efforts of experts. The most popular stall of all was that held by the Friend's Council for International Service. Here was a fascinating array of linen—hand woven- and hand embroidered— it had been made by the Polish peasants. This industry is a post-war one, brought into being by the necessity of the poor refugees from Poland on return to their devastated country. The designs on the linen were truly beautiful, and our representative was informed that these are traditional and often family possession, being handed down from mother to daughter. Another exhibit that was unusually attractive was that consisting of delicately enamelled glass-ware, toilet sets, ashtrays, powder-bowls and so were all decorated with the loveliest colouring, and an advantage of this was that the glass could be washed In as hot water as it could stand and yet the colour would not he effected. Historic Objects. Old and interesting objects were also on view, and one, believed to be worth a great deal, and in - any case the most valuable exhibit in the room—was an ancient Eastern cabinet, carved in ivory by a master hand. There was fine Spanish brazier table, and on it a number of quaintly-worded samplers, one of which was dated 1747, while there was another believed to be have been executed at an even earlier period. Among the local exhibitors were such well-known people as Miss Lane (Selsey), Miss C. Belham (Chichester).,Mrs. Wyatt (Selsey), Miss Wells (Chichester), Miss A. Bridgeman (Felpham), and Messrs. Charge and Co. (Chichester). Miss Winifred Bishop, the Sussex artist, showed several of her water-colours, and copies of old fashioned wrought-iron work were sent by Messrs. T. H. Hilton and Son (Chichester). Gramophone music was supplied by Messrs. Austin Storry Ltd. (Chichester), who had large display of musical instruments.