Where we come from

The Trust was created in memory of Crofton Gane, the pioneering furniture designer (1877 - 1967), at Bristol in 1954.

The History of Gane & Co

In 1868 Philip Gane (1848-1933) became an office boy at the established furniture firm of Caleb Trapnell, Trapnell & Co. who had exhibited at the Great Exhibition of 1851  (see left).  Gane was made a partner in 1880 at the age of 32, his son Crofton joined the firm in 1896 and in 1909 it became a limited company.  On returning from the First World War in 1919 after service in the Friends' Ambulance Unit, Crofton formed the  local branch of the Design Industries Association, which in turn had been created by a group of idealists in 1915.  He saw at once the importance of good design - and the firm prospered.

Crofton Gane

Under Crofton Gane's leadership a traditional furniture firm became a remarkable (and rare) champion of modern design in Britain.  Gane worked with the Bauhaus designer, Marcel Breuer, a refugee from Nazi Germany and firms like the avant garde London-based firm of Isokon, directed by Jack Pritchard.  In an era where only Heal's in London and Dunn's of Bromley stocked modern furniture in significant quantity, Gane's of Bristol stood out as a pioneer of modern design.  Crofton was a remarkable character - he had enormous drive and enthusiasm, and created a unique organisation in his Bristol firm, a place where modern design represented more than a style:  it created a new way of living adapted to the modern world. 

Crofton was also unusual in recognising the importance of human relations in the company, and a bonus scheme was introduced in 1935 which included share allotments.  However, the firm suffered great loss during the Second World War when its warehouse burnt down, and it closed in 1954, in part also owing to great changes in the furniture trade.

The Future

We look forward to continuing and developing Crofton's work - especially through this medium, which he would thoroughly have enjoyed.

 

Picture:  Sideboard by Trapnell & Co. exhibited at the Great Exhibition of 1851.