Pitt Rivers Museum inspires Rycotewood Furniture Centre and Langtree School students

The Pitt Rivers Museum  has inspired a new exhibition by emerging furniture design talent. From 29 January to 15 March you can enjoy the new case display of work on the Lower Gallery by second-year Foundation Degree students at Rycotewood Furniture Centre  at City of Oxford College.



  Foundation degree students from Rycotewood Furniture Centre © Pitt Rivers Museum

The rather intriguing title of the exhibit is 'Containing…', a theme that encourages us to consider not just the everyday importantce of useful containers, for food or possessions, but also the containment of more transient commodities such as light, or emotions. The students’ work is inspired by artefacts or functional ‘types’ of objects that caught their imagination when visiting the galleries.  The students have used a range of materials in their work, including concrete, metal, leather  and reclaimed timber, which requires the development of a variety of new processes and skills.

'Containing...' display in the lower gallery © Pitt Rivers Museum

This exhibition is the third in a series of displays showcasing the work of Rycotewood students at the Pitt Rivers Museum. Rycotewood is a renowned Furniture Centre, located at the City of Oxford College, which teaches the principles and practice of handcrafted furniture making.  Its emphasis on design, innovation and the mastery of practical skills and understanding of materials make it a perfect partner for the Need Make Use project here at the Pitt Rivers Museum. Need Make Use is a Heritage Lottery Funded project which, through a series of collections-based public events, workshops and displays, encourages visitors to appreciate the ways in which human creativity and ingenuity has driven developments in design, craftsmanship and technologies.   

A second display, in a nearby case, shows work produced by Year 10 Product Design students from Langtree School in Woodcote, Berkshire. Led by jewellery designer-maker Kate Coker, students were taught repousse and chasing metalwork techniques in their D&T classroom at school, using their facilities. They created copper amulets inspired by the votive offerings and amulets on display.

Heating copper at Langtree School © PRM

Learning repousse metalwork techniques 

 Amazing Amulets display © Pitt Rivers Museum

 Copper Amulet by Robyn Sedwell © PRM

You can visit their delightful display from 15 January until 8 March on the Lower Gallery of the Pitt Rivers Museum.