Mews Antiques has dated this piece to the 1930s.
Reynolds of Ludlow was set up by Arthur Basil Reynolds in Ludlow between 1946 and 1980. The original name of this company being Reynolds Woodware Limited, this was changed to Reynolds of Ludlow in the early 1950s for marketing reasons, although the original name remained the official Limited name.
ARTHUR BASIL REYNOLDS
Arthur Reynolds was born in 1903 and raised as a Quaker. His cabinet making apprenticeship was served with Northover & Gilbert in Bridport Dorset. Following this he became a woodwork teacher for a year and then went on to work for Stanley Davis in Windmere who was a pupil of Ernest Gimson. With the depression in the 1920’s and 1930’s South Wales suffered greatly with the high unemployment in the coal fields, one particular area badly affected was Brynmawr. As relief, the Quakers or Society of Friends grouped together and started what was known as the Brynmawr Experiment to try to create employment and provide charity based welfare support. With this effort, a number of Quakers moved into the area to help with many companies being set up employing the local community. Arthur Reynolds went to work at the Paul Matt Furniture Company in South Wales in 1929, as assistant to Paul Matt the designer and manager who left in 1936. Whilst he did not receive any tuition as designer during this period, he was exposed to Paul Matt’s design ability for seven years as his assistant. He then ran this company as designer and manager until voluntary liquidation was declared due to the outbreak of World War II. He then joined the armed services during World War II being was assigned to the support unit for the eighth army battle group; he became a Major, received the M.B.E. for his services and was stationed in Italy for some of this time. Following the end of World War II Arthur Reynolds decided that he wanted to set up his own furniture making business. He travelled around the Midlands attempting to find a suitable location for his company in this area. There have been two given reasons by Garth Reynolds for the area choice, firstly his relation in Birmingham, Joseph Sykes who ran timber yards, secondly the central location for distribution to the country, which prompted Reynolds move from Dorset. Whenever any restrictions upon the control of timber were loosened, Joseph Sykes, Arthur Reynolds cousin would ring him straight away to inform him so he could obtain as much timber as legally possible. Initially he made furniture in Bromsgrove and Halesowen but finally found what he was looking for in Ludlow and set his business there. At the height of Reynolds of Ludlow’s production during the late 1950s and early 1960s, they employed 18 people in the company.
Arthur Reynolds exhibited in 1951 at the Festival of Britain Exhibition in the House and Garden Pavilion. His market aim was the middle to upper classes due to the cost of the furniture being produced. The firm also supplied some prestigious retailers like Heals, Dunns and won prestigious contracts e.g. GEC boardroom, Leicester University Hall and chairs for Southall Minster, all having the same market aim as their furniture. As the major driving force behind the firm, it was a major loss when Arthur Reynolds died suddenly after a short illness in 1960.
GARTH REYNOLDS
Garth Reynolds was born in 1933 and ran Reynolds of Ludlow from 1960 until it closed in 1980. He was apprenticed to his father in 1948 and learnt his cabinet making trade at Reynolds of Ludlow. Unlike his father, Garth Reynolds was not exposed to any design experience or formal training as a designer. Following his apprenticeshi
Mews Antiques has dated this piece to the 1930s.
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Rare Arthur Basil Reynolds Cotswold School Walnut Bureau
