William Simmonds: The Silent Heart of the Arts and Crafts Movement

by Jessica Douglas-Home

The Silent Heart of the Arts and Crafts Movement pulls back the curtain on the work of William Simmonds, an expert woodcarver, puppet maker, and one of the forgotten masters of the Arts and Crafts Movement. Simmonds worked in tandem with his wife, Eve, to construct puppets, eventually gaining notice as one of the leading practitioners of the form in Europe. Far less known, however, are his exquisite sculptures in pine, oak, and ebony, which he used to depict the animals and farm scenes of his beloved Cotswolds. Simmonds rubbed elbows with John Singer Sargent, E.H. Shepard, D.H. Lawrence, and the Barnsley brothers, and Jessica Douglas-Home’s new book aims to establish his rightful position among the artistic luminaries of his time.
This story of an underappreciated master of the Arts and Crafts Movement—a movement which arose in response to an industrializing world—should have special resonance in light of the contemporary surge of interest in handmade goods and the rise of “maker culture” in our digital age.

350 pages, Hardcover

Published March 15, 2019

Reviews

[Lucienne Boyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you ever asked yourself what you'd do if you had 5 other imaginary lives? One of my answers is "be a puppeteer". I've always loved the work of William Simmonds, whose puppets were beautifully dressed by his wife Eve, and if I could travel back in time I'd go to one of his puppet performances. So I was really looking forward to reading this biography - and it didn't disappoint! It's really well written and I liked the author's clear, elegant style very much. I liked too the inclusion of a few personal memories and contacts with the Simmonds, and Jessica Douglas-Home's sensitivity to the art and the artistic process. A lovely read about a fascinating artist.