Your Gordon Russell Furniture
The Gordon Russell Design Museum preserves the history of Gordon Russell Limited, including thousands of design drawings, photographs, and other materials dating back to the 1920s. We are digitising this archive, and while it is currently only available to the museum team, we aim to make it accessible to the public in the future.
For general restoration or sales inquiries, we kindly ask that you consult external professionals, as we are unable to respond to these requests. However, as part of our commitment to preserving Gordon Russell’s heritage, we offer a service to certify the authenticity of pieces. Our expert team, including former master craftsmen, can verify items using original designs. We rely on donations to support this manual volunteer-run service. Please email the following link with photographs and details of your piece:
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Your Gordon Russell Furniture FAQ 1/4
Q: Do you offer a service authenticate Gordon Russell furniture?
A: Yes. Our team can access original designs to verify provenance. Each individual search relies on donations to support this manual process, which is carried out by volunteers. Please email [email protected] with photographs and details about your piece.
Q: Can the museum restore my Gordon Russell furniture?
A: No. The museum’s mission is to preserve the history of Gordon Russell Ltd, not to provide restoration services. For any restoration or repair work, we strongly recommend contacting a professional conservator or restorer.
Q: Can you advise me on how to restore or repair my Gordon Russell piece?
A: No. While we understand your desire to maintain your Gordon Russell furniture, we are unable to provide restoration advice. We encourage you to consult with a qualified professional who can evaluate your piece in person.
Q: Do you know of any reputable furniture restorers?
A: Organisations such as the British Antique Furniture Restorers’ Association (BAFRA) can help connect you with skilled professionals through its directory of trusted specialists.
Your Gordon Russell Furniture FAQ 2/4
Q: Can you recommend where I can sell my Gordon Russell furniture?
A: If you’re looking to sell your Gordon Russell furniture, here are some reputable auction houses to consider: Lyon & Turnbull (London & Edinburgh),Sworders (Stansted), Mallams (Cheltenham) and Woolley and Wallis (Salisbury)
Q: Which dealers specialise in Gordon Russell furniture, metalwork or glassware?
A: You may want to consider: H. Blairman & Sons, London, John Beer, Painswick, David Pickup Antiques, Cheltenham and Holly Johnson Antiques, Knutsford.
Q: My furniture has a metal label on it – can you tell me more?
A: Metal labels can help identify the period in which it was made:
- Russell and Sons, Broadway, Worcs (from 1923)
- The Russell Workshops Ltd, Broadway, Worcestershire (from 1926)
- Gordon Russell Ltd, Broadway, Worcs (with Gordon Russell’s signature, from 1928)
Earlier pieces may feature handwritten labels, and by 1927, printed labels titled The Russell Workshops were in use.
Your Gordon Russell Furniture FAQ 3/4
Q: Can we donate Gordon Russell furniture to the museum?
A: We are grateful for your generosity in considering a donation. However, as a small museum with limited storage, we cannot accept every item. Please send a photograph of the piece. It is rare or particularly significant, it may fit within our collection.
Q: Can you tell help me identify what fabric was used on this chair?
A: From the 1960s onwards, much of our furniture was upholstered in high-quality wool from Tibor Reich. Prior to that, various fabric suppliers were used, often tailored to customer specifications.
Q: Can you identify this wood?
A: No. We don’t provide a timber identification service. Try consulting a local professional or furniture expert who can help identify the wood based on the piece’s characteristics.
Q: Can you explain AM, WD, MOW, CC41 and CC42 stamps?
A: These stamps typically indicate that the furniture was produced for governmental departments:
- AM – Air Ministry
- WD – War Department
- MOW – Ministry of Works
The CC41 and CC42 stamps signify utility furniture, produced under government regulation during and after the Second World War.
Your Gordon Russell Furniture FAQ 4/4
Q: What polish was used on my furniture?
A: The polish used on Gordon Russell furniture varied by period:
- 1920–1930: Primarily wax, though not always
- 1930–1940: Some early synthetic lacquers
- 1940–1950: Nitrocellulose lacquer became more common
- 1960–1986: Acid-catalyst lacquer
- 1986–2000: Waterborne lacquers
We recommend contacting a local restorer for specific guidance.
Q: Can I buy Gordon Russell furniture from the museum?
A: While the museum does not sell Gordon Russell furniture, we do occasionally sell smaller pieces made by students. These pay homage to the original designs or reflect the spirit of Gordon Russell’s craftsmanship and design principles.
Thank you for your understanding. As a small museum with limited resources, we ask that all enquiries related to restoration or sales be directed to qualified professionals. For certification services, we appreciate your donation, which helps support our efforts to preserve Gordon Russell’s legacy.
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