Pair Burr Yew Bedside Chests Designed By Ray Leigh For Gordon Russell 1988

Pair of burr yew and yew bedside chests with recessed brass handles, designed by Ray Leigh for Gordon Russell Ltd. December 1988.

These chests were made for Ray Leigh by craftsman M Hubbard. They come with Leigh's personal drawing plans for the chests which are under a drawer base and each has the hand signed Gordon Russell makers labels.

Superbly crafted as you can imagine, with solid yew wood exposed finger joint construction to the cabinet work, a select choice of book match veneers which compliments each cabinet.

Overall in very good clean original condition, there have been well looked after. There are some light surface marks and minor nibbles in places commensurate with age. The brass handles are of good design and have a rich patina to them. One of the chests is of a very slightly different shade to the other.

The drawers sides and backs are made in solid oak with finger joint construction to the sides of the drawers. There all work well and are very clean to the insides. The chests sit on nylon feet protectors.

Provenance: From the estate of Ray Leigh.

Ray Leigh (1928 – 2025) was a British architect and designer and chairman of the Gordon Russell Trust - formed to protect the company’s unique collection of furniture and archival material - and under his leadership the Gordon Russell Design Museum, which opened in Broadway in 2008.

In his earlier years Ray graduated from the Architectural Association and, as a young architect, joined the practice of Professor Richard (Dick) Russell and Robert Goodden.

Ray Leigh was one of the group of designers involved with the 1951 Festival of Britain, collaborating with luminaries such as John Piper, James Stirling and Terence Conran. He joined Gordon Russell later that year as senior designer, ultimately becoming managing director and chairman.

A key figure linking the British Arts and Crafts Movement to Post-war modernist design.

He continued his partnership with Dick Russell on significant projects such as the interior design of the SS Oriana and the Greek Galleries at the British Museum.