Antiques of the Future

Close up of wood inlay artwork - A new crest for Northumberland

Antiques of the Future

Preserving Heritage through Bespoke Design

What is the cost of our consumption?

As a society, we are starting to become aware of the cost of our consumption. Whether it’s the disposable cheap imported goods that we rush to buy. Or the anxiety over how many plastic products we throw away. As consumers, we are becoming more aware of the impact of our purchases. And if we can buy products that are good for people and the planet, and support companies that are good to their employees, then this relieves some of the burden of responsibility from our shoulders.

But do we know the value of things? There is a history of creative craftsmen and women whose work is internationally recognised. The work that they do has generational value and can serve as a legacy of their skill and the design and technology of their time. The items created by these highly-skilled people are often passed down through families, and with each generation increase in value. Auction houses and experts value their work in a way that makes us gasp every time we watch Antiques Roadshow. How often have you seen owners of beautifully crafted antiques almost faint once they have received their valuation and calculated the responsibility of travelling home with their precious artefact?

The alternative is the antique lottery, involving a random charity shop purchase. Don’t you love the charity shop purchase that turns out to be worth thousands? Like a lottery of taste, the owner wins the ultimate prize.

As creative practitioners our skills are regularly undervalued, looked over, misunderstood and dismissed by people who don’t consider what we do a “proper job”. And recently while talking to one of the amazingly talented people we have had the pleasure of collaborating with I discovered that there was and still is a very dark pattern of exploitative patronage. What do I mean by this? This is where patrons commission master craftspeople to create beautiful things for them and don’t pay them! This is a system where wealthy clients wrack up credit with master craftspeople and owe them thousands of £s. This is not a new thing Chippendale died penniless with multiple clients owing him money for the work he had done. It was seen as a badge of honour to have huge amounts of credit with multiple suppliers.

How messed up is that? Would you ever walk into your local supermarket and tell them you would be paying for your weekly shop in instalments or perhaps not at all?

About the Project

Antiques of the Future is a luxury design service dedicated to creating bespoke products that encapsulate personal and family stories through unique crest designs. Our mission is to blend the richness of tradition with the innovation of modern craftsmanship, providing clients with heirlooms that are as meaningful as they are beautiful.

An example of our service is our bespoke crest designs. We work closely with clients to understand their heritage, values, and stories, which are then meticulously translated into a unique crest. This personalized symbol becomes the foundation of our design process, ensuring that each product we create is deeply personal and reflective of the client's identity.

The next stage involves selecting and crafting exquisite products that feature the bespoke crest. Our offerings range from luxury home decor and personal accessories to corporate gifts and awards. Each item is crafted with the utmost care, combining digital design techniques with traditional handmade skills. This approach ensures that our products maintain the highest standards of quality and artistry, serving as a testament to the enduring value of the human touch in an increasingly digital world.

Our founder, Corinne, brings over 12 years of experience in product design, specializing in bespoke corporate gifts and awards. Her extensive skills and exclusive supply chain enable us to offer an unparalleled level of service and craftsmanship. Corinne's vision is to create products that not only meet the functional needs of our clients but also serve as cherished symbols of their stories and legacies.

Beyond our commitment to excellence in design and craftsmanship, Antiques of the Future is dedicated to making a positive social impact. We aim to empower the next generation of neurodiverse creatives by providing them with valuable work experience, confidence-building opportunities, and the skills necessary to pursue careers in the creative sector. Through our social impact initiatives, we hope to foster a more inclusive and diverse creative industry.

Antiques of the Future is more than a design service; it is a celebration of heritage, a commitment to quality, and a catalyst for positive social change.

Our clients have a sense of classic style and a passion for the patronage of art, design and new technologies. Our clients also have a passion for supporting the next generation of designers through this project.

Our Founder and Director Corinne Lewis-Ward is a neurodiverse creative and her son was diagnosed with Autism in 2023. Corinne has her own lived experience of employment inequality and she is acutely aware that her son may face a similar experience. Therefore Corinne has a personal interest in creating a better future for the next generation of neurodiverse creatives like her son. Through this project, we aim to empower the next generation of neurodiverse creatives by providing work experience, confidence-building opportunities, and essential skills to launch careers in the creative sector.

The fusion of the delivery of a bespoke design service that has meaning and purpose is something that we are passionate about at Creative Heritage Studios CiC and we have begun this process through two grants from Creative UK North East and the Rural Design Centre Innovation Project. These grants have facilitated the design and production of our first sample collection. This collection reimagines a crest for Northumberland from an outsider’s perspective. An article on the crest designs and the products that have been created to date will follow soon.

You can find out more about our products and services here.