In vogue: Margaret Howell hosts Ken Stradling's modernist designs

Clothes on racks and wooden table with bowl and vase sculptures

Margaret Howell presents a selection of 50 pieces from the Ken Stradling Collection at her Wigmore Street store

(Image credit: press)

In her fashion, designer Margaret Howell is on a constant quest for functional simplicity, quality of craftsmanship and exquisite attention to detail. It is not surprising then that she finds her furniture equivalent in the timeless, modernist designs of the 20th century, and in British brands such as Anglepoise and Ercol, which she sells in her London shop alongside her clothing lines,

This month, the designer expands on this furniture passion, hosting an exhibition that celebrates modern design through the collection of Ken Stradling, patron of contemporary design and collector, who championed arts and design in Britain since joining the Bristol Guild of Applied Arts in 1948.

Fifty pieces from the Ken Stradling Collection will be on display at Howell's Wigmore Street store, complementing the designer's aesthetics while offering an overview of mid-century design in the country. The pieces on display will include glass and ceramics pieces as well as furniture, with an extraordinary group of designs by Bauhaus master Marcel Breuer, created for the home of Bristol furniture manufacturer Crofton Gane in the 1930s.

'The Ken Stradling Collection is as extraordinary as the man himself,' says Howell, who personally hand-picked the selection on display. 'A collector with an open mind and personal eye, his collection is open to all of us to see and even to handle – aware that feeling shape and texture are essential to fully enjoying the aesthetic of a piece of skilfully blown glass or hand thrown ceramic.'

Other items from the collection, now on display at Howell's space, include glass by Erik Hoglund and Per Lutken and pottery by James Tower, David Leach and Betty Blandino. Other pieces of furniture were chosen to show the incredible breadth and quality of Stradling's collection, which includes everyday objects such as Robert Welch hand-milled steel tea set from 1962 and dressing table mirrors designed by Colin Beales and Peter Cudden in 1960.

'For our exhibition the selection of pieces reflects my own aesthetic, choosing objects to compliment both the new and vintage products we source to sell in our shops. But for those who visit Bristol you will see much more,' explains Howell. 'The collection is unusually varied, eclectic and personal – often Ken’s sense of humour and whimsy creeps in.'

Wooden desk with chair and greencushion pad — The British designs complement the designer's aesthetics while offering an overview of mid-century design in the country

Black and white photo of side table and dining table, chairs — The pieces on display will include glass and ceramics pieces as well as furniture, with an extraordinary group of designs by Bauhaus master Marcel Breuer, created for the home of Bristol furniture manufacturer Crofton Gane in the 1930s

Metal tea pots and kitchenware — The exhibition includes everyday objects such as tRobert Welch hand-milled steel tea set from 1962

Small wooden desk with two chairs photographed in black and white — An archive image of the Marcel Breuer chair designed for Crofton Gane in 1935

Wooden chair with arms and seat padding — The chair is part of the collection of Ken Stradling, patron of contemporary design and collector, who championed arts and design in Britain since joining the Bristol Guild of Applied Arts in 1948

Original drawings on paper — Original drawings from Marcel Breuer's 1935 collaboration with Crofton Gane

Wooden chair and mirror on metal stand — Items on display include a 1960 Colin Beales table mirror, left, and a chair by Bereuer from 1935

Rosa Bertoli was born in Udine, Italy, and now lives in London. Since 2014, she has been the Design Editor of Wallpaper*, where she oversees design content for the print and online editions, as well as special editorial projects. Through her role at Wallpaper*, she has written extensively about all areas of design. Rosa has been speaker and moderator for various design talks and conferences including London Craft Week, Maison & Objet, The Italian Cultural Institute (London), Clippings, Zaha Hadid Design, Kartell and Frieze Art Fair. Rosa has been on judging panels for the Chart Architecture Award, the Dutch Design Awards and the DesignGuild Marks. She has written for numerous English and Italian language publications, and worked as a content and communication consultant for fashion and design brands.