The Worshipful Company of
Turners
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Since
around 800 BC, countless craftsmen worldwide have turned objects on their
lathes. In the City of London, turners united to protect themselves and
their craft: a guild of Turners existed in 1295. Turners made simple, plain,
everyday objects such as platters, goblets, furniture legs, hat blocks and
newel posts.
The craft developed beyond the utilitarian, with turners making chess sets, musical instruments, miniatures and highly ornamented, expensive gifts. They have turned mostly wood and metals, but also soapstone, ivory, stone, jet, plastic and glass..
King James I granted a royal charter in 1604 - the first official year of the Worshipful Company of Turners of London.
Over four hundred years later the Company still supports its ancient craft: it donates lathes to schools and colleges, runs competitions for professional and amateur turners, with cash prizes and medals, awards bursaries to enable promising turners to develop.
It also supports the Register of Professional Turners whose members offer the finest craftsmanship to the fast-growing number of people who appreciate the beauty and wizardry of fine turning.
3More about the Turners' Company