Worshipful Company of Turners

[1] The medieval Company was a trade guild, set up to protect the interests of its members, whose skill was to turn and shape wooden objects on a lathe.

They laid down standards for their products; they had a strict system of apprenticeship; they restricted competition from outsiders; and they collected for charity and funeral expenses.

Yet at a time when many everyday necessities, like chairs, cups and plates, were turned products, successful London turners could make a good living by the standards of the day.

Its main objective remains to promote the craft of turning, which, in the 21st century, encompasses a broad spectrum of styles from the traditional and practical to the intricate and ornate right through to large statement pieces and avant garde works of art.

The Company promotes the craft of turning by running a major exhibition, known as "Wizardry in Wood", every four years.