Objectivity; the art of useful things, Collection by David Usborne

Saturday 16 Feb 2013 - Sunday 1 Sep 2013
11.00am - 4.00pm

In the Servants' Hall, Below Stairs

David Usborne’s extraordinary collection of useful tools will be on display in the Servants' Hall at Harewood throughout our 2013 season. As the room in the House where practical work was done, the Servants' Hall is a very fitting space for the show.

The collection, whose function is often difficult to guess, celebrates the beauty of simple, useful things.

Over 100 useful tools are organised into 8 functional groups, they weren't originally collected with this in mind, but rather because of their interest and shape.

Although designed to be functional, the objects have become ‘accidental masterpieces’ with all the allusive qualities of sculpture.

They are all humble objects, all useful tools of one kind or another, but as a collection, they are a fascinating exploration of function, form and utility.

'A Designer's Book of Curious Tools' (Thames and Hudson 2010) will be available to purchase in the House, or visit the Objectivity website for a preview.

Read more about Art at Harewood on our arts page. 

The exhibition space has been decorated with the kind support of Farrow & Ball, as part of our on-going partnership in the House here at Harewood.

The colour used is: All White 2005

Thanks to this partnership several other rooms in the House (including the China Room and Princess Mary Garden Room) have also been redecorated in traditional Farrow & Ball wallpaper and paints.

Find out more about Farrow & Ball on their website.