Supporting Bristol's design heritage

The exhibition explores the remarkable collaboration between Bristol furniture visionary Crofton Gane and Marcel Breuer, a leading figure of the Bauhaus movement. In the 1930s, their partnership transformed Bristol into a testing ground for modernist design ideas that would influence generations of architects and designers worldwide.

For Clevedon Salerooms, the sponsorship reflects both a longstanding relationship with The Stradling Collection and a commitment to supporting Bristol's cultural scene. Valuer and BBC Antiques Roadshow Expert, Chris Yeo, was previously curator of the collection and a friend of the late Ken Stradling, who preserved many of the pieces that make this exhibition possible.

Chris Yeo says: "Despite its short lifespan, the impact of Bauhaus was nothing short of revolutionary, and this was a fact fully recognised by Crofton Gane. Gane was a visionary champion of the Modern Movement during the 1930s, and the story of his friendship with Marcel Breuer, one of the Bauhaus's most gifted members, is told here. This exhibition tells a genuinely fascinating story about Bristol's role in design history, and we're proud to help bring it to a wider audience."

The exhibition will feature furniture designed by Breuer during his time working with Gane, including pieces from Breuer's transformation of Gane's Clifton home into what was essentially a lived-in showroom for modernist design. Also on display will be a model of the 1936 Agricultural Exhibition Pavilion, a striking modernist structure that Breuer designed for Gane's trade stand at the Royal Agricultural Show held at Ashton Court.

Core displays will include furniture, ceramics, and glass from the period, with additional loans being negotiated from private collections and institutions, including Isokon in London.

As part of the sponsorship, Clevedon Salerooms will host a private viewing event at the collection in March, bringing together clients and friends to explore this important chapter in Bristol's design history.

The exhibition runs from 17 January to 17 May 2026 at The Stradling Collection, 48 Park Row, Bristol. Opening hours are Wednesday and Friday 13:00-16:00, Saturday and Sunday 11:00-16:00. For more information, visit stradlingcollection.org.