The Museum of Island History at Newport’s Guildhall has a wonderful new addition to their already fascinating displays.
Pop along on Tuesdays or Thursdays between 10am and 1pm and you’ll be able to see a new exhibition dedicated to the progression of Philip Crewe’s Nipper Knife.
News OnTheWight first became aware of Philip’s work at the Yarmouth Vintage Boot Sale three years ago and have been avidly following his work every since.
Prolific output of aesthetically pleasing products
The Island-born designer and maker (aka espergaerde on Instagram), who tutors at Goldsmiths University, has a prolific output of interesting and aesthetically pleasing products.
Several have made the perfect birthday or Christmas presents in this household, including one of the early versions of the Nipper Knife.
Click on images to see larger versions
Inspiration found at the museum
The exhibition is the brainchild of Corina Westwood, the Curator of Human History at Isle of Wight council’s Heritage Service.
When Philip had the idea to design and create the Nipper Knife, he paid a visit to the Museum of Island History trying to find some inspiration. That’s where he came across their exhibit of a Bronze Age knife.
That was five years ago and as you can see from the photos, the Nipper Knife (read more about the background) has been through several incarnations since.
A “journey of speculative evolution”
Philip says,
“To see them all together feels like completion. Five years ago I was looking around the museum trying to find inspiration when I bumped into the knife. I took its shape, provenance and function on a journey of speculative evolution, imagining it evolving to a sort of Swiss army knife for the Isle.”
He went on to add,
“In the years since, I have made countless Nippers, if you own one then thank you, your support has allowed me to explore metallurgy and grow my practice in ways I never thought possible.”
Tribute to Curator
Philip finished by paying tribute to Corina Westwood,
“Most of all thanks to the wonderful Corina Westwood, Curator for Human History on the Isle for making this project so much more than it would otherwise be.”
Other exhibitions
As Philip points out in his most recent Instagram post, the Museum of Island History also has a temporary display of the history of Newport which includes photographs of the Dabells department store, where he and his Mother used to go for coffee and iced buns when he was six-years-old.
No doubt this would stir similar memories for many of our readers.
Where and when
The Museum of Island History is open Tuesdays and Thursday between 10am and 1pm and can be found at Guildhall, on the junction of High Street and Quay Street, Newport PO30 1TY.
See Philip Crewe’s Website for more information about his products (and background info on the Nipper Knife) and follow him on Instagram to stay up to date with the latest news.
Images: © Philip Crewe
