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He was perhaps the only man in the retail trade of that time who had any real interest in and knowledge of design and, like most pioneers, he was sniped at from all quarters. By many craftsman he was distrusted because he was in charge of an efficient business. By most businessman he was regarded as
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Heal was married twice. On 26 February 1895, he married Alice Rose
Rippingille and they moved to Pinner, Middlesex. In 1896, their son Cecil was born. After Alice's death from cancer in 1901, Heal remarried on 20 August 1904 to Edith Florence Digby Todhunter (d. 1946). He also had affairs in the
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In 1913, on the death of his father, he was elected chairman of Heals, using this position to champion artistic design within furniture manufacture and marketing. In 1933, he was knighted for raising standards of design, and in 1939 was elected to the
Faculty of Royal Designers for Industry. The
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factory, but in the mid-1890s he began designing simple, sturdy furniture, often in plain oak (in contrast to Heals' standard "Queen Anne" and "Old
English" styles). Although initially not popular with sales staff – who called them "prison furniture" – his designs appeared at exhibitions of the
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a long hair chap with odd notions.... Today, when it has become possible to get well designed furniture in many shops, it is difficult to realise what a revolution Heal pioneered.
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Heal's influence over the company diminished in the mid-1930s, when one of his sons became managing director. Although considering retirement, he stayed as chairman during
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Although Heals continued to produce beds and mattresses as its staple, Heal diversified its range to include ceramics, glass, and textiles, as well as products in
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designed the company's posters, and its catalogues contained essays by influential art critics. The overall effect was to promote Heals as an iconic brand.
119:(3 September 1872 – 15 November 1959) was an English furniture designer and businessman in the first half of the 20th century. He served as the chairman of
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was printed for private circulation. He contributed articles on a variety of topics in connection with his historical research to publications such as
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and
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and furniture makers. His collection of trade-cards is preserved at the
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article by Alan
Crawford describes this as "very wide of the mark" and accounts of his life and work as prone to
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Collector's mark of
Ambrose Heal in Frits Lugt's Les marques de collections de dessins & d'estampes online
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obituary describes him as "one of the great artists and craftsmen of his time". The
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awarded him the Albert Gold Medal for services to industrial design in 1954.
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611:'Better Furniture For Better Times' – Ambrose Heal and the Heal's Style
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commemorating Heal was placed at The Fives Court on Moss Lane in
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Sir
Ambrose Heal and the Heal Cabinet Factory, Appendix VII
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Apart from work interests, he collected London historical
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furniture manufacturing and retail business. He attended
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166:In 1893 he joined Heal & Son, working in the
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123:(then called Heal & Son) from 1913 to 1953.
568:"Sir Ambrose Heal, An Outstanding Craftsman".
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404:(online ed.). Oxford University Press.
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489:. Oblong Creative. pp. Appendix 1.
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468:"A Shop with high standards"
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515:WHO'S WHO & WHO WAS WHO
309:The London Furniture Makers
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204:Royal Society of Arts
311:(1953). In addition
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574:. 17 November 1959.
141:Marlborough College
588:. English Heritage
231:Claud Lovat Fraser
229:. Artists such as
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538:3 September
425:3 September
356:blue plaque
349:hagiography
266:Dodie Smith
184:John Ruskin
640:Categories
437:required.)
366:References
289:signboards
281:goldsmiths
227:Modigliani
133:Crouch End
127:Early life
61:Crouch End
53:1872-09-03
571:The Times
277:tradesmen
96:Spouse(s)
517:. 2007.
307:(1947),
303:(1935),
299:(1931),
295:(1925),
273:ephemera
211:Art Deco
63:, London
219:Picasso
168:bedding
152:Warwick
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472:Design
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360:Pinner
335:. His
327:Legacy
162:Career
137:Heal's
121:Heal's
617:Heals
592:4 May
338:Times
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594:2014
540:2021
527:ISBN
491:ISBN
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319:and
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112:FSA
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