Organized as part of London Craft Week 2026, crafted At Sotheby’s (May 11-17) celebrates British craftsmanship in a variety of fields. For a week, the auction house’s New Bond Street galleries will be taken over by a raft of exhibitions dedicated to all things craft, including 2026 House and Garden Craft Prize Performance of finalists. But the event isn’t just about pop-up displays and charity auctions: the auction house A festival of crafts The program brings time-honored skills to life with a series of demonstrations by master craftsmen, plus discussions and panel discussions.
Julia Fischel, director of Sotheby’s, sees a renewed focus on longevity, sustainability and ‘slow making’ as a resurgence of interest in craft. ‘We know that behind every extraordinary artwork is a highly skilled artist who has honed their craft through often decades of work,’ she says. ‘We want to celebrate the heritage and heritage of crafts in many different forms – from textiles to leatherwork, picture framing, ceramics, glassmaking, needlework, bamboo and woodwork.’
If, as Fischel advises, you come crafted There are plenty of opportunities to try your hand at a new skill, not just to watch, but to create and learn. The Sotheby’s Festival of Craft takes place on Saturday, May 16 and includes workshops on historic textiles. Royal School of NeedleworkAttendees will learn how these delicate artifacts are handled and studied. You can also join design duo Elvis and Kress to create a cardholder or passport cover using scraps of handwoven leather. Alternatively, sign up for one of four talks: highlights include The Future of Craft, where an expert panel will discuss how important skills such as stonemasonry, glassblowing and weaving can be preserved and why they matter; and The Crafted House: Keeping the Great House Alive. Moderated by Pratyush Sarup, director of content strategy at House & Garden, the latter explores how artisans help historic homes survive.
During the craft festival, visitors will also be able to see makers at work, thanks to a series of live demonstrations. Derek Tanos of Fulham Studio Tanos Fine Art Frames, founded in 1905, will explain how traditional picture frames are made using the company’s hand-carved antique moulds. For a glimpse into the centuries-old world of thatching, don’t miss master thatchers Robert Radcliffe and Jo Thornton making two cabinets, while providing insight into the cultural heritage of the craft and how they bring it into modern interiors through furniture design. Finally, Bespoke Maker Silverlining will explore the design possibilities of leather with demonstrations of hand-hammering, wet-molding and other craft techniques. By putting these practices in the spotlight, it is hoped that visitors leave with a new understanding of the relevance of craft in the here and now – the most important take-away from London Craft Week 2026.
For more information and to book tickets, visit A festival of crafts
