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2023-06-30-accounts

THE FURNITURE HISTORY SOCIETY

Annual Report of the Trustees and Financial Statements for the Year ended 30 June 2023, together with Notice of the Fifty-ninth Annual General Meeting to be held at The East India Club, 16 St James’s Square, London SW1Y 4LH on Saturday, 25 November 2023 commencing at 11.00 am

c/o The Department of Furniture, Textiles and Fashion, Victoria & Albert Museum, London SW7 2RL

www.furniturehistorysociety.org

Registered Charity No. 251683

THE FURNITURE HISTORY SOCIETY

AGENDA

for the 59th Annual General Meeting of The Furniture History Society to be held at The East India Club, 16 St James’s Square, London SW1Y 4LH at 11.00 am on Saturday, 25 November 2023

  1. Apologies for absence

  2. Minutes of the 58th Annual General Meeting

  3. Adoption of the Annual Report for the year ended 30 June 2023

  4. Adoption of the Financial Statements for the year ended 30 June 2023

  5. Re-election of the Honorary Officers

  6. The President Council proposes Simon Swynfen Jervis

  7. The Chairman

Council proposes Christopher Neville Rowell

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PROGRAMME FOR THE DAY

We plan to hold the Society’s Annual General Meeting in person. The talks will be recorded and the recording of the meeting will be placed on the Society’s website after the meeting. The log-in details required to access it will be communicated by e-mail to all the members for whom the Society has an email address.

Admission to the Annual General Meeting (“AGM”) is free and open to all members, but those wishing to attend in person are asked to notify the Events Secretary, Beatrice Goddard, at events@furniturehistorysociety.org, at least seven days in advance so that appropriate arrangements can be made. Coffee will be served from 10.30 am and the meeting will start at 11.00 am.

As is customary, the formal business will be followed by a series of short talks. Speakers will include:

At the conclusion of the presentations, a sandwich lunch will be served. Tickets for this, to include a glass of wine, costing £22 per head, should be booked at least seven days in advance through Beatrice Goddard, Events Secretary, at events@furniturehistorysociety.org

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THE FURNITURE HISTORY SOCIETY

MINUTES of the Fifty-eighth Annual General Meeting of the Furniture History Society held on 26 November 2022

Notice

The notice convening the meeting was read.

Apologies

There were no apologies for absence.

Minutes of the 2021 Annual General Meeting

The minutes of the Annual General Meeting held on 20 November 2021 were taken as read and the Chairman was authorised to sign them as a correct record.

Annual Report for the year ended 30 June 2022

The Chairman summarised Council’s report which reflected the Society’s vitality and the variety of its activities in 2020-21. He thanked all involved in its production.

He drew attention to the fact that the Society’s membership had stabilised, falling by a net figure of just two over the twelve months. He noted that the Society’s increased activity on social media platforms should help to maintain, and hopefully grow, membership figures in the coming year.

Turning to publications, he reported that Lavenham Press – the Society’s printers since 2021 – had already proved effective in streamlining the process of compiling, printing and distributing the Journal and Newsletter. He congratulated the Hon. Editorial Secretary, on the 2022 issue of Furniture History . He reported that the 2024 volume would reflect the many enthusiasms – such as hardstones, William Beckford, the Masterpiece Fair, &c. of the late Philip Hewat-Jaboor. Philip had been a great supporter of the Society in particular of its Early Careers activities, and would be much missed by the Society as well as his many friends.

The Hon. Editorial Secretary’s involvement in BIFMO would, he said, continue to pay dividends, as would the expertise of the Editorial Group, which also advised the editors of both the Society’s Newsletter and the BIFMO publications.

He reported with regret that Sharon Goodman had decided to step down from the post of Editor of the Newsletter, having heroically edited and produced four issues each year for the past five years. He thanked her for her service, and welcomed her successors, Kate Hay and Iain Stephens, who would serve as co-Editors. Plans were already underway, he said, to streamline the Newsletter’s design so as to reduce the costs of production.

The Chairman noted that Dr Wolf Burchard would also be stepping down as Book Review Editor due to pressure of work and would welcome suggestions for his successor.

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He reported that BIFMO had, in terms of both editorial work and its outreach and education programme, gone from strength-to-strength over the past year. By means of the incorporation of entries on 19th century cabinet-makers, and the Cotton Archive, the database had been expanded and now comprised over 86,000 entries, and was attracting around 4,000 readers per month. The Chairman thanked everyone involved with particular reference to Mr & Mrs Cotton for their generosity in sharing a life time of research with the Dictionary of British & Irish Furniture-Makers (“DBIFM”).

The Grants committee, chaired by Adriana Turpin, had been active and awards had been made to those attending the Society’s visits and events, as well as in support of the publications and activities linked to the excellent Early Careers Development programme. The principal event during the year had been the very successful Research Symposium.

He congratulated the Events committee (and the co-chairs, Kate Hay and David Oakey) and the Events Secretary on devising and staging another outstanding programme, involving both traditional visits and online events notwithstanding the difficulties arising from the pandemic restrictions. He thanked all those involved—hosts, speakers and volunteers – for giving so generously of their time.

Looking to the future, he added that social media and digital strategy would be increasingly important in raising the profile of the Society and attracting new members. Thanks to Natalie Voorheis, the Social Media Manager, the Society’s account was now followed by over 4,500 people—more than three times the number of members.

Finally, he drew attention to the fact that the BIFMO website and database would be moving to a new host to allow further development of the database in line with the Society’s ambitious plans. It was hoped that this would make it easier to attract grants and other external funding.

There being no questions, he commended the Annual Report for the year ending 30 June 2022 to the meeting and it was adopted nemine contradicente .

Financial Statements for the year ended 30 June 2022

The Hon. Treasurer presented the Financial Statements of the charity for the year. He began by thanking the Chairman, his colleagues, and in particular the Finance and Membership Officer, for their hard work.

He drew members’ attention to the Statement of Financial Activities and the Balance Sheet. The income from all sources for the year ended 30 June 2022 had been £138,329 whilst total expenditure had totalled £147,180, resulting in a budgeted deficit of £8,851. However, this deficit had been counterbalanced by gains on investment assets of £65,019, meaning an overall gain in net funds of £56,168.

He noted that there had been a fall in the income from Donations, Grants and Legacies from a figure of £35,885 in 2021 to £3,241 in the year ending 30 June 2022, but this had been more than compensated for by an increase in the income from Charitable Activities from £7,506 to £44,499—an increase which demonstrated the success of the resumption of a full programme of visits and lectures.

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Expenditure on Charitable Activities had also shown a corresponding increase, moderated by an outflow of funds on BIFMO. The costs of producing the Journal had fallen following the move to Lavenham Press although the cost of producing the Newsletter had increased in the previous year. Its editorial team was actively investigating ways to streamline the publication to reduce costs.

He added that there had been upward movement in support costs, such as an increase in costs associated with secretarial and administrative work, but that this had been moderated by savings made on postage. BIFMO had made a headline deficit of £14,832 on its operations.

He asked members to note that the Balance Sheet reflected the re-valuation of the Society’s assets, in particular the property in Twickenham underlying the Hilda Gadd Fund, which had increased in value significantly since the last formal valuation in 2010. He and the Finance Officer had taken a conservative view of the rise.

The Life Members’ fund was now exhausted because of changes in the demographics of Society and the remaining Life members would be asked whether they would be prepared to renew their support of the Society. The increase in Subscriptions, which had been approved by the members at the 2021 AGM, would be reflected in the figures presented at the 2023 meeting.

To conclude, he said that the Society had recovered well from the restrictions imposed on its activities by the pandemic and subsequent lockdowns. He thanked his colleagues on the Operations Group - Keith Nicholls, Beatrice Goddard, Jill Bace, Ann Davies and Megan Wheeler – who met regularly to manage the day-to-day activities of the Society. He noted with regret that Keith Nicholls wished to retire at the end of 2023 and the Society would be actively searching for his successor.

He commended the Financial Statements for adoption by the meeting. Adopted nem. con.

Elections

a) The following officers were proposed for re-election:

PRESIDENT Simon Swynfen Jervis CHAIRMAN OF COUNCIL Christopher Neville Rowell HONORARY SECRETARY Dr Megan Laura Wheeler HONORARY TREASURER Martin Blue Macintosh Williams HONORARY EDITORIAL SECRETARY Dr Megan Brewster Aldrich

These motions were put to the meeting and each agreed nem. con.

The President recorded his thanks to the retiring members of Council, viz., Dr Esmé Whittaker and Dr Mark Westgarth, for their service to the Society.

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Re-appointment of independent examiner

The President thanked Christopher Pexton of Messrs Begbies and proposed that he be re-appointed for a further year. Agreed.

Any other business

There being no further business, the meeting was closed by the President who thanked all the Society’s officers and particularly those who had set up the meeting as well as the staff of the East India Club. He coupled their names to those of the speakers whose talks would follow the formal business.

Talks

Hugo Burge, a director of Marchmont Farms Limited, talked about how Marchmont House, Berwickshire had been restored and developed to become a home to makers and creators, celebrating creativity across the arts, crafts, business and social enterprise.

Matthew Hirst, Curator, Woburn Abbey and Gardens, described the major refurbishment project at Woburn Abbey which had begun in the autumn of 2019. He outlined several aspects of this major undertaking, including the restoration of walls in the Court, the reinstatement of the Grotto Apartment built for the 4th Earl of Bedford around 1630, the restoration of Mortlake Acts of the Apostles tapestries as well as other work in progress.

Norman Hudson, Chairman, Historic Houses Foundation, described the work of this important grant-giving body and how it helped fill a funding gap in the restoration of country houses and the associated buildings, which might include integral furnishings and historically associated paintings.

Jessica Eddie, Curator of the Gilbert Collection at the Victoria & Albert Museum, spoke about work on its Roman Tabernacle. Jessica described how close examination and analysis of this tabernacle, always thought of as early 18th century, revealed that it was, in fact, a 19th century confection incorporating an important early pietre dure panel.

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THE FURNITURE HISTORY SOCIETY

ANNUAL REPORT OF COUNCIL 2022-23

The Council of the Furniture History Society has pleasure in presenting its fifty-eighth Annual Report together with Financial Statements for the year ended 30 June 2023.

LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS

Principal address c/o Department of Furniture, Textiles & Fashion, Victoria & Albert Museum, London SW7 2RL Website (Society) https://furniturehistorysociety.org ( BIFMO ) https://bifmo.history.ac.uk/

President and Honorary Officers

President Simon Swynfen Jervis FSA Chairman Christopher Neville Rowell FSA chairman@furniturehistorysociety.org Hon. Secretary: Dr Megan Laura Wheeler secretary@furniturehistorysociety.org Hon. Treasurer: Martin Blue Macintosh Williams FSA treasurer@furniturehistorysociety.org Hon. Editorial Secretary: Dr Megan Brewster Aldrich meganbrewsteraldrich@gmail.com Other officers and committee chairpersons Finance & Keith Nicholls Membership Officer: finance@furniturehistorysociety.org membership@furniturehistorysociety.org Publications Officer & Jill Bace Grants Secretary: publications@furniturehistorysociety.org grants@furniturehistorysociety.org Chair, Events Committee: Kate Hay katehay86@gmail.com Secretary, Events Beatrice Goddard Committee: events@furniturehistorysociety.org Chair, Grants Committee: Adriana Turpin grantschair@furniturehistorysociety.org Co-Editors, Newsletter: Kate Hay & Iain Stephens newsletter@furniturehistorysociety.org

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BIFMO: Adriana Turpin ( BIFMO Project Manager) bifmoprojectmanager@furniturehistorysociety.org Dr Laurie Lindey (Managerial Editor) bifmoeditor@furniturehistorysociety.org Clarissa Ward (19th century Editor) bifmoeditor@furniturehistorysociety.org Ann Davies ( BIFMO Outreach Programme Co-ordinator) bifmo@furniturehistorysociety.org Social Media Manager Natalie Voorheis natalievoorheis@gmail.com Chair, Digital Strategy Kate Hay committee: katehay86@gmail.com Professional Advisers Independent Examiner: Christopher Pexton FCA c/o Begbies, London EC2A 4DJ Accountants: Begbies, Chartered Accountants and Registered Auditors www.begbiesaccountants.co.uk Bankers: CAF Bank Limited, ME19 4JQ Barclays Bank Plc, Leicester LE87 2BB HSBC Bank Plc, East Grinstead RH16 4LU COIF Charity Funds, London EC4V 4ET

Constitution

The Furniture History Society is an unincorporated membership body constituted by rules, and a registered charity numbered 251683. It was founded in 1964 to advance the study of furniture of all periods, places and kinds and to further public knowledge and appreciation of it.

Charitable Purposes and Public Benefit

The charitable purpose of the Society is the advancement of the arts, culture and heritage, and education in relation thereto. It does this by promoting the study of furniture and interior design of all periods, places and kinds and by furthering public knowledge and appreciation. The Society also assists with the preservation of furniture and associated records.

To these ends, it:

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Structure, Governance and Management

The Society is managed by the Council, i.e., the trustee body of the charity. The trustees who served during the year 2022-23 were:

Simon Swynfen Jervis (President) Christopher Rowell (Chairman) Dr Megan Wheeler (Hon. Secretary) Martin Williams (Hon. Treasurer) Dr Megan Aldrich (Hon. Editorial Secretary)

Dr Esmé Whittaker retired 26 November 2022 Dr Mark Westgarth retired 26 November 2022 Dr Alexandra (Sacha) Gerstein Stephen Jackson Dr Caroline McCaffrey-Howarth Jürgen Huber Dr Jane (Jenny) Laura Saunt elected 26 November 2022 Philip John Peacock elected 26 November 2022

The Council is made up of: The President; the four Honorary Officers and eight elected members all of whom are appointed annually by the members of the Society at the Annual General Meeting. The elected members of Council serve a three-year term of office.

Council ordinarily meets four times each year, both in person and online, and is responsible for the management of the Society. During the year, attendance at Council was as follows:

President 3 out of a possible 4
Chairman 4 ditto
Hon. Secretary 4 ditto
Hon. Treasurer 4 ditto
Hon. Editorial Secretary 4 ditto
Dr Sacha Gerstein 2 ditto
Stephen Jackson 2 ditto
Dr C McCaffrey-Howarth 4 ditto
Jürgen Huber 2 ditto
Dr Jenny Saunt 2 ditto
Philip Peacock 3 ditto

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Currently there are three committees – Events, Grants and BIFMO Management – together with the Digital Strategy Group and the Editorial Group. The members of the committees are appointed by Council and the Honorary Officers are ex-officio members of all committees. Any actions, including the decisions of any committee, must be reported to and confirmed by Council as soon as is practicable.

As trustees, Council members take decisions in the best interests of the Society as a whole, and they operate in accordance with a code of conduct that makes explicit reference to the need for objectivity.

Governance activity during the year included the regularisation of the status of the Editorial Group (recognition that it is an informal group of individuals advising the Hon. Editorial Secretary); and the adoption by Council of a protocol for the appointment of individual members of its committees.

Officers

The Society’s day-to-day business is managed by the Honorary Officers together with a small group of remunerated staff namely Keith Nicholls (Finance & Membership Officer) and his colleagues: Jill Bace (Publications Officer and Grants Secretary); Beatrice Goddard (Events Secretary); Dr Megan Aldrich (Editor, Journal); Dr Megan Wheeler (Website Officer) and Ann Davies ( BIFMO Outreach Programmes Co-ordinator). Council is deeply appreciative of the commitment and hard work of these individuals as well as by the honorary officers and all those who serve on the Society’s two committees.

An Operations group consisting of the Hon. Treasurer (Chairman), the Hon. Secretary, the Finance Officer, the Events Secretary, the Publications Officer and the BIFMO Programmes Co-ordinator meets every 4-6 weeks to manage the Society’s routine business.

Council – Elected Members

In accordance with the Society’s constitution, two members of Council (Dr Alexandra (Sacha) Gerstein and Stephen Jackson) retire. Council is very grateful for their work for the Society during their terms of office and proposes the election of David Oakey and Charlie Thomas.

David Oakey FSA

David Oakey is the curator of a private art collection following a seven-years stint in the Decorative Arts Section of the Royal Collection Trust, and as Director of Research for a leading furniture dealer. He spent some ten years on the Society’s Events Committee, the last four as its co-Chair. He has published and lectured widely in the fields of eighteenth and nineteenth century European decorative arts and architecture, and is currently undertaking a part time PhD at the Courtauld Institute of Art. In 2021 he was elected as a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries.

Charles Thomas

Charlie Thomas is the UK Group Director for Private & Iconic Collections, Furniture, Works of Art and Carpets at Bonhams, where he started work in 2002. His areas of expertise include 18th and 19th century English and Continental furniture, with a special interest in 18th century vernacular furniture.

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Charlie is also a senior auctioneer at Bonhams working across four continents. He has overseen a succession of high-profile, single-owner collection sales, many of which achieved 100% sellthrough rates. Among the exceptional sales were The Savoy Collection; and the contents of Lord Glenconner's Caribbean property; Trelissick House; Count and Countess Martignone's Milanese and Genoese properties and Nicky Haslam's Hunting Lodge. More recently, headline auctions have included Sir Michael Caine’s collection and the Estate of the late Sir Terence Conran.

Membership

During the year, membership fell by a net figure of 37 to 1,050 at the year-end (30 June 2022: 1,087). 108 individuals or institutions joined the Society (2022: 132) whilst 93 resigned (2022: 70). In addition, 52 members were struck off for not paying their subscriptions (2022: 64). The small fall in membership over the period is disappointing following the ‘no change’ position in the previous year.

During the year the Society invested in creating a dedicated membership area on the website— My Account. This enables members to update their personal details and simplifies the renewal process for those members who do not pay by Direct Debit.

During the year the Society was notified of the deaths of the following members: Paul Bruce, John Lindey and Paul Baker.

Publications

Furniture History

The year saw the publication of Journal LVIII (2022), the second with the new design and a cover printed in colours. There were seven articles in all within a total of 257 pages, five on British furniture and interiors from the seventeenth to the early twentieth centuries. The remaining two articles were on aspects of Continental European furniture, one exploring the impact of Chinese woodblock prints during the eighteenth century, thereby bringing a welcome ‘global’ perspective to the publication.

Journal LIX (2023) is well underway and approaching the first-proofs stage. It will be a large volume at more than 300 pages and contains ten articles by twelve authors. Eight of the articles address aspects of British furniture history from the beginning of the seventeenth century to the early twentieth; two of the articles examine discrete areas of Continental European furniture, including collections in Prague and the tastes of the Portuguese court in Brazil during the nineteenth century—again a welcome broadening of the publication’s remit. The articles on British furniture history vary widely in scope and subject matter and are scholarly and informative, but the Hon. Editorial Secretary would also like to encourage authors working in the areas of Continental European, American or other regions of furniture history to consider offering material for publication in future issues.

Plans are well advanced for Journal LX (2024), which will take as its point of inspiration the interests and tastes of the late Philip Hewat-Jaboor. This volume will not be a traditional festschrift; rather, it is an affectionate acknowledgement of the wide-ranging interests of a longterm member of the Society. It will contain articles on hardstones; classical imagery and design

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across varied periods; and aspects of the antiques and furnishing trades. There is room for more articles; about eight have reached the proposal or draft stage.

At the time of writing, the Hon. Editorial Secretary is beginning to assemble the digital files required to produce the next index of the Journal covering the years 2010–2019. The indexer who prepared the previous index is available and interested in taking on this volume. Estimates will need to be prepared, based upon the files, before an amount can be put into the Society’s budget in 2024-25. Any member(s) who would like to sponsor this publication is invited to contact the Hon. Editorial Secretary.

Finally, the fruitful collaboration of the Hon. Editorial Secretary with both the BIFMO management committee and the Newsletter editors appears to be working extremely well.

Newsletter

Sharon Goodman, the Editor of the Newsletter for five years, produced her final issue in August 2022, and the Society would like to record its thanks to her for the huge amount of work she did in single-handedly editing every issue, each of which was produced to a high professional standard and packed with information. She also steered the Newsletter through both a change of publisher and the pandemic. The editing is again being divided between two editors, Kate Hay and Iain Stephens, who work on alternate issues.

The editors would like to thank all the contributors, including Society’s officers, report-writers, and authors of the lead articles and the shorter ‘New Discoveries and Research’ articles.

During the year, the four lead articles were written by a distinguished range of international contributors: Maureen Cassidy-Geiger, curator and scholar based in New-York; Max Donnelly, Curator, Furniture and Woodwork 1800-1915 at the V&A; Dr Alexander Dencher and Paul Van Duin, Curator of Furniture and Head of Furniture Conservation at the Rijksmuseum respectively; and Dr Tessa Murdoch, Professorial Research Fellow, University of Buckingham, and formerly Research Curator, Gilbert Collection, Victoria & Albert Museum.

Thanks must also be returned to Dr Wolf Burchard for offering to continue commissioning and editing a wide variety of book reviews, and to the many contributing book reviewers. The Newsletter is designed by Gina Moidinis and produced by The Lavenham Press Ltd.

Anyone considering making a contribution about a discovery, fresh research, news, or a forthcoming exhibition or conference relevant to furniture history and of interest to members, is encouraged to get in touch with the editors whose contact details are set out on the back page of each Newsletter. The editors will supply guidelines on house style including recommended word-counts, on request.

Publication sales

Sales of publications were again low in the period, with the few requests for purchase confined to recent volumes of Furniture History . No new Society publications have been added to the inventory since 2017, and no doubt this is reflected in the lack of interest in the books currently available.

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To encourage interest to a broader audience, the publications list has been posted on the Society’s Instagram account. During the year, a member facilitated a donation of £200 to the Society from the sale of the complete run of Furniture History —formerly the property of Brian Austen, the Society’s long-standing Finance Officer.

All issues of Furniture History remain priced at £30 (UK), £35 (Continental Europe) and £48 for the rest of the world, including postage and packing charges. Anyone interested in purchasing books or Journals should consult the Society’s website for the complete list of publications with an up-to-date price list.

British and Irish Furniture Makers Online

BIFMO is managed by the Society through a dedicated management committee which is chaired by the Chairman and. Members include the four honorary officers ex officio as well as the Project Manager and Deputy Chairman of the committee, Adriana Turpin, and Stephen Jackson. Keith Nicholls (Finance Officer), Dr Laurie Lindey (Managerial Editor) and Clarissa Ward (19th Century Editor) report to the Committee.

BIFMO ’s outreach programme is advised by an informal group consisting of Christopher Claxton-Stephens, Joanna Norman (retired 2023) and Tessa Wild, led by Adriana Turpin. We are very grateful to them for their contributions to the various research projects.

Dictionary of British & Irish Furniture-makers Online

Dr Laurie Lindey (Managing Editor) and Clarissa Ward (19th Century Editor) created and/ or revised over 6000 biographical accounts. Members may be interested to look at some of the entries originally created by Geoffrey Beard and Christopher Gilbert in The Dictionary of English Furniture Makers which have been updated with new information, illustrated with trade cards and objects, and the layout transformed into a more user-friendly style. They include biographies of Jasper Breame (1661-1697), Phillip Hunt (1662-1710), Henry Hill (1741-1777) and George Seddon (II) (1815-1870), his forebears and the eponymous firms.

Over 450 accounts of Edinburgh furniture makers from 1750 to 1850 were created or updated. Much of the background material was drawn from contemporary directories by a number of interns in a collaborative project with the University of Edinburgh, work which included plotting the locations of individuals and firms on historical maps.

Entirely new biographical accounts were mostly focused in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, for example, the firms Ercolani (1888-1970) and Hille (1906-1984).

The Society received two important research grants for BIFMO . The Albert Dawson Educational Trust generously awarded £11,000 to transcribe and publish the catalogues of the Arts & Crafts Exhibition Society, 1888-1916, and to edit the associated index. Secondly, the Decorative Arts Trust (based in the US), made a grant from its Dean F. Failey funds of $9,500 to document British and Irish immigrant furniture makers working in America.

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BIFMO attracted 53,095 readers over the period (2022: c. 48,000); of whom 89 per cent were new to the site. As would be expected, the majority were from English speaking countries: fiftysix per cent (UK); thirty per cent (US); with the remainder from around the globe particularly from Australia, Canada and continental Europe. The editors have been delighted to receive many enquiries—some correcting misinformation and others providing entirely new material, especially in regard to family firms.

Outreach Programme

This year BIFMO organised two online courses, well attended by both members and nonmembers, and reaching audiences as far afield as Brazil, Hawaii and New Zealand. These courses aim to present various aspects of the history of furniture and the furniture trade, while also offering new or unpublished research. The November course, British Furniture Making and the Globalised Trade, held over five successive weeks, highlighted the connections between British furniture makers and those in continental Europe, the US, China, Australia and New Zealand, through migration from the seventeenth to the early twentieth centuries.

The summer course, Furnishing the Country House: makers, designers and patrons c. 16501914 held in June 2023 over two weeks, brought out the commissions and the role of patrons in a number of country houses throughout the British Isles. The courses have brought visitors to the site, whilst raising funds for BIFMO’s continuing editorial work. We are enormously grateful to our speakers and audience for their continued support.

Grants Committee

The members of the committee who served during the year were: Adriana Turpin (Chair), Guy Apter, Rufus Bird, Dr Olivia Fryman, Peter Holmes, Dr Helen Jacobsen, Joanna Norman, Thomas Williams and Lucy Wood, ably managed by Jill Bace (Grants Officer). During the year, Guy Apter and Joanna Norman stepped down and were replaced by Messrs Bird and Williams. We thank all the members of the committee for their enthusiastic commitment and support.

Awards from the Tom Ingram Fund

Awards from the Tom Ingram Fund Awards from the Tom Ingram Fund Awards from the Tom Ingram Fund
Name: Amount: Purpose:
Michele Deldicque £121.64 Travel costs related to the Boiseries Symposium
Decoration and Migration from the Eighteenth Century ...
Ulrich Leben £171.60 Travel costs related to Boiseries Symposium (as above)
Cameron Di Leo £340.00 FHS Study Trip to Versailles for the Louis XV exhibition
Mia Wolpert £243.55 Travel to Waddesdon Manor for a research project
Michelle Kirk £96.50 FHS Visit to Brotherton Research Centre, Leeds
Emma Olver £590.00 FHS Study Trip to Scotland

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Early Career Development (‘ECD’)

The Society’s ECD programme is organised under the auspices of the Grants Committee and until January 2023 was managed by Katherine Hardwick and Elliot Sterling. Sadly, both individuals then had to step down due to career commitments, and the group will henceforth be managed by a small team of ECD members. We thank them for the hard work.

In October, a welcome reception was held at the Georgian Society for the early career groups of the Society, the French Porcelain Society, the Silver Society, and the Young Georgians. In November, David Dewing led a study of Windsor chairs after hours at the Museum of the Home. In June, Council Member Jürgen Huber, Chief Conservator at the Wallace Collection, presented an innovative talk on Sustainability at the Society of Antiquaries. These events were funded in part through the Della Howard Fund.

Five curators took part in the study trip to the European Art Fair, Maastricht, funded by the Oliver Ford Trust. They were accompanied by Adriana Turpin and David Wheeler, chief conservator, Royal Collections Trust. Over the two days of their visit, the group was shown many exceptional pieces, and discussed attributions and techniques. We are grateful to the many dealers who shared their knowledge and their passions and in particular to Jonathan Coulborn for his generous hospitality.

Events Committee

Members of the committee were: Kate Hay (Chair) and David Oakey (Joint Chair until April 2023 when he stepped down from the Committee), Anne-Marie Bannister, Dr Melanie Doderer-Winkler, Kate Dyson, Jessica Eddie, Sara Heaton, Dr Amy Lim (from September 2022), William Lorimer, Dr Tessa Murdoch, Michael Shrive and Maude Willaerts (from April 2023). Lucy Howgego stepped down in September 2022.

Annual Lecture

On 7 November 2022, Sir Hugh Roberts, former Surveyor of The Queen’s Works of Art and Director of The Royal Collection, spoke at the Society of Antiquaries about his joint publication with Charles Cator, Ince and Mayhew: Interpreting the record . The event was also live-streamed.

AGM

The AGM was held in November 2022 at the East India Club. A full report is set out elsewhere in this Report.

Annual Symposium

The 2023 Annual Symposium, held jointly with the French Porcelain Society, took place on 24 and 25 March 2023 at the V & A and was live-streamed. Entitled Rococo Across Borders: Designers & Makers , it was organised by a group comprising Dr Diana Davis, Patricia Ferguson, Beatrice Goddard, Dr Caroline McCaffrey-Howarth, David Oakey and Adriana Turpin.

The April 2022 Annual Symposium (inadvertently omitted from last year’s Annual Report since there were two Symposia that year) was held at the Wallace Collection. Entitled Making the Old New: the Twentieth Century Interior Designer’s Promotion of Furniture and its History, the event was live-streamed and organised by David Oakey and chaired by Professor Edward Hollis, Professor of Interior Design at the University of Edinburgh.

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Tours and Visits

2022 saw weekend study trips to Cardiff (led by Kate Hay) and Tuscany (led by Kate Dyson). In 2023, John Whitehead led a two-day study trip to Paris which included a visit to the exhibition Louis XV: Passion d’un Roi at the Palace of Versailles and Charlotte Rostek and William Lorimer led a weekend in Scotland.

There were day visits to Chequers, Longford Castle (so popular that a second visit had to be set up), the Royal Oak Foundation Conservation Studio at Knole to see the conservation of Hardwick Hall’s ‘Sea-Dog Table’ and the newly restored Soane Museum Drawing Office. Visits were also made to the Palace of Westminster, the Freud Museum, Pitzhanger Manor, Ranger’s House, and the new John Evan Bedford Study Room at the Brotherton Library, Leeds, with Professor Mark Westgarth.

There was also an online lecture, A Sense of Proportion and Puritanical Love of Simplicity: The Furniture Designs of C F A Voysey by Tony Peart, Senior Lecturer in Graphic Design & Illustration at The University of Cumbria Institute of the Arts, supported by the Voysey Society, in association with BIFMO .

Thanks

The rich programme that is set out above is only made possible through the generosity of our hosts, and our speakers and collaborators, to all of whom we are extremely grateful. They devote considerable time and effort in preparing for these events to ensure that we continue to fulfil one of the Society’s principal charitable aims—the promotion of the study of the history of furniture.

Website

The website attracted 11,421 users in the period to 30 June 2023, a fall on the number of visitors recorded in 2021-22 of 21.5%. This disappointing performance was offset somewhat by an increase both in the number of pages viewed per session and the average session duration. Thanks to the work of the Social Media Manager, the proportion of referrals to the website from social media platforms has risen.

The website’s main draws remain the Events, Membership and Journal pages and the fiftyor-so talks and lectures available to members on our Online Lectures page https://www. furniturehistorysociety.org/events/online-lectures/. These can now be accessed using the member’s username and password which also allow access to the My Account area of the website.

If members have any suggestions as to content they would like to see on the website, please contact Megan Wheeler at website@furniturehistorysociety.org.

Social Media & Digital Strategy

The Society is active on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and Linktree. The Instagram account continues to be the strongest offering, with over 6,100 followers (30 June 2022: 4,500). Since the Instagram account was established in 2018, regular posting has resulted in a steady monthly increase in our following. Our presence on social media has allowed us to reach far beyond our

18

membership of approximately 1,050 and promote the interest and study of furniture history to a wide and diverse audience and to build an online community of people interested in furniture history and provide an online space for our social media savvy members to interact.

In 2023, the focus has been on raising the profile of the Society, encouraging new members, the promotion of Society events and sharing information about the furniture related to these events.

A very large increase in social media activity connected with the Rococo Across Borders symposium was undoubtedly the high point of the year and the Society was able to capture a multitude of positive responses from attendees. These responses, along with a sample of the social media offering in the run up to, and live from the symposium itself, can be viewed as an ‘Instagram Highlight’, found under the title ‘Rococo’ at the top of the Society’s Instagram homepage @furniturehistorysociety.

In recognition of the value of the Society’s presence online, a Digital Strategy Group was established in April 2021. It meets quarterly and has proved to be a helpful forum for the sharing of ideas. The Group is currently updating and expanding the Society’s Wikipedia entry.

Finance and legacies

Overview

Whilst inflation remains high and the economic and political climate remain uncertain - albeit less volatile than 12 months ago - the Society’s finances have remained stable.

In summary, there was a deficit of just over £2,000 on the General Fund and a loss of £7,000 on the operations of British & Irish Furniture Makers Online ( “BIFMO” )—a little more than the budgeted overall figure of £7,000. Other Restricted Funds show a deficit of £5,000 on their activities resulting in an overall deficit for the year of £14,000 (2022: Deficit £9,000).

The deficit on the Restricted Funds was mainly thanks to the fall in the value of the Society’s listed investments of £8,000 over the period - a figure reflecting the weakness of the UK stock market in the past 12 months. This figure forms part of the overall deficit of £14,000 referred to above.

The property investment underpinning the Gadd fund has not been revalued this year.

Statement of Financial Activities

The Income arising from all sources in the year to 30 June 2023 was £189,079 compared to £138,329 in the previous year. Expenditure totalled £195,471 (2022: £147,180) with both the current year’s figures reflecting the increase in the Society’s visits & events activity compared with the pandemic years.

General Fund. There was a small loss on ordinary activities of £1,245 (2022: gain £3,080). Income increased from £108,747 to £143,950 mainly thanks to the increased number of visits, particularly overseas, and the highly successful Symposium. However, membership fell short of expectations. There was a 7.6% increase in membership income to £77,310 reflecting a full year of the increases implemented in 2022-23.

19

Expenditure increased by £39,500 to £148,039 due to the increase in the costs and volume of the visits and events programme. Inflationary pressure resulting in a small increase in publication costs.

BIFMO. Income totalled £33,281 (2022: £18,892) with much of the increase resulting from major grants from the Decorative Arts Trust (“DAT”) and Dawson Trust. As in 2022, income was also generated from study programmes. Expenditure totalled £40,458 (2022 £33,604) due to expenditure related to the Dawson and DAT grants whilst editorial costs were slightly less than in 2022. The expenditure required to complete the two grants-funded programmes (£12,103) has been carried forward to 2024-25.

During the year, Council agreed to bring forward the transfer of the BIFMO database to Blue Bag Limited, a company with experience in hosting and managing academic databases. Subject to funding, it is planned to enhance the BIFMO database and website in 2024, something that was unachievable if hosting of the database had remained with the University of London.

Balance sheet. At 30 June 2023 fixed assets totalled £739,912 (2022 £747,878) and net Current Assets £114,879 (2022 £121,376) The decrease in net assets results from the losses incurred across the various activities of the Society. At the year-end, the charity’s funds totalled £853,582 (2022 £867,890) of which £719,894 (2022 £731,340) was attributed to restricted funds.

Legacies. No legacies were received or pledged in the year (2022: nil).

Finance Officer. Keith Nicholls, the Society’s indefatigable Finance and Membership Officer, retires this autumn and we are actively recruiting for his successor with a view to filling the post by the time of the AGM.

Future plans

Last year we were still adapting to post-pandemic life. This year we are back to normal. However, the new normal includes Zoom meetings and virtual events. The Society’s remit is to encourage the study of furniture and historic interiors internationally and a third of our members live overseas. The Society has a considerable online presence, which helps to keep our international membership in touch.

Who would have thought in 1986 when the magisterial Dictionary of English Furniture Makers was published that it would morph into British and Irish Furniture Makers Online and be freely available to all, with an ever-increasing raft of new material, at the click of a mouse? BIFMO has been a catalyst not only for developing scholarship but also for encouraging the young to participate, to learn and to seek inspiration from the Society’s broad remit.

The fact that BIFMO’s online courses on the history of furniture are profitable, with the money being ploughed back into its work is due to an enthusiastic audience and above all to those scholars who give their time and expertise. The BIFMO project is both ambitious and expensive. It receives external grants towards its editorial and outreach work and is supported by the Society’s Anniversary Fund. BIFMO has huge potential and will continue to develop and expand in imaginative ways. Fundraising remains a perennial requirement, however.

The 2023 symposium on international Rococo held at the V&A showed the potential for partnerships with sister charities, in this case, the French Porcelain Society. The two Societies

20

benefitted and shared a profit. Our partnership symposium with the Chippendale Society in Leeds during the anniversary year of 2018 was another success. The next Early Careers Development symposium will return to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, in 2024.

Our publications continue to deliver excellent value to our members. The quarterly Newsletters offer the perfect combination of the topical and the scholarly. Furniture History is fundamental to the Society’s continuing purpose while its triennial translation online to JSTOR ensures its legacy.

On Instagram, the Society is now followed by more than six times its current membership of 1050. Despite this, attracting new members to join the Society remains a challenge. In future, we shall need to increase our numbers and our income.

Volunteers

Many members give their time freely to help the Society fulfil its objectives by attending meetings of Council and the committees, sitting on working groups or undertaking many other tasks or functions on behalf of the charity. Council is greatly indebted to these individuals for their generosity to the Society.

Responsibilities of Council

The Charities Act 2011 requires the Officers and Council of the Society (i.e., the charity trustees) to prepare accounts for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Society and of the surplus or deficit of the Society for that period. In preparing these accounts the Council and Officers are required to:

The Officers are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Society, and the Officers and Council are responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Society and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities, by establishing and maintaining a satisfactory system of control over the Society’s accounting records, cash holdings and all its receipts and remittances.

Risk Review

Council has conducted its own review of the major risks to which the Society is exposed and systems have been established to mitigate those risks. Internal risks are minimised by the implementation of procedures of authorisation of all transactions and projects and to ensure consistent quality of delivery for all operational aspects of the Society and these procedures are periodically reviewed to ensure that they still meet its needs.

21

Statement of Disclosure to the Independent Examiner

So far as Council is aware, there is no relevant information concerning the independent examination of the Accounts of which the Society’s independent examiner is unaware. In addition, the members of Council have taken all the steps they ought to have taken as members of Council and charity trustees in order to make themselves aware of any relevant information and to establish that the Society’s independent examiner is aware of that information.

Independent Examiner

At the Annual General Meeting, it will be proposed that Christopher Pexton FCA of Messrs Begbies, Chartered Accountants be re-appointed the independent examiner of the Society’s accounts for the ensuing year.

Approved by Council and signed on their behalf on 5 October 2023.

Christopher Rowell Martin Williams Chairman of Trustees Trustee and Hon. Treasurer

22

LEGACIES

The Society depends for its core income entirely on its members and supporters. Please consider leaving it a legacy in your will. The Society is a registered charity and in the United Kingdom, legacies to registered charities are exempt from Inheritance Tax without limit. In addition, a legacy to a UK charity may, in certain circumstances, reduce the overall rate of Inheritance Tax suffered by your estate.

Legacies can take the form of a lump sum or the residue or a fraction of your estate. They will not be spent on administrative costs but go towards developing the publication programme, helping to promote research projects and enabling the Society to campaign more vigorously to protect the furniture heritage.

The following is a suitable form of wording for your solicitor or financial adviser to include in your will or when adding a codicil to an existing one: ‘I bequeath to the Furniture History Society, c/o Department of Performance, Furniture, Textiles & Fashion, Victoria & Albert Museum, London SW7 2RL, a legacy of [ insert amount ] free of all taxes.’ The Hon. Treasurer and the Finance Officer are always happy to advise potential benefactors.

23

THE FURNITURE HISTORY SOCIETY

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2023

Unrestricted Designated Restricted Total Total
Notes Fund Fund Funds 2023 2022
£ £ £ £ £
Income From:-
Membership Subscriptions 2 77,310 — — 77,310 71,794
Donations, Grants and Legacies 3 2,279 — 18,561 20,840 3,241
Charitable Activities 4 55,745 — 14,720 70,465 44,499
Trading Activities 5 3,988 — — 3,988 3,987
Investment Income 6 4,628 — 11,848 16,476 14,808
Total 143,950 — 45,129 189,079 138,329
Expenditure On:-
Charitable Activities 7 148,039 — 47,432 195,471 147,180
Total 148,039 — 47,432 195,471 147,180
Transfers between funds 2,844 (545) (2,299) — —
Net (Defcit)/Income (1,245) (545) (4,602) (6,392) (8,851)
Other Recognised Gains/(Losses)
Gains on Investment Assets (1,122) — (6,844) (7,966) 65,019
Net Movement in Funds (2,367) (545) (11,446) (14,358) 56,168
Reconciliation of Funds
Total Funds Brought Forward 126,015 10,535 731,340 867,890 811,722
Total Funds Carried Forward 123,648 9,990 719,894 853,532 867,890

24

THE FURNITURE HISTORY SOCIETY BALANCE SHEET AS AT 30 JUNE 2023

THE FURNITURE HISTORY SOCIETY
BALANCE SHEET AS AT 30 JUNE 2023		 THE FURNITURE HISTORY SOCIETY
BALANCE SHEET AS AT 30 JUNE 2023		 THE FURNITURE HISTORY SOCIETY
BALANCE SHEET AS AT 30 JUNE 2023
Notes
2023
2022
£
£
£
£
Fixed Assets
Investments
- Listed Investments
11(a)
363,912
371,878
- Property
11(b)
376,000
376,000
Total Fixed Assets
739,912
747,878
Current Assets
Debtors
12
17,543
1,203
Interest-Earning Deposits
35,487
34,339
Balances at Bank
103,460
129,027
Total Current Assets
156,490
164,569
Current Liabilities
Amounts falling due within
one year
13
(41,611)
(43,193)
Net Current Assets
114,879
121,376
Total Assets less
Current Liabilities
854,791
869,254
Creditors:
Amounts falling due after
more than one year
Deferred Income - Membership
(1,259)
(1,364)
Total Net Assets
£853,532
£867,890
The Funds of the Charity:
Unrestricted General Fund
14
123,648
126,015
Designated Fund
Howard Fund
14
9,990
10,535
Restricted Funds
Ingram Fund
14
215,554
218,556
Anniversary Fund
14
128,071
134,216
Hilda Gadd Fund
14
376,000
376,000
Alison Kelly Fund
14
-
1,855
Card Makers Donation
14
269
713
719,894
731,340
Total CharityFunds
£853,532
£867,890
Approved on behalf of the Council on 5 October 2023
Christopherrowell:Chairman_MartinwilliaMs:_Hon Treasurer
Fixed Assets
Investments
- Listed Investments
11(a)
- Property
11(b)
Total Fixed Assets
Current Assets
Debtors
12
17,543
Interest-Earning Deposits
35,487
Balances at Bank
103,460
Total Current Assets
156,490
Current Liabilities
Amounts falling due within
one year
13
(41,611)
Net Current Assets
Total Assets less
Current Liabilities
Creditors:
Amounts falling due after
more than one year
Deferred Income - Membership
Total Net Assets
The Funds of the Charity:
Unrestricted General Fund
14
Designated Fund
Howard Fund
14
Restricted Funds
Ingram Fund
14
215,554
Anniversary Fund
14
128,071
Hilda Gadd Fund
14
376,000
Alison Kelly Fund
14
-
Card Makers Donation
14
269		 363,912
376,000
739,912
1,203
34,339
129,027
164,569
(43,193)
114,879
854,791
(1,259)
£853,532
123,648
9,990
218,556
134,216
376,000
1,855
713
719,894
Total CharityFunds £853,532
Approved on behalf of the Council on 5 October 2023
Christopherrowell:Chairman

25

THE FURNITURE HISTORY SOCIETY NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS AS AT 30 JUNE 2023

1. Accounting Policies

( a ) Basis of preparation

The accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention. The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the second edition of the Charities Statement of Recommended Practice issued in October 2019, the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Charities Act 2011.

The trustees consider there are no material uncertainties about the charity's ability to continue as a going concern.

( b ) Public benefit entity

The Charity meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102.

( c ) Cash Flow

The Society has taken advantage of the exemption in FRS 102 from the requirement to produce a cash flow statement on the grounds that it qualifies as a smaller charity.

( d ) Incoming Resources

Voluntary income and subscriptions are accounted for as received by the Society. No permanent endowments have been received in this period.

( e ) Investments

Investments are stated at market value. Realised and unrealised gains and losses are dealt with in the Statement of Financial Activities. Investment income and interest are accounted for as received by the Society.

( f ) Allocation of Costs

Costs are allocated to General Fund unless specific to other funds.

( g ) Resources Expended

Resources expended are recognised in the period in which they are incurred.

( h ) Governance Costs

Governance costs comprise all costs involving the public accountability of the charity and its compliance with regulation and good practice. The costs include those relating to external independent examination.

26

( i ) Foreign Currencies

( j ) Restricted Funds

2.
3.		 Subscriptions - General Fund
2023
£
2022
£
Subscriptions under Gift Aid
33,368
29,461
Income Tax Recovered
8,324
7,358
Subscriptions not under Gift Aid
35,618
34,975
77,310
71,794
Donations, Grants and Legacies
2023
£
2022
£
Donations
2,279
3,241
Grants
18,561
—
Legacies
—
—
20,840
3,241

27

4.
5.
6.
7.		 Income From Charitable Activities
2023
£
2022
£
Visits and Tours
42,610
17,996
Lectures and Symposia
27,855
26,503
70,465
44,499
Income From Trading Activities
2023
£
2022
£
Publications and Royalties
3,688
3,987
Other Income
300
—
3,988
3,987
Investment Income
2023
£
2022
£
Income from Listed Investments
15,856
14,768
Interest Receivable on Cash Deposits
620
40
16,476
14,808
Expenditure
Unrestricted
Fund
£
Restricted
Funds
£
Total
2023
£
Total
2022
£
Charitable Activities
Visits and Tours
32,904
—
32,904
13,133
Lectures and Symposia
9,716
6,471
16,187
19,483
Donations and Grants
—
5,034
5,034
3,139
BIFMO
—
—
—
—
Journals
13,687
—
13,687
10,493
Newsletters
11,375
—
11,375
10,927
67,682
11,505
79,187
57,175
Support Costs
Secretarial and Administration
38,376
31,231
69,607
62,092
Travel
1,119
138
1,257
775
Mailing, Postage and Telephones
13,001
—
13,001
13,767
Printing and Stationery
1,422
—
1,422
1,379
Warehousing
1,631
—
1,631
1,582
Sundry expenses
3,647
294
3,941
3,417
Website costs
15,033
3,864
18,897
2,236
74,229
35,527
109,756
85,248

28

7. Expenditure continued

8.
9.
10.
11.		 Visits and Tours
2023
£
2022
£
Income
42,610
17,996
Less: Expenditure
(32,904)
(13,133)
Surplus for Year
9,706
4,863
Lectures and Symposia
2023
£
2022
£
Income
27,855
26,503
Less: Expenditure
(16,187)
(19,483)
Surplus for Year
11,668
7,020
Net Incoming Resources
2023
£
2022
£
This is stated after charging:
Accountants’ remuneration
2,400
2,000
Investments
2023
£
2022
£
a) Stock Market Investments:
Market Value at 1 July 2022
371,878
391,357
Disposals/Proceeds During the year
—
—
Realised (loss) on Disposals
—
—
Net(Loss)on Revaluation
(7,966)
(19,479)
Market Value at 30 June 2023
363,912
371,878
Historical Cost at 30 June 2023
264,698
264,698
Unrestricted
Fund
£
Restricted
Funds
£
Total
2023
£
Total
2022
£
Governance Costs
Examiner's remuneration
2,400
—
2,400
2,000
Insurance
1,558
—
1,558
1,540
Trustees’ Costs
2,170
400
2,570
1,217
6,128
400
6,528
4,757
Total
148,039
47,432
195,471
147,180

29

11. Investments continued

General Ingram Anniversary Total Total
Fund Fund Fund 2023 2022
£ £ £ £ £
Listed Investments - UK
M&G ‘Charifund’ Income
Shares		 45,669 59,079 — 104,748 110,709
COIF Income Shares 57,165 14,291 — 71,456 69,608
Schroders Charity Multi
Asset Fund		 — 52,382 102,731 155,113 160,031
CAF EquityFund B Shares — 32,595 — 32,595 31,530
102,834 158,347 102,731 363,912 371,878

The investments are held primarily to provide an investment return for the Society.

b) Property 2023 2022
£ £
At Valuation - 1 July 2022 376,000 291,500
Revaluation inyear — 84,500
At Valuation 30 June 2023 376,000 376,000

In 2015, a residential property in Twickenham was donated to the Society subject to a tenancy for life at no rent in favour of the donors. It is Council's intention that, when vacant possession is obtained, the freehold interest will be sold and the monies realised used to provide an income for the purposes of the fund (see Note 1).The property was revalued by the trustees in 2022.

12. Debtors
2023
£
2022
£
Prepayments
6,984
691
Gift Aid
8,342
—
Value Added Tax
2,217
512
17,543
1,203

30

13. Current Liabilities
2023
£
2022
£
Amounts Falling Due Within One Year
Deferred Income
31,057
23,315
Accruals
10,554
19,878
41,611
43,193

Deferred Income comprises income from subscriptions, tours, lectures and visits, received in advance and which will form part of incoming resources during the following financial year.

14(a) Movements in Funds

Movements in Funds
Unrestricted
Fund		 Designated
Fund		 Restricted Funds
General
Howard		 Ingram Anniversary Hilda Alison Kelly Card Makers Total
Current year Fund
Fund		 Fund Fund Gadd Fund Fund Donation 2023
£
£		 £ £ £ £ £ £
Income From:-
Membership Subscriptions 77,310
—		 — — — — — 77,310
Donations, Grants and Legacies 2,279
—		 —
18,561		 — — — 20,840
Charitable Activities 56,045
—		 — 14,720 — — — 70,765
Other Trading Activities 3,688
—		 — — — — — 3,688
Investment Income and Interest 4,628
—		 7,561
4,287		 — — — 16,476
Total 143,950
—		 7,561
37,568		 —
—		 — 189,079
Expenditure On:-
Charitable Expenditure 148,039
—		 6,974
40,458		 — — — 195,471
Total 148,039
—		 6,974
40,458		 —
—		 — 195,471
Transfers between funds 2,844
(545)		 —
—		 —
(1,855)		 (444) —
Net (Defcit)/Income (1,245) (545) 587
(2,890)		 —
(1,855)		 (444) (6,392)
Other Recognised Gains and
(Losses)
Gains on Investment Assets (1,122) — (3,589) (3,255) —
—		 — (7,966)
Net Movements in Funds (2,367) (545) (3,002) (6,145) —
(1,855)		 (444) (14,358)
Balance Brought Forward at
1 July 2022		 126,015
10,535		 218,556 134,216 376,000
1,855		 713 867,890
Balance Carried Forward at
30 June 2023		 123,648
9,990		 215,554 128,071 376,000
—		 269 853,532

31

14(b). Movements in Funds

Unrestricted
Fund		 Designated
Fund		 Restricted Funds Restricted Funds
General
Howard		 Ingram Anniversary
Hilda		 Alison Kelly Card Makers Total
Previous year Fund
Fund		 Fund Fund
Gadd Fund		 Fund Donation 2022
£
£		 £ £
£		 £ £ £
Income From:-
Membership Subscriptions 71,794
—		 —
—
—
—		 — 71,794
Donations, Grants and Legacies 2,631
—		 —
610
—
—		 — 3,241
Charitable Activities 26,217
—		 —
18,282
—
—		 — 44,499
Other Trading Activities 3,987
—		 —
—
—
—		 — 3,987
Investment Income and Interest 4,158
—		 6,444
4,206
—
—		 — 14,808
Total 108,787
—		 6,444
23,098
—
—		 — 138,329
Expenditure On:-
Charitable Expenditure 108,539
—		 3,537
35,104
—
—		 — 147,180
Total 108,539
—		 3,537
35,104
—
—		 — 147,180
Transfers between funds 2,832
(832)		 —
—		 (2,000) — —
Net (Defcit)/Income 3,080
(832)		 2,907 (12,006) —
(2,000)		 — (8,851)
Other Recognised Gains and
(Losses)
Gains on Investment Assets (4,589) — (7,626) (7,266) 84,500
—		 — 65,019
Net Movements in Funds (1,509) (832) (4,719) (19,272) 84,500
(2,000)		 — 56,168
Balance Brought Forward at
1 July2021		 127,524
11,367		 223,275 153,488 291,500
3,855		 713 811,722
Balance Carried Forward at
30 June 2022		 126,015
10,535		 218,556 134,216 376,000
1,855		 713 867,890

32

14(c). Split of Movements in Anniversary Fund

2023 2022
BIFMO Other
 Anniversary
Fund		 BIFMO Other Anniversary
Fund
Income From:-
Membership Subscriptions — —
—		 — —
—
Donations, Grants and Legacies 18,561 —
18,561		 610 —
610
Charitable Activities 14,720 —
14,720		 18,282 —
18,282
Other Trading Activities — —
—		 — —
—
Investment Income and Interest — 4,287
4,287		 — 4,206 4,206
Total 33,281 4,287
37,568		 18,892 4,206 23,098
Expenditure On:-
Charitable Expenditure 40,458 —
40,458		 33,604 1,500
35,104
Total 40,458 —
40,458		 33,604 1,500
35,104
Transfers between funds 15,409 (15,409) — 14,124 (14,124)
—
Net (Defcit)/Income 8,232 (11,122) (2,890) (588) (11,418) (12,006)
Other Recognised Gains and (Losses)
Gains on Investment Assets — (3,255) (3,255) — (7,266) (7,266)
Net Movements in Funds 8,232 (14,377) (6,145) (588) (18,684) (19,272)
Balance Brought Forward 3,869 130,347
134,216		 4,457 149,031
153,488
Balance Carried Forward 12,101 115,970
128,071		 3,869 130,347
134,216

15(a). Movements in Funds

Balance Incoming Outgoing Transfer Gains Balance
Current year 1 July 2022
£		 Resources
£		 Resources
£		 £ and Losses
£		 30 June 2023
£
Restricted Funds
Ingram Fund 218,556 7,561 (6,974) — (3,589) 215,554
Anniversary Fund 134,216 37,568 (40,458) — (3,255) 128,071
Hilda Gadd Fund 376,000 — — — — 376,000
Alison Kelly Fund 1,855 — — (1,855) — —
Card Makers Donation 713 — — (444) — 269
Designated Funds
Howard Fund 10,535 — — (545) — 9,990
Unrestricted Funds
General Fund 126,015 143,950 (148,039) 2,844 (1,122) 123,648
867,890 189,079 (195,471) — (7,966) 853,532

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15(b).Movements in Funds

Previous year Balance
1 July 2021		 Incoming
Resources		 Outgoing
Resources		 Transfer Gains
and Losses		 Balance
30 June 2022
£ £ £ £ £ £
Restricted Funds
Ingram Fund 223,275 6,444 (3,537) — (7,626) 218,556
Anniversary Fund 153,488 23,098 (35,104) — (7,266) 134,216
Hilda Gadd Fund 291,500 — — — 84,500 376,000
Alison Kelly Fund 3,855 — — (2,000) — 1,855
Card Makers Donation 713 — — — — 713
Designated Funds
Howard Fund 11,367 — — (832) — 10,535
Unrestricted Funds
General Fund 127,524 108,787 (108,539) 2,832 (4,589) 126,015
811,722 138,329 (147,180) — 65,019 867,890

16(a). Analysis of Net Assets Between Funds

Other
Current year Investments Assets Total
£ £ £
Unrestricted General Fund 102,834 20,814 123,648
Designated Fund
Howard Fund — 9,990 9,990
Restricted Funds
Ingram Fund 158,347 57,207 215,554
Anniversary Fund 102,731 25,340 128,071
Hilda Gadd Fund — 376,000 376,000
Alison Kelly Fund — — —
Card Makers Donation — 269 269
363,912 489,620 853,532

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16(b).Analysis of Net Assets Between Funds

Other
Previous year Investments Assets Total
£ £ £
Unrestricted General Fund 103,954 22,061 126,015
Designated Fund
Howard Fund — 10,535 10,535
Restricted Funds
Ingram Fund 161,934 56,622 218,556
Anniversary Fund 105,990 28,226 134,216
Hilda Gadd Fund — 376,000 376,000
Alison Kelly Fund — 1,855 1,855
Card Makers Donation — 713 713
371,878 496,012 867,890

17. Taxation

As a registered charity the society is exempt from corporation tax since all income is applied for charitable purposes.

18. Trustees’ Expenses and Remuneration

The Honorary Secretary, Dr. Megan Wheeler, was paid a total of £2,636 (2022: £ 1,968) comprising £2,550 (2022:£1,875) for website administration services.and other sundry costs £86 (2022: £92).

Dr Megan Aldrich was paid a total of £5,400 (2022-£5,375) comprising £5,000 (2022 £5,000) for editing the annual journal and £400 for other sundry costs (2022:£375).

Expenses paid to two trustees in the year totalled £941 (2022:£750), comprising reimbursed travel £762 (2022: £500) and other costs £179 (2022: £250).

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THE FURNITURE HISTORY SOCIETY

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE FURNITURE HISTORY SOCIETY FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2023

I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of The Furniture History Society (the 'Charity') for the year ended 30 June 2023.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ("the Act").

I report in respect of my examination of the Charity's accounts as carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5) (b) of the Act.

Independent examiner’s statement

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:

  1. Accounting records were not kept in respect of the Charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or

  2. The accounts do not accord with those records; or

  3. The accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a true and fair view which is not a mater considered as part of an independent examination.

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Christopher Pexton FCA Begbies, Chartered Accountants 9 Bonhill Street, London EC2A 4DJ

Date: 13 October 2023

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