DRAW NOW CLOSED BUT YOU CAN STILL DONATE & YOUR DONATIONS WILL STILL BE REDIRECTED. THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO PLAYED ALONG & WELL DONE TO JUSTIN & SUE Xxx

Even if you don’t watch the news, listen to the radio or read the newspapers, if you’re reading this then you have access to the internet and you are fully aware of why we need to raise money for the Ukraine Crisis and the many charities supporting & providing aid. We all want to do our part to help whether it’s doing something directly or simply putting money in the pot. I’m normally a ‘money in the pot’ person but this time I found something I can do. 

Rather than regurgitate what you already know, I will tell you the story of this table & how it can help… 

My name is Krystina and I own a small business called Home House Home Furniture. I am a refinisher of old furniture and I have a large collection of pieces sat patiently waiting for their time to be re-loved. This table was one of these pieces, sat quite high up on a stack of furniture. Whilst moving bits around, this table took a dive… and fell apart! So I figured it would be my next project. During the repairs I discovered the CC41 stamp. For those unfamiliar with this, it was the mark used from 1941 on rationed cloth & clothing and from 1942 it was applied to furniture under the ‘Utility Furniture’ scheme because of the shortage of timber. Only licensed manufacturers could produce utility furniture, a specified range of designs, & use the CC41 mark. Rationing ended in 1948, however many licensed makers continued to use the mark as a symbol of quality craftsmanship right up until the scheme ended in 1952. This table is stamped with the license no. 646 which I’ve found to be S.E. Smith of 506/8 High Road, Leytonstone E11. The high number suggests this table would have been made late in to the scheme (many manufacturers had to cease making furniture because their factories & workshops were needed for other war efforts but once these needs were no longer required, they could apply for a furniture license and return to their original craft) and likely after 1948 when makers could use the stamp on their own designs & not just on the limited range of utility designs.

I have refinished Utility pieces in the past but for this one to literally jump out at me at this current time it seemed like fate that I should use this piece from the recovery of WW2 to help with this appeal. No matter the length of a war, the recovery is long.

HOW to raise the funds then became the next decision! Fixed price? Sealed bids? Online auction? And then this idea was suggested to me by a fellow painter. You (yes you reading this!) donate £10 for the chance to own this beautiful table. My hope is that at least 21 of you would like to have this opportunity. 

£210 could provide a fully equipped first aid kit, including supplies, to a first aider treating those wounded.

If we only raise £100 this could provide sleeping mats for 66 people who have been forced from their homes.

 If we raise more than £210, every additional £10 could provide a hygiene kit to a family of five, giving them supplies to stay healthy for a month,

£20 could provide five blankets to families taking shelter,

£33 could provide 40 chlorine tablets to ensure that families have access to clean, safe water.

To take part, donations must be received by end of 31st March 2022 and you need to allow your email address to be visible (otherwise I won’t be able to contact you if your donation is picked to receive the table!) Table to be collected from Somerset UK. Anyone can donate but think about HOW you are going to get the table! (UK Delivery may be an option but there may be an extra cost depending on location.) If you’re interested in knowing more about the refinishing of this table, videos etc can be found on my socials.THANK YOU FOR READING & FOR YOUR DONATIONS. And just for clarity, making a donation is equivalent to buying a raffle ticket, it means you are in with a chance of owning this table and does not guarantee or secure ownership. One donor will receive this table and will need to arrange collection/delivery. The winner will be notified & subsequent arrangements made via email. Thank you, Krystina x