I'm always on the lookout for unusual gifts for Christmas and birthdays and here is a business whose wonderful products are made from a beautifully-crafted by-product of Northampton's shoe manufacturing. Susan Gaston, an art and antiques dealer, had a family background in the shoe business. While sourcing stock for her business she stumbled on old shoe lasts originally made by one of the finest shoe factories in Northampton.
At first, Susan and her husband Jimmy had no idea what to do with the lasts. They had been bought on impulse, out of a sense of nostalgia. Both agreed they should be preserved, not least because they are an important symbol of industrial heritage. They set about making a range of objets d’art.
They co-design the pieces, restoring each last before hand-making striking pieces using natural wood. They are made into coffee tables, mirrors, bookends, doorstops, coat pegs, table lamps and bookshelves. Susan and Jimmy also take bespoke commissions. For more information, or to buy, click on White, Dove & Wonder.
