Walsall's leather heritage celebrated in new collection

Historic collections at Walsall Leather Museum have helped inspire a new range of handcrafted candlesticks by one of the country's leading design makers.

Sarah Thirlwell has produced two designs of wooden candlesticks incorporating layers of leather from Walsall's saddleries and leather workshops as part of the Buy Black Country project.

Buy Black Country consists of a handful of limited edition products inspired by the historic collections within several of the Black Country's museums and art galleries.

They are:

* Wooden candlesticks by Sarah Thirwell inspired by Walsall Leather Museum

* Enamel and cooper brooches by Rebecca Gouldson inspired by Bilston's enamelling traditions and incorporating images taken from old Ordnance Survey maps of the area

* Hand crafted acrylic brooches by Adam Paxon inspired by the Broadfield House Glass Museum in Dudley

Mike Glasson, senior curator at Walsall Leather Museum, said: "All these items celebrate the Black Country's unique heritage and it is great to see the final products which the designers have come up with after viewing the collections at the area's museums and galleries.

"Our particular heritage here in Walsall is the leathermaking industry and I am delighted with the final items which have been produced by Sarah and gives people the chance to own an item which celebrates this aspect of the borough's history."

Buy Black Country is funded by Renaissance West Midlands and supported by Walsall, Wolverhampton, Sandwell and Dudley councils. Further items inspired by the museums and galleries will be available from Spring 2011.

Items are on sale from Walsall Leather Museum, Wolverhampton Art Gallery, Bilston Craft Gallery, Black Country Living Museum, Broadfield Glass Museum and the Red House Glass Cone.

Video journalist Nicky Butler went along to Walsall Leather Museum to find out more.