Thomas Messel has been designing and creating handcrafted furniture since 1979. His style is characterised by a sense of the romantic and is influenced by his enthusiasm for the European 17th to 19th century decorative arts from the baroque to the neo-classical as well as his practical appreciation of contemporary design. Clients include the Earl and Countess of Derby the Crown Estates Kensington Palace Windsor Castle and Miss Joan Rivers as well as interior designers in England and New York. Thomas personally designs and draws every detail of his furniture which is then built by the finest cabinet makers chair frame makers carvers gilders painters and upholsterers. He also draws on the skills or other specialist craftsmen working in metal glass shell stone marble scagliola pietra dura marquetry leather and vellum.