Raise A Toast

THE RE-ISSUING OF A HUMBLE TOAST RACK wouldn’t normally generate so much excitement in fans of design, but this is no ordinary breakfast table item. This is the Campden toast rack by Robert Welch.

- Caitlin Clements

The celebrated Hereford-born designer used stainless steel in the creation of a large number of his products, pioneering the use of the material in everyday objects. An alumnus of the Royal College of Art, he had begun his time there as a silversmith before turning his hand to the more affordable steel.

Welch made the toast rack for Old Hall in 1956 as part of the Campden collection and it has become symbolic of the innovative fervour of that decade. The designer himself played a key role in revolutionising both the materials and the manufacturing techniques of that era, with a particular focus on form and function. With its clean lines and simple shape, the minimalist toast rack still works well in a contemporary home, even if the concept of sitting down and waiting for your toast to cool is somewhat outdated for today’s grab-and-go breakfasts.