Centre until December 28 William Morris, the 19th-century designer and social reformer who has come to be known as the father of arts and crafts, has always had his cult of devotees, but a resurgence of interest in Morris after a large exhibition of his work travelled to several major cities last year showed just how modern his ideas were.

Morris, who repudiated fine art and glorified manual skill, believed that people -- especially city dwellers -- had to create their own "earthly paradise,'' their own refuge from the increasing pressures of a world that was rapidly industrialising.

Though Morris' dream of universal craftsmanship ultimately failed to materialise as he had hoped, his overall philosophy did presage the idea that the home and its contents could be both utilitarian and beautiful, practical and artistic.

That philosophy, moreover, is very much at the fore of a new showing of painted objects at Dockyard's Bermuda Arts Centre, which has assembled a rather exquisite display of hand-coloured pieces -- most of them household items -- by a number of local artists.

Of course, none of the artists actually crafted, a la Morris, any of the chairs or bowls or furniture that are on display here -- they just beautified them.

Furthermore, the show does contain the usual hodgepodge of doggie plant-holders and sickly-coloured pots that has sullied the image of arts and crafts over the years. On the bright side, though, there is absolutely no macrame to be seen anywhere.

That said, the objects that really shine are the various types of chairs that have been painted and the wildly funky mirrors of artist Will Collieson.

Mr. Collieson, who is best known for his monoprints, installations and assemblages of found material, has created a wonderful quartet of colourfully framed mirrors that would draw even the most self-conscious of people to constant reflection. Surrounded by fish, fruit and classically inspired scenes, they would also make a great addition to any home, restaurant or bar.

The chairs, meanwhile, are almost too pretty to sit on. From Amy Evans' hand-painted gold-leaf chair to Rhona Emmerson's forest green milking stool with sunflower seat to Helen Whight's absolutely delightful bright blue straight-back with gold-tipped slippers on top, these pieces will make it almost impossible to look at an ordinary kitchen chair in the same light again.

Of course, not all of the objects on display are of a utilitarian nature. Some (like Niall Woolf's mixed-media shoes and Peter Farleigh's cardboard and acrylic wheel) are just plain art, while others (like Sally Cokeley-Woolf's "Last Orders Please'' bottle display and Helen Daniel's fish, flower and birdpots) are just plain fun.

Most, however, are simply household items that have been elevated to the status of objets d'art -- Kevin Pantry's gorgeous writing desk and small oak table with trompe l'oeil top, Lynn Morrell's bowls and trays and Suzie Hayward's French and Russian florals are just some of the ones that come to mind.

Consequently, anyone with an interest in furniture as art -- or in the art of furnishing a home -- would do well to head out to Dockyard. William Morris would undoubtedly be pleased.

DANNY SINOPOLI JUST PLAIN FUN -- Sally Cokeley-Woolf's "Last Orders Please'' bottle display at the Bermuda Arts Centre's "Painted Objects'' show.