Craftsmanship and Community: A Conversation with Mick Lapsley of Lapsley Frameworks

Tucked behind our factory in Walthamstow, Lapsley Frameworks is home to Mick Lapsley, a master mount maker with over two decades of experience. Mick’s skill has seen him work on some of the world’s most prestigious art collections, from the Terracotta Army to the Crown Jewels. In this interview, he reflects on his journey into mount making, the fascinating projects that come through his workshop, and the close-knit community he’s found with fellow local makers—including our founder, Han Ates. And, of course, there’s Mabel, his ever-loyal companion, who runs HR with her own brand of charm.

Hi Michael, can you please introduce yourself and tell us a little about what you do?

My name is Mick Lapsley, director of Lapsley Frameworks Ltd. For the last 22 years, I have been a mount maker and started my own company almost 7 years ago. Over the years, I have taken care of the display requirements of some of the most important art collections worldwide, including China, Singapore, Canada, and Kuwait, and I have even worked on the Crown Jewels.

How did you reach your current level of craft, and what were some of the steps that got you here?

I have always had a passion for art and design, and after leaving university with a degree in Fine Art, I was lucky enough to be employed at the National Maritime Museum, where I was responsible for the transport, storage, and installation of works in the collection. This introduced me to the world of mount making, which before this I had not been aware of. I had never really stopped to think about how objects appeared to float inside museum showcases. I’ve been fortunate to work with amazing stonemasons, locksmiths, carpenters, and fabricators, and as the old saying goes, every day is a school day.

 

How long have you known Han/BLA, and how did you meet?

I have always been aware of BLA since I have lived in Walthamstow for almost 20 years, but I really got to know Han in 2020 when I moved into Blackhorse Mews. We would often share a morning coffee and discuss the various objects I had in the workshop. Han has a great eye and appreciates beauty in many forms, especially vintage machinery. He, like me, believes in traditional skills and using traditional machinery for this. He often appears at my door with a worn or tired machine component, and it’s a pleasure to repair and keep these machines going.

You get some pretty interesting and random projects coming your way. Can you tell us about some of the more extreme ones?

There are rarely two weeks the same in my workshop, with a wide variety of projects to work on—from 64-million-year-old Triceratops skulls to a 2,500-year-old Egyptian sarcophagus. But I must say the most amazing object I ever worked on was a head from the Terracotta Army. I had to place my hands inside to work out where I was going to make a support armature. In doing so, my hands fitted perfectly into the handprints of the person who pushed the clay into the head form almost 3,000 years ago.

How does it feel working in Walthamstow, surrounded by so many different makers? How do you feel about the local community?

I love being based in Walthamstow. We have such a creative environment, and I’ve become friends with many different people in the area. I work with makers from Blackhorse Workshop, local welders, and local carpenters, and all of our businesses support each other. Han has been a great support to me and has really helped me out with some display case solutions involving fabric linings. We all share skills, and it costs nothing more than an occasional bag of local coffee and biscuits. I’ve even become involved with local bands using the recording studio next door to my workshop and relaunched my love of DJing with them.

What do you look for in a perfect pair of jeans?

Because of my work, pretty much every piece of clothing I own becomes work clothing. I am mostly welding or working on machinery, however, I also need to be able to meet important clients at very short notice. I find the workwear from BLA is perfect for me. It allows me to feel safe and comfortable while working, but still presentable if a client arrives.

Finally, can you tell us about Mabel’s involvement in your business?

Mabel is responsible for HR here at Lapsley Frameworks. She is usually the first to greet anybody who arrives at the front door, so as the face of the business, it is important that she is always well presented. If anyone has any problems at work, whether that be here or at any of the surrounding businesses, she always has time to lend a helping paw and remind them that no problem is too big to be resolved by a little game of catch and a snooze.

You can find out more about Mick and Mabel here