William Vile: A Master of Georgian Craftsmanship William Vile (c. 1700 – September 1767) stands as a towering figure in the annals of English cabinetmaking, recognized not merely for his output but for establishing an unparalleled standard of craftsmanship that would endure until the late twentieth century British craft revival. Born in Somerset around 1700, Vile’s life remains shrouded in relative obscurity, leaving much to speculation regarding his formative years and artistic influences—a frustrating absence of biographical detail considering the extraordinary legacy he bequeathed to subs…