Product Description
John Pearson / British Arts & Crafts Handwrought copper tea caddy c. 1900
JOHN PEARSON (19th century) UK
Tea caddy c. 1900
Handwrought copper with rivets, repoussé lid with 4 heart-shaped leaves, rich red brown original patina
Marked: JP in an oval cartouche (on bottom)
H: 4 1/2″ x D: 4 1/4″
For more information on Pearson see: CR Ashbee: architect, designer & romantic socialist, Alan Crawford (New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 1985), pp. 32-33, 46, 313-316; Reflections: arts and crafts metalwork in England and the United States (New York: Kurland – Zabar, 1990), pp. 32-33.
Pearson was an original member of CR Ashbee’s Guild of Handicraft starting in 1888. He later resigned to join the Newlyn Industrial Class. He also worked for the designer & ceramicist William De Morgan which is where many of his fanciful themes in repousse are inspired. He is considered one of the finest repousse metalsmiths of the period. His shop remained active until after the turn of the century, most pieces are dated.
John Pearson / British Arts & Crafts Handwrought copper tea caddy c. 1900
Silver lidded bowl with ebony finial and rectangular ebony handles, decorated with enamel in fan shapped tiers of three shades of blue and black
Marks: French Touchmarks (Head of Minerva) 2x, Lapparra diamond shape silver touch mark, Red Lacquer Cranbrook Museum Accession No. 1930.77
Exhibited: Third International Exposition of Contemporary Industrial Arts, 1930-1931 The American Federation of Arts 1930-1931, The Museum of Fine Arts Boston, October 15 – November 10, 1930, The Metropolitan Museum of Art New York, December 1 – December 28, 1930, The Art Institute of Chicago, January 19 – February 15, 1931, The Cleveland Museum of Art Cleveland, March 11 – April 5, 1931; Art Deco, 1971 (Minneapolis: Minneapolis Institute of Arts)
Model illustrated: Art Deco, A Guide for Collectors, Katherine Morrison McClinton (New York: Clarkson N. Potter, Inc., 1972) p. 162; Art Deco, Judith Applegate (New York: Finch College Museum of Art, 1970) illustr. 392; The Cranbrook Collections, Sotheby, Parke-Bernet, New York, 1972, illustr. 31, pp. 7 & 9, Third International Exposition of Contemporary Industrial Arts, 1930 (New York: Finch College Museum of Art) No. 392; Art Deco, 1971 (Minneapolis: Minneapolis Institute of Arts) No. 164; International Exhibition of Metalwork and Cotton Textiles exhibition catalogue (The American Federation of Arts, 1930) No. 169
H: 4” x W: 4 ½” x D: 4”
Edward Spencer attr. (1872-1938) UK
Artificer’s Guild (1901-42) UK
Pair of candlesticks circa 1910.
Handwrought iron with a squared central support terminating in a attenuated vine like wrap.
H: 10 1/2″ x Dia: 5 1/2″
The Artificers’ Guild Ltd was founded in 1901 by the metalwork and enameler Nelson Dawson (1859-1942). It was one of the few guilds inspired by the Arts and Crafts movement to enjoy real commercial success, and remained in operation until 1938. It was bought out in 1903 by the Birmingham entrepreneur Montague Fordham and established on a more commercial footing, producing domestic metalwork, church plate and furnishings, presentation plate and jewelry.
Fordham promoted Edward Spencer (1873-1938), previously Dawson’s principal designer, to be Director of the Guild’s workshop in Hammersmith. The Guild also had a showroom originally located just off Regent Street. Spencer died in 1938, shortly after the firm was wound up. During its existence, the Guild operated as a substantial business, employing over 40 staff at its peak, including a large number of skilled craftsmen, many of whom would have been trained in the Guild’s workshop. Although unacknowledged for much of the 20th century, the Guild is now recognized as an important producer of high quality metalwork and jewelry during this period.