International studio (33.1907/1908(1908))

Metal IVork at Boston


SILVER TEA SERVICE

DESIGNED AND EXECUTED BY GEORGE J. HUNT

M

ETAL WORK AT BOSTON
BY F. W. COBURN

By opening its series of semi-
monthly exhibitions for the season of
1907-08 with collections of work in the various
metals, the Society of Arts and Crafts made sure
of having exhibits that would conform to a high
professional standard. Even if it is true that in
some of the handicrafts the prevailing note is still
one of amateurishness, the more prominent crafts-
men, at all events, who work in copper, brass,
pewter and silver are thoroughly competent. Some
of them, indeed, have trade qualifications which no
manufacturer could despise. Tiffany and the
Gorham have yielded to the arts and crafts move-
ment a small but influential contingent of skilled
designers who know the modern and ancient
practices of their craft, and who are outside the big
commercial establishments solely because they
prefer to produce under individualistic conditions
which do not exist there. Incidentally, the expert-
ness and the sanity of these workers who have been
regular contributors for some years past to the
exhibitions at the salesrooms of the society in
Boston have certainly affected favorably all the
arts and crafts that are practised in this country.
About the only qualification, indeed, that is
applicable to the best among these metal workers
is that they are all under the influence of the
eclecticism that in general marks the arts at this
time. Picking and cribbing—a steal from the
Gothic here, a copy of Georgian borders there—
finish and refinement are the words. To originate
overmuch subjects one to the risk of being crude.
To accept and readapt is safe and sane.
Such policy, furthermore, is imposed from above.

Much of the best metal work to-day is done at the
behest of architects who long ago discovered the
utility of honest stealing. Therein they have
historical warrant, of course, and, doubtless, in
order that a later generation may have a style, it is
necessary that craftsmen of to-day should affect
all styles.
This electicism must be tempered with great
simplicity and restraint, however, if the works are
to be shown under the auspices of the Society of
Arts and Crafts. Serious work passes the jury.
Of exuberance and jollity of design and execution,
very little; though probably little of this sort is
offered. The splendid distinction, anyway, of
most of the things shown this winter is due to terse-
ness of treatment accompanying singleness of in-
tention.
But to our exhibitions. The first one of this
season, occurring in fhe early days of November,
was devoted to the non-precious metals. It
brought forth products of the stake and planishing
hammer of Arthur J. Stone, Arthur S. Williams,
George F. Parker, George J. Hunt, Adolphe J
Kunkler, Miss Helen Keeley Mills, James T.
Wooley, Charles Thomas, Samuel J. Wilkes, Miss
May Haydock, Miss Eva M. Macomber and
others. The whole effect was one of good work-
manship, simple, free from the eccentricities which
are sometimes supposed to inhere in crafts articles.
Typical of the best in the exhibition were the
contributions of Mr. Stone, former Tiffany man,
now designing and executing independently at
Gardner, Mass. A more thoroughly professional
craftsman, as regards attitude and practices, can
hardly be found or one more chary of design that
might be regarded as meaningless or meretricious.
Two of the most refined of Mr. Stone’s recent

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