Studio: international art (8.1896)

Studio- Talk

ship, which would worthily grace the benches. Mr. T. Swaffield Brown, Master of the Guild,
Unfortunately, many manufacturers prefer to view with his staff of workers in repousse, was well in
their exhibits in the light of an advertisement, and evidence with a multitude of designs and materials,
ridicule the necessity of education, and yet they With an instructive model of "Victory"—in parts
must admit, if they will give the subject a for moulding purposes, he appears at his best,
moment's consideration, that the loans of such Probably no man in this district has done more to
specimens as they may select, if not immediately encourage true art in the designing of silver plate,
productive in business, must en- his admiration for line and pro-
courage their craftsmen to pro--- - -portion being apparent in all his

duce workmanship of a higher ._ ill work. Mr. G. Halliday's speci-

class, which will eventually secure W^^~^****&M - 1/ mens of hammered copper display

the desired end by enhancing W I// an exceptional knowledge of treat-

their reputation. Cutlery then, (j, £ - V 11/ ment of subject and material with

as shown in the heart of the great i'L %§P^|'//• If} a high degree of draughtsmanship,

industry, was disappointing. The ^;- %p'W'> ■ t | §' A C0PPer panel, Night, by Mr.

few spprimens sent were excellent W M^-^^f1^/ • Douglas, showed an admirable

of their class, but certainly not / ,'^( \^\ t ability to deal with the metal, but

what might have been expected. f - ^ | a want of knowledge of anatomy

and study of design. The ham-

Wrought-iron work was confined f - j. I mered panels for commercial pur-

to one exhibitor, Mr. Thomas M^ l m\ 1 P°S6S designed by Mr" Edward

Taylor. As examples of difficult i p m\ |( Tuck, and executed by Mr. G. R.

smithing no praise can be too ■ M !Zj '! Webster, were far above the usual

high ; but here is a case in which // § ' ■ i \ |/ specimens of their class, a series

the craftsman has lost sight of all 1 / °' ( | on the lines of Scandinavian orna-

the elements of good taste in his Mi ™ | ' | l| ment being especially noteworthy,

endeavour to produce a compli- |i///f( • ^ Mr. Tuck's sheets of designs for

cated forging. There is no affec- 'if// W0^—^ .\ ! I wrought-iron work were full of

tation of period in any of the |/|/' »«l»nt the, Co^^c | ideas evidently worked out on

examples, but each has the stamp ml ^£'nriE rAP-T'nc0lt(T ;j simple lines to combine economy

of the worker. With his know- %\ ti H S'Tll with artistic effect,
ledge of the material it would be

better if the forging were forgot- /■'//,__fL One of the most charming

ten in the contemplation of line panels was the life-size head of

and effect, and with the feeling in el£ctric bell-plate Elizabeth shown in plaster by

° by e. l. mercer *"

view that beauty may be arrived Miss E. L. Mercer. The model-

at with less labour, and that com- ling of the varying planes is
plicated smith-work does not necessarily mean remarkably clever, and equal ability is apparent
perfection in wrought-iron work, this exhibitor is in the two boldly designed electric bell plates,

capable of producing astonishing results. As an education in the art of bookbinding, Miss

stove-grate panel

by edward tuck

173