Studio: international art (9.1897)

TJic Arts and Crafts

devoted to his art as when he was " undiscovered"; Mrs. Dawson) in the West Gallery, and another
success has not found a victim in his case, and to the whole of the tablet, Heraldic Device in beaten

withstand popularity is a vital test of a true artist. steel andchamplev'e enamel (see page 127), of which

Within the limits he has set himself, he proves his the panel alore is reproduced here,

mastery easily and un- But the very beautiful

affectedly. Already a _________=======s_=_=_=_s_7 trowel in wrought steel,

too-faithful group of dis- 'i^^^iiitoiiftiit'iii i -'in^nriiidriiiiwi silver and copper, and
ciples are imitating .his jiggf?5 its leather satchel, de-
manner ; but in none do WSmW^S^BS^^^^SS^^^I^'W^^^^ signed by Mr. and
you find the curiously Mrs. Dawson, who were
spontaneous charm of vSBS^^^^T^F^ '*^^wiffiS_f__r assisted in the execution
their model. Easy read- «^r^ 4y^^jjJBQ|r by S. Cope and C. Otta-
ing is hard writing, ac- way, is here seen for the
cording to a popular ^ A^^i f*rst time- The two il-
saying; and the apparent \ ■? •■ lustrations give some
carelessness, using the HF^T*0 idea of the admirable
word in its original sense, H_f ^S_^ <£9 design of this fine work,
of Mr. Anning Bell's ' ^3^^ but its colour is not even
work, is not the result _d|^fv Jb^M yuM- suggested. The absence
of mere agility and dex- / \i' °^ ^S 1uaut>'' wnich it
terity alone. ^A-HL ^^^Wfa'1*——— is the whole purpose of
Mr. Nelson Dawson's ^^f»^^*V 1 ^2_« enamel to display to an
work bulks somewhat jj jf^ extent that only a
largel) in the index of /II] tlwR- jjWIj stained-glass window can

the catalogue, where Lit' Myt _fitv x*£Jaw \ rival, is also felt keenly

eight numbers stand mill I \ ' 5/ ^K_pk 'm lllustra"on 0i" A

against his name, and /If Irl^ ^MNMmS Christening Casket in

two are accredited to his * I I rH f fVr' Vil Wrought Steel with En-

tf r m I _'• III > * mr \ r f V Asl

wife; but not so largely \mm iMR- amels (page 126), a Verit-
as in the roll of honour, ;L*_ a^^e Piece °f metal
for these ten works are "«»m/'J, :-r; t)L*' \ \ jSlr.' work, not merely in
conspicuous for the material, but in struc-
qualities that make for \\ f W\ ■■■ ture, which needs but to

Art and Craft alike. A | ' $"'-'// '. iff* \\\ ir^K" ,:ontrasted wlth tnc

notice of this year's Ex- I yp! average box that con-

hibition might almost be j '■ J&wf \£ I 1 \ tains " tlie freedom of

compiled with paste and 1 ' ' 'mm I * 1 the °*ty" bestowed by

scissors employed upon t tBf- ' J i ll\ \ I various corporations on

a set of The Studio, did /?frW^'|j I • ^IC'^' various heroes, to make

not good taste prevent f ''/L y ^ 'i^^^L^m^^^mmS^ you realise ll0w entirely

one "cutting up" this '• ' ^^-■■l/'^j^~r it is above the tradition

maga/ine either meta- 2=9Htt9M^^^ffiSHtt^B^8^^HS8H of tlie day in sucil

phorically or actually to WHP™—things. The very dainty
concoct a new article cup on a stand with cover

r .1 f n , "THE CUP OF WATER." PANEL IN COLOURED RELIEF / • i i . i tt m

from the fragments. But (graciously lent by H.M.

0 BY R. ANNING BELL v •«

so much has been already the Queen), also illus-

said of Mr. Nelson Daw- trated here (see page

son's masterly handling of metals and enamels, and 127), is a beautiful thing no less perfect in

some of the actual objects here have been already form than in colour. A large bowl in beaten and

selected as the text for eulogy, that bare reference wrought copper on a pedestal is a most new and

will suffice. As lately as December 1895, many of beautiful shape. Owing nothing to extraneous ad-

the "Dawson Enamels " were illustrated in these dition, it is one of the best things in wrought metal

pages, one being a companion roundel to the which the revival of the craft so long debased

Honesty which is seen in a case of enamels (by has yet produced. A fine triptych in steel and