Studio: international art (18.1900)

Arts and Crafts

opus sectile. Although these and some of the more for architectural purposes is projected, architects
important examples of the " Delia Robbia" Com- shrink from countenancing schemes of distinctively
pany's productions are designed by Mr. Rathbone novel character, preferring merely imitative repro-
himself, many of the artists who co-operate with ductions of eighteenth-century details, as being safe
him are skilled designers, whose work has the merit and not too unconventional. This servility—for
of being very distinctive in quality and character. such it must in honesty be called—exerts an evil
Mr. Richard Rathbone, who must not be con- influence on contemporary design in metal, limiting
founded with his cousin above named, has turned the scope and discouraging the enterprise of pro-
his attention to metal-work, a craft in which he gressive craftsmanship. The small minority of
excels, as his recently exhibited works amply architects who are genuinely original decorators
testified. They included a handsome silver casket naturally prefer to design their own iron-work as
set with jade stone; a drawing of an alms dish for well as the other accessories they require. The
Menai Bridge Church, with a border of intricate iron grille is an instance of originality of treatment,
interlacings alternating with plain bosses, a pleasing The pierced panels of ships are backed each with
contrast of delicacy and boldness; a copper ink- a sheet of opal glass, behind which it is intended
stand ; a brass curb fender of simple pattern with a that electric light should be fitted. The wavy
row of round bosses ; and the hanging lamps made ...lines in the alternate panels suggest the idea
for the Guildhall Masque. The last
named are of quaint form, not dissimilar

from censers, their domical covers being ^...........

pierced window-wise to let the light shine

through from within. The door fur- ___-riC<*

niture and cabinet fillings in I miss or ~"Z~S^3 \ "*»fT/f

copper, the latter in many cases bronzed, ■- 1 j '• f' f

show admirable appreciation of the
material, together with an ornamental '!*—-- 1&
sense of a high order. Some of the drop '■ j ' -
handles, with graceful twists terminating ts^^&m Is

in open loops adapted to the shape of

the thumb for use, are excellent, whether j---j. .....

from the point of view of utility or
decoration.

Mr. Edgar Simpson is not only a prac-
tical metal-worker but also a designer of re-
fined taste, as his two cups (page 256) by
their graceful form bear witness. The bowl
of the shorter one is small, but to have
enlarged it would have been to make it

7

1 v A

too heavy in proportion to the slender- ,y j

ness of the stem. The foot is in the
form of a trefoil, barbed like a heraldic
rose. Again, it is a happy idea to vary
the conventional circle of the electric
bell-push by setting it in a rectangular
panel like those with fishes embossed
upon them, or that one with an orna-
mental rendering of the seed-vessels of
the " honesty " plant.

In his designs for metal-work Mr.
A. Harold Smith aims at simplicity,
soundness of construction, and, as far as
may be, also freshness of form. His
experience, however, goes to show that

in the majority of cases where ironwork metal work door panel designed by h. s. pepper

258