Studio: international art (30.1904)

Studio-Talk

ALTAR CROSS BY K. HILTON

CHESTER.—For an enthusiastic crafts-
man such as Mr. Robert Hilton there
would seem to be no more suitable
environment than the ancient city of
Chester, and no place more suitable for an exhibi-
tion of his work than the fine old Chapter House
of the Cathedral. Here was recently displayed an
exceedingly fine collection of Mr. Hilton's design
and craftsmanship, consisting mainly of ecclesi-
astical ornaments, all displaying evidence of strong
devotional feeling and a deep love of the mystic
symbolism of mediaeval times. A few illustrations
are here given of this exhibited work. A very fine
chalice and paten in silver, executed for St. John
the Baptist Church, Croydon, bears the vine as
the chief decoration, and green translucent enamel
letters are introduced in the roots of the vine, while
the letters J E S U are in gold cloisons with ruby
translucent enamel ground.

For^jthe memorial chancel to the late Mr.
Gladstone, at St. Matthew's, Buckley, are an altar
cross and pair of altar candlesticks, also a prayer
board and hymn board. The cross is in bright
copper riveted together with silver rivets. Up the
centre in repousse is the olive. The centre plaque,
on a ground of ruby translucent, shows the Agnus
Dei in Limoges enamel; the other four plaques
are in silver, with an emblem of an Evangelist in
each, worked in repousse on a translucent blue
enamel ground.

The altar candlesticks are bright riveted copper.
From the base a rose runs up the shaft and
blossoms beneath the candle socket.

A prayer board for Christ Church, Chester, is of
green-toned oak, having an antique bronze crucifix
placed upon a background of blue opalesque trans-
lucent enamel. The letters Alpha, Omega, are in

ALTAR CROSS BY R. HILTON

16*