Journeymen.
1.—G. Snailum, 66 Clarendon Road, Hornsey, panel, 36 × 13½. First prize, 10l.
2.—H. Ross, 13 Melton Street, N.W., bracket and oil-lamp. Second prize, 7l. 10s.
3.—T. R. Kendall, 11 Haymerle Road, Peckham, suspending-lamp holder, third prize, 5l.
In the preface to their list of exhibits the Company (through their energetic clerk, Mr. W. B. Garrett) appeal to exhibitors:
The Blacksmiths’ Company initiate this exhibition in the hope that British workmen will once more come to the front, and show that they can make as good and as elegant articles, both for use and ornament, as can the foreign artisan. Many persons who visited the Italian Exhibition last year saw what that country could produce, and must have been struck by the number of articles in ornamental ironwork sold, and, in many instances, in which copies were ordered. Why does not the English workman endeavour to follow—shall I not say lead?—in such work, and so retain in this country a growing and profitable industry?
We can endorse this appeal, and hope that the first exhibition may be but the forerunner of many others, each to be more successful than its predecessor.
The Blacksmiths expressed their best thanks to the Ironmongers for so kindly lending their hall, as also to Sir P. C. Owen and his staff at the South Kensington Museum for sending on loan a most interesting and valuable collection of ancient ironwork, chiefly of the fifteenth, sixteenth, and seventeenth century. Among the articles exhibited were:—
- Keys of various countries.
- Fire-dog (Venetian), sixteenth century.
- Prow of a gondola, fifteenth century.
- Knocker (Italian), fifteenth century.
- Knocker (German), about 1600.
- Candlesticks and snuffer-stands.
- Locks, various dates.
One of the wardens of the Blacksmiths’ Company, Mr. J. F. Clarke, sent for exhibition several interesting articles, including a large representation of the armorial shield of the Company, whose motto is: “By Hammer and Hand all Arts do Stand.”