Classes in metalwork, jewellery and enamelling

Start Date: 1903
End Date: 1921

Type: Art school class

Description: Classes in enamelling and metalwork. Goldsmiths' and Silversmiths' Apprentices were encouraged to attend these classes and prizes funded by the Goldsmiths' and Silversmiths' Corporations were awarded to the best performers.
Letter from Francis Wallace, Hon. Sec. of the Assay Office, Goldsmiths' Hall, Custom House July 30th 1908 (incorp. by royal charter 1637...on headed paper)...thanking the Headmaster of MSA for showing interest in the apprentices and delighted with their progress and due attention and care they have shown to their work as a result.

Letter from James C. Wallace Clerk to the Corporation

Policy: As per Copy of 'Cooperation agreement between Goldsmiths Corporation of Ireland and Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction for Ireland, dated May 5th 1905: 'Desirability of doing everything we possibly can to aid it [Goldsmiths Corporation] in its work of trying to educate and elevate its workmen. They've decided all their boys will have to attend a school of art three nights per week, and released from work earlier to do so'.
Classes held from
10am to 1pm and 2pm to 4pm, on Wednesdays and Fridays.
Additionally, from 7pm to 9pm Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.


Reeves Staff file no 31.


'The boys pay their own fees, which are returned at the end of session, on receipt of a favorable report from the school authorites. Boys absenting themselves without leave will be fined for doing so. Members of the Corporation in Cork, Belfast and Limerick to use their influence to get them [apprentices] to attend Art Classes in those places'.
To offer 3 prizes for apprentices attending such art classes through out Ireland:
First prize value 1-10-0, second prize 1-1-0 and third prize 0-10-6. At completion of apprenticeship each apprentice shall execute an original piece of work as a diploma work or 'masterpiece', for which he may be awarded a certificate or diploma by the Goldsmiths Corp.

By 1919 this competition still in situ and students who attend the classes offered will have tuition returned, provided they have more than 50 per cent attendance marks! 3 prizes still on offer, of 30/-, 21/- and 10/6..for highest marks obtained in Freehand, Geometrical and Model Drawing. Also special prize for highest attendance of 2-0-0. In this letter of Oct 2nd 1919, distributed to members of Goldsmiths Corp...announce scholarships for some students to value of 6-0-0 each for coming 1919-20 session. Charles Byrne, Charles Carey, William Lawlor and George Cleary.

The Goldsmiths Corp offices in the Customs House were destroyed at the time of the fire [in 1921, during the War of Independence, so we are at present without a proper hall [Assay Hall]. Explanation as to the curtailment of expenditure, as need to equip new Assay Office - so have decided, reluctantly, to discontiune payment of prizes, refunds of fees granted for past number of yrs to apprentice students of the Gold and Silversmiths' trades attending the MSA until further notice. Dated 30 Sept 1921..from James C Wallace to Mr Tilly at MSA.
So prizes continued until end of MSA's 1920-1921 session, but not renewed for session 1921-22.

Above this letter from Wallace, a memo re. an exceptional boy David Taylor, who had attended the last session: 1920-1921; Taylor was very gifted, showed great promise and returned for the 1921-1922 session and brought another apprentice with him. Another silversmith's apprentice is also recorded for this latter session - attending for drawing and design.

Citing this record

'Classes in metalwork, jewellery and enamelling', Mapping the Practice and Profession of Sculpture in Britain and Ireland 1851-1951, University of Glasgow History of Art and HATII, online database 2011 [http://sculpture.gla.ac.uk/view/event.php?id=msib3_1216990952, accessed 21 May 2022]