Nelson Ethelred Dawson
Born 1859
Died 28 October 1941
Active: 1885 - 1935
Country of birth and death: England
Metal worker, sculptor, painter, watercolourist, printmaker, medallist
Born in Stamford, Lincolnshire. He studied painting at the South Kensington Schools 1885-1887 after showing an initial interest in architecture. Dawson painted landscapes in Scarborough possibly living with his uncle, Hayden Hare a fine art publisher and with whom he had lived c.1881. [See Census Returns of 1881 RG11 piece 4805 folio 10 page 11].
In 1891 he returned to London and took up metalwork. He was introduced to enamelwork by Alexander Fisher. In 1893 he married the watercolourist, Edith Robinson. The Dawsons worked together, designing a wide range of metalwork, including church plate, jewellery, light fittings, interior fittings, silverware and wall plaques. Nelson was primarily responsible for designing the metalwork and Edith for the enamelling. In 1900 they exhibited 125 pieces of jewellery at the Fine Art Society, London. Nelson published 'Goldsmiths' and Silversmiths' work in 1907.
The Dawsons had greatly reduced their metalworking activities by 1914 when they moved to France. At this point Nelson returned to painting as his primary medium (he already described himself as a painter in the Census Returns of 1911). However, in 1917 they exhibited a case of commemorative and heraldic plaques in bronze and silver, cloisonné and champlevé enamel as well as The Arms of Trinity College Cambridge in bronze and champlevé enamel at the Royal Academy. Nelson continued to exhibit in London into the 1930s.
Probate date: 26 June 1942
Works
Dates are usually the year a work was exhibited so may differ from date of production.
New entries have been made each time a work was exhibited. Click here for more information.
Collaborated on A Casket
Collaborated on A Cup in Hammered Copper and Silver with Translucent Enamel
Collaborated on Girdle Clasp in Wrought Silver and Cloisonné Enamel
Collaborated on Vase in Hammered Copper and Silver
Collaborated on A round Box Lid in Cloisonné Enamel and Beaten Silver
Collaborated on Oblong Box with Cloisonné Enamel
Collaborated on Belt Ornament in gold and translucent enamel
Collaborated on Bowl in silver and translucent enamel - Blue Bells
Collaborated on Bowl in silver and translucent enamel - Corn and Poppies
Collaborated on Beaker, in Silver and Translucent Enamel
Collaborated on A Case of Jewellery
Collaborated on Pair of Candlesticks
Locations
Address 39 Beaufort Street Chelsea London SW England | View on map
1896 (Presumed) - 1897 (Presumed)
Address Swan House Chiswick Mall London W England | View on map
1898 - 1911 (Presumed)
Address Staithe House Chiswick Mall London W England | View on map
1941
Living here at the time of his death
Studio located at 4 Wentworth Studios Manresa Road London SW England | View on map
1894 (Circa)
Exhibitions, Meetings, Awards and other Events
Exhibited at Fifth Exhibition of the International Society of Sculptors, Painters and Gravers (London), 1905
'Silver Standing Cup'
Exhibited at Leeds City Art Gallery, The Spring Exhibition, 1904
'Casket for Trowel'
Exhibited at Leeds City Art Gallery, Arts & Crafts Exhibition, 1904
'Fire Grate with Dogs'
Exhibited at The Exhibition of the Royal Academy of Arts (Summer Exhibition), 1768-
1885 - 1935
Exhibited 24 times, usually one or two works, metalware etc., shown between 1895-99 and again in 1917.
Exhibited at Autumn exhibition of modern pictures in oil and water-colours: the twenty-fifth (Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool), 1895
1895
Casket in Steel and Enamel (cat. no. 1277A, terracotta, not for sale).
Institutional and Business Connections
Member of The International Society of Sculptors, Painters and Gravers
1925 (Presumed)
Associate member.
Member of Art Workers Guild
1891 - 1930
Member of committiee from 1897-99, Resigned from guild in 1930.
Member of Chelsea Arts Club
1891
Founder member of the Chelsea Arts Club
Member of The Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society
1893 - 1900 (Presumed)
Elected in 1893. Member of committee from 1897-1898.
Nominee of The Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society
1893
Membership proposed by George Frampton and seconded by Walter Crane.
Professional member of The Royal West of England Academy
1907 (Circa) - 1930
Listed as Professional Member 'Enamelling'
Personal and Professional Connections
Collaborated with Edith Brearey Dawson
A plaquette by both artists was illustrated in 'The Studio', vol. XIII (no date given). See Forrer, vol. 1, (1902), p. 362.
Wife/husband/spouse to Edith Brearey Dawson
Husband and wife: see Forrer, vol. 1, (1902), p. 362.
Descriptions of Practice
Listed as medallist Biographical Dictionary of Medallists, Coin, Gem, and Seal-Engravers, Mint Masters, &c., Ancient and Modern with References to their Works, B.C. 500 - A.D. 1900, Volume I, 1902 Biographical Dictionary of Medallists
Listed as a 'contemporary Chaser in copper and Medallist'. A plaquette by the artist and his wife Edith Dawson was illustrated in 'The Studio', vol. XIII (no date given). See Forrer, vol. 1, (1902), p. 362.
Occupation given in Census Returns of England and Wales, 1881
'Assistant Shopkeeper'
Occupation given in Census Returns of England and Wales, 1901
'Art Metalworker and Artist', 'Sculp' has been added between the entries for Edith and Nelson
Occupation given in Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911
'Artist Painter'
Sources
Art Workers Guild Annual Reports, 1885-1900
1895, p.19.
Artists and Bohemians: 100 Years with the Chelsea Arts Club
1992
Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society: List of Members, 1894
1894
Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society: List of Members, 1897
1897
Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society: List of Members, 1904
1904
Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society. List of Members, 1898
1898
Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society. List of Members, 1899
1899
Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society. List of Members, 1900
1900
Autumn exhibition of modern pictures in oil and water-colours: the twenty-fifth, 1895 Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool
1895
pp. 47-50.
Catalogue for the Eighty-First Annual Exhibition of the Royal West of England Academy, 1926
1926
Catalogue for the Eighty-Fourth Annual Exhibition of the Royal West of England Academy, 1929
1929
Catalogue for the Seventy-Fifth Annual Exhibition of the Royal West of England Academy, 1920
1920
Catalogue for the Seventy-Fourth Annual Exhibition of the Royal West of England Academy, 1919
1919
Catalogue for the Seventy-Ninth Annual Exhibition of the Royal West of England Academy, 1924
1924
Catalogue for the Seventy-Seventh Annual Exhibition of the Royal West of England Academy, 1922
1922
Catalogue for the Seventy-Sixth Annual Exhibition of the Royal West of England Academy, 1921
1921
Catalogue for the Seventy-Third Annual Exhibition of the Royal West of England Academy, 1918
1918
Catalogue of the Arts & Crafts Exhibition 1904
1904
Cat. Nos. 501-512, 624, 625, pp. 31, 32, 40, 127
Catalogue of the Autumn Exhibition, 1915, held at the Grosvenor Gallery, 51a New Bond Street., W. (Nineteenth London Exhibition)
1915
p.34, p.36, p.62.
Catalogue of the Spring Exhibition, 1914, held at the Grosvenor Gallery, 51a New Bond Street., W. (Sixteenth London Exhibition)
1914
p.32, p.51.
Catalogue of the Spring Exhibition, The City Art Gallery, Leeds 1904
1904
Cat. Nos. 684, 685, 686, 693, 695, pp. 66, 67, 68
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1881
2004
RG11 piece 4805 folio 10 page 11
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1901
2005
RG13 piece 1197 folio 7 page 5
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911
2011
Reference RG14PN6928 RG78PN344 RD128 SD5 ED1 SN452
England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1966
2010
Name: Nelson Ethelred Dawson
Probate Date: 26 Jun 1942
Death Date: 28 Oct 1941
Death Place: Middlesex, England
Registry: Llandudno
Four voting papers for election of members and of committee at annual meeting, 19th December 1893
1893
Royal Academy Exhibitors 1905-70: A Dictionary of Artists and their Work in the Summer Exhibitions of the Royal Academy of Arts, Vol. II CAS-D
1977
p. 136 (single entry and joint entry with Edith Dawson)
Citing this record
'Nelson Ethelred Dawson', 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/person.php?id=msib2_1203113215, accessed 28 Sep 2023]
