Edward Napier Hitchcock Spencer
Born 1872
Died 1938
Active: 1906 - 1932
Country of birth and death: England
Silversmith, designer
Born in Blackheath, Kent. Spencer initially trained with the architect, Henry Wilson. He then worked as assistant designer for the Artificers' Guild founded in 1901 by Nelson Dawson (1859-1942) at his Chiswick workshop. In 1903 the Guild passed into the possession of Montague Fordham, one-time director of the Birmingham Guild of Handicraft. The Artificers' Guild then moved to the Fordham Gallery at 9 Maddox Street, London and Spencer was elevated to chief designer. When Fordham left the company in 1906, Spencer became director. Spencer set up premises in Conduit Street, London and Kings' Parade, Cambridge. The Guild flourished until his death in 1938 employing around forty people at the height of its success in the inter-war period. Spencer was an idealist and is said to have employed orphan boys in the company workshops.
The core of the Artificers' Guild's business was supplying church plate, however the firm also produced a wide variety of other types of metalwork, stained glass and jewellery. Spencer's designs were influenced by Arts and Crafts ideas and often incorporated a combination of materials such as mother-of-pearl, shagreen, ivory, wood and glass. A number of his pieces included elaborately modelled figures in silver and other metals often on complex allegorical themes. There are examples of his work in Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery and the Goldsmiths' Company.
In addition to his work for the Artificers' Guild, Spencer designed pottery for Upchurch Pottery, established in Rainham, Kent, in 1913. The pottery was sold through the Guild's showrooms in London, Cambridge and Oxford.
Spencer exhibited at the Arts and Crafts Exhibitions Society, the Arts and Crafts Exhibitions Society, the International Society, and the Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool and became a member of the Art Workers Guild in 1914. He published articles on metal work and was often called on to contribute to debates on the future of his craft.
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 The 'Ariadne' Necklace
Locations
Address 9 Maddox Street W. London England | View on map
1906 (Presumed) - 1920 (Presumed)
This address is listed as home of 'The Artificers Guild' in 1910 and 1920 ACES membership lists.
Address 3 and 5 Bruton Place New Bond Street London W1 England | View on map
1932 (Presumed)
Address given as 4 Conduit Street London England | View on map
1916 (Presumed) - 1938 (Presumed)
The company also had a showroom in Kings' Parade, Cambridge
Exhibitions, Meetings, Awards and other Events
Exhibited at Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society: Eleventh Exhibition, 1916
Multiple works
Institutional and Business Connections
Member of The Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society
1907 (Presumed) - 1932 (Presumed)
Member of Art Workers Guild
1914 - 1938 (Presumed)
Personal and Professional Connections
Collaborated with F. Jobe
1916 (Presumed)
Collaborated with W. Spencer
1916 (Presumed)
Descriptions of Practice
Occupation given in Census Returns of England and Wales, 1901
'Manager (Metal Works)' worker
Sources
Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society: List of Members, 1907
1907
Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society: List of Members, September 1932
September 1932
Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society: Rules and List of Members, 1920
1920
p.5.
Arts and Crafts Society: Catalogue of the Eleventh Exhibition.
1916
p.82, pp.108-109, p.111, pp.135-136, pp.223-227, p.243.
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1901
2005
Class: RG13; Piece: 51; Folio: 121; Page: 20
Members of the Art Workers Guild, 1884-1984
1984 (Circa)
p. 13
Citing this record
'Edward Napier Hitchcock Spencer', 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_1203710367, accessed 29 Sep 2023]
