Frank Bowcher
Other names: Boucher
Born 1864
Died 6 December 1938
Active: 1881 - 1938
Country of birth and death: England
Sculptor, designer, medallist
Born in London. He was the son of Henry (William) Bowcher (born c.1837 in Bristol or Bath), etcher, draughtsman and cartoonist. Frank's older brother was the sculptor Alfred William Bowcher (1863-1890). Frank was a National Scholar at the National Art Training School, South Kensington. He received medals at the Paris Universal Exhibition, 1900 and at the Brussels Universal Exhibition, 1910.
In his obituary, he is described as a prolific artist who created a number of portraits and tablets in marble but whose reputation rested primarily on his medallic work. Bowcher's portraits included the Duke and Duchess of Connaught, the Earl and Countess of Derby and the Maharja Gaekwar of Baroda. Amongst his more important medal designs were: silver seals for Edward VII and George V; Order of Merit for Baroda State, India; a medal of Sir William Osler for the University of Oxford; medals for the Royal College of Art and Eton College. He also designed and executed statuettes in silver for the opening of the Sennar Dam, Sudan and restored antique bronzes for the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford.
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.
Model of Archibald Forbes, Gold History Medal, University of Aberdeen
1906 (Circa)
Locations
Address 6 Woodstock Terrace Hornsey London | View on map
1881 (Circa)
Address 6 Clifton Hill Studios St. John's Wood London NW | View on map
1892 (Circa) - 1894 (Circa)
Address 77 Brecknock Road Tufnell Park London | View on map
1895 (Circa) - 1899 (Circa)
Address 35 Fairfax Road Bedford Park London | View on map
1900 (Circa) - 1919 (Circa)
Address 7 Woodstock Road Bedford Park London | View on map
1922 (Circa) - 1938
Exhibitions, Meetings, Awards and other Events
Exhibited at Leeds City Art Gallery, The Spring Exhibition, 1902
'Case of Medals and Plaques'
Exhibited at Aberdeen Artists' Society Exhibition of Works of Modern Artists, 1906
'Model of Archibald Forbes, Gold History Medal, University of Aberdeen'
Exhibited at The Exhibition of the Royal Academy of Arts (Summer Exhibition), 1768-
1892 - 1903
Exhibited 27 times, around 36 catalogue entries in all (the number of works is uncertain since he showed frames or cases of medals on several occasions as well as portraits)
Exhibited at Autumn exhibition of modern pictures in oil and water-colours: the twenty-second (Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool), 1892
1892
Medal of Award for the School of Painting, Pelham Street, South Kensington, London (cat. no. 1324, not for sale).
Exhibited at Autumn exhibition of modern pictures in oil and water-colours: the thirty-first (Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool), 1901
1901
Frame of Medals (cat. no. 1645, not for sale).
Exhibited at International Exhibition, Dublin, 1907
1907
British Sculpture, Gallery II: 'Medals and Plaques', p. 24 (166), lent by the Sculptor; 'A Frame of Medals', p. 24 (169), lent by the sculptor.
Speaker at Die Sinking (Art Workers Guild), 1902
Institutional and Business Connections
Designed for Messrs. Spink and Son
1901 (Circa) - 1902 (Circa)
Bowcher's bust of the Queen (exhibited at the Royal Academy in c. 1901? 'the year last') appears on 'the Diamond Jubilee medals issued by Messrs Spink & Son' and was used for the medals of the School Board London, which were also 'struck' by Spink and Son: see Forrer, vol. 1, (1902), p. 136. Forrer also notes that Bowcher designed for the firm in vol. 5, (1912), p. 638.
Member of Art Workers Guild
1888 - 1894
Retired from Guild in 1894.
Member of Royal Society of British Sculptors
1905 - 1922
Amongst the second wave of those invited to join 'without further nomination' [2 March 1905, Royal Society of British Sculptors, Minutes of Council Meetings, Vol.I].
Student at Royal College of Art (including National Art Training School)
1881 (Circa)
Worked for The Birmingham Mint Limited
Employed by the Mint. See Forrer, vol. 2, (1904), p. 454, no dates are given.
Personal and Professional Connections
Seconder of F. Headly
15 May 1911
For membership of the Royal Society of British Sculptors [15 May 1911, Royal Society of British Sculptors: Minutes of Council Meetings, no.1].
Sister/sibling of Alfred William Bowcher
Studied under Edward Onslow Ford
See Forrer, vol. 2, (1904), p. 125, no dates are given.
Studio assistant to Edward Onslow Ford
Was a pupil of Ford for six years after having studies at the National Art Training School (Royal College of Art): see Forrer, vol. 1, (1902), p. 133, no dates are given.
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 medallist who, Forrer suggests, represented the 'advance made by the modern French School of Medallists' in Britain. His first medals date from c. 1886: see Forrer, vol. 1, (1902), p. 133-137. Forrer provides a list of the majority of Bowcher's struck medal work, including the 'Corporation medal on the Opening of Tower Bridge for the City of London' (also illustrated in Forrer, p. 134), and cast medals and plaques, including numerous portrait medallions. Bowcher supplied dies and designs for medal firms: for example, his bust of the Queen (exhibited at the Royal Academy in c. 1901? 'the year last') appears on 'the Diamond Jubilee medals issued by Messrs Spink & Son' and was used for the medals of the School Board London, which were also 'struck' by Spink and Son. He exhibited at the First Exhibition of Medallists, Dutch Gallery, London [summary]. Forrer notes under 'bibliography' that the information for Bowcher's entry had been 'privately communicated'.
Occupation given in Census Returns of England and Wales, 1901
'Sculptor & Medallist' working on own account at home
Occupation given in Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911
'Sculptor engraver of medals' working on own account at home
Occupation given in Census Returns of England and Wales, 1881
'Art Student' also his brother, Alfred William and his father, William, was 'Artist Draughtsman on wood'
Sources
Art Workers Guild Annual Reports, 1901-1912
1902, p.6.
Catalogue of the Spring Exhibition, The City Art Gallery, Leeds 1902
1902
Cat. No. 390, pp. 38, 58
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1881
2004
RG11 piece 1376 folio 56 page 105
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1901
2001
Class: RG13; Piece: 1199; Folio: 52; Page: 30
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911
2009
RG14PN6949 RG78PN344 RD128 SD5 ED22 SN322
International Exhibition, Dublin 1907, Fine Art Catalogue
1907
British Sculpture, Gallery II
p. 24, no. 166:'Medals and Plaques'.
Lent by the Sculptor.
p. 24, no. 169:'A Frame of Medals'.
Lent by the Sculptor'.
List of Members: Royal Society of British Sculptors
2008
Royal Society of British Sculptors. Minutes of Council Meetings No. 1, 1905-1913
19 May 1913
2 March 1905; 15 May 1911.
The Times Digital Archive 1785-1985
2008
The Times, Thursday, Dec 08, 1938; pg. 18; Issue 48172; col D
Mr. Frank Bowcher Medallist And Designer Of Seals
Category: Obituaries
Citing this record
'Frank Bowcher', 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_1206488355, accessed 20 Mar 2023]
