Maria Ellen Reeks
Born 1 December 1858
Died 10 July 1929
Active: 1880 - 1919
Country of birth and death: England
Wood carver, teacher, manager of art school
Born in Pimlico, London. She was the daughter of Trenham Reeks (1823-1879, born in Lambeth), a geologist, Registrar at the Royal School of Mines, Assistant Curator of the Museum of Economic Geology from c.1839 and then Curator of the Museum of Practical Geology including the Survey Library whose effects were valued at under £5,000 at his death in 1879. Maria's sister, Margaret Reeks (born c.1855) was an art teacher and possibly a sculptor. She died in London.
Maria trained as a wood carver with Anton Bulletti at the School of Art Wood Carving from about 1880. After Bulletti's departure in 1882, she became an assistant teacher of the evening wood carving classes at the School. A profile of Reeks published in 1904, paid tribute to her dedication and skill:
"There are few craftswomen who have devoted as much time to the study of their craft as Miss Reeks. She has always been an inveterate worker, and early realised that there was no short cut to success. That she is one of the few women carvers who can work quickly is due to the fact that during the last twenty-four years she has daily passed some hours at her bench. Since 1901, when she became Manager of the School of Art Wood-carving, she has had more calls upon her time; but before then she used to carve six and eight hours a day. Rapidity only comes with constant practice, and this is a point few women realise. For many years she has been the assistant teacher in the evening classes at the school. Among the various certificates she holds may be mentioned The First Group of the Art Masters Certificate, third grade; Honours Certificate, School of Art Wood-carving, and Honours Certificate, History of Architecture, University College, London. She was awarded a silver medal for carving, in the Educational Section of the International Health Exhibition."
('IV Maria E. Reeks', Arts & Crafts Magazine Vol 1-2, London, 1904.)
In the early 1900s (the exact date of her appointment is uncertain), Reeks became the manager of the School of Art Wood Carving. She stayed in that role until 1915 or 1916.
Wealth at death: £508 8s. 1d.
Probate date: 9 September 1929
Works
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Contributed to making of Chimney-piece in carved pine
Casket carved in French Walnut
Carved Carved Walnut Panel
1899 (Presumed)
Locations
Address 71 & 72 Wellington Buildings Westminster London England | View on map
1881 (Circa)
Address 39 Tierny Road Streatham London England | View on map
1899 (Presumed) - 1910 (Presumed)
Address 39 Thurloe Place South Kensington London England | View on map
1910 (Presumed)
Address 15 Kempsford Gardens Earl's Court London England | View on map
1911 (Circa)
Address given as Exhibition Road London S.W. England | View on map
1894 (Presumed) - 1899 (Presumed)
Exhibitions, Meetings, Awards and other Events
Exhibited at Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society: Second Exhibition, 1889
'Bracket with figure'
Exhibited at Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society: Ninth Exhibition, 1910
'Head of a Child'
Exhibited at Leeds City Art Gallery, Arts & Crafts Exhibition, 1900
'Wisdom'
Exhibited at The Arts and Crafts Society of Ireland Second Exhibition, 1899
1899
Institutional and Business Connections
Manager of School of Art Wood Carving
1904 (Circa) - 1915 (Circa)
Member of Women Handicraft Workers, Hitchin
Member of The Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society
1894 (Presumed) - 1899 (Presumed)
Teacher at School of Art Wood Carving
1882 (Circa) - 1904 (Circa)
Reeks was an assistant teacher of evening classes. It is not known whether she continued any teaching duties while she was manager of the School between c.1904 and c.1915.
Personal and Professional Connections
Collaborated with F.A. Crollan
Collaborated with Margaret May Giles
[Assuming that the reference to S.Giles in the 1889 ACES exhibtion catalogue refers to M.GIles].
Collaborated with J.C. Holt
Collaborated with William S. Williamson
Collaborated with J. Watson
Collaborated with Herbert Henry Grimwood
1889 (Circa)
Descriptions of Practice
Occupation given in Census Returns of England and Wales, 1891
'Wood carver' employed (her sister Margaret is listed as an 'Artist Sculp'
Occupation given in Census Returns of England and Wales, 1881
'Wood Carver' and sister Margaret 'Art Teacher'
Occupation given in Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911
'Manager Art School' employment 'Wood Carving' worker and her cousin Ethel Eugenie Hendrey 'Clerk Art School' employment 'Wood Carving' worker
Sources
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, 1907
1907
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
Arts and Crafts Society: Catalogue of the Ninth Exhibition.
1910
p.132, p.140.
Arts and Crafts Society: Catalogue of the Second Exhibition.
1889
p.207, p.210, p.248.
Catalogue of the Arts & Crafts Exhibition 1900
1900
Cat. No. 13, p. 17
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1881
2004
Class: RG11; Piece: 109; Folio: 68; Page: 9; GSU roll: 1341025
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1891
2004
Class: RG12; Piece: 46; Folio 14; Page 21; GSU roll: 6095156
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911
2011
Class: RG14; Piece: 130
England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1966
2010
Name: Maria Ellen Reeks
Probate Date: 9 Sep 1929
Death Date: 10 Jul 1929
Death Place: Middlesex, England
Registry: London
London, England, Births and Baptisms, 1813-1906
2010
Maria Ellen Reeks
Female
Born: 1 December 1858
Christened 28 May 1859, Westminster.
Father’s Name: Trenham Reeks
Mother: Christiana Caroline.
The Arts and Crafts Society of Ireland Catalogue of the Second Exhibition, 1899
1899
p. 90
Citing this record
'Maria Ellen Reeks', 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_1209076996, accessed 26 Sep 2023]