William Jabez Muckley
Born 23 March 1829
Died 30 August 1905
Active: 1851 - 1905
Country of birth and death: England
Head of art school, painter, engraver
Born at Wordsley, Kingswinford, in Staffordshire. He began his career as a glasscutter and then became a designer and engraver after studying at Birmingham School of Art from 1852. On 1 May 1853 Muckley was appointed master of Burslem School of Design which opened to students on 11 July 1853. From there he moved to Wolverhampton School of Art as headmaster in about 1858 or 1859, finally becoming principal of Manchester School of Art in 1862.
The details of his appointment at Burslem come from in the 'First Report of the Department of Science and Art' (1854, p.128) which were submitted by Christopher Marsden.
Institutional and Business Connections
Committee member of Burslem School of Design
1854 - 1856
Secretary.
Principal of Burslem School of Design
1 May 1853 - June 1858
See Haggar (1953), pp. 10-11; Haggar gives 1853 as the date of the beginning of his position of principal. Warrillow (1960), p. 283; Warrillow gives 1851. However the 'First Report of the Department of Science and Art' (1854, p.128) confirms 1853 as the correct date of Muckley's appointment. (Information from Christopher Marsden).
Principal of Government School of Practical Art, Wolverhampton
1858
See a letter from C. B. Mander to Henry Cole, 19 June, 1858, in which Muckley is described as having 'been definately appointed head master'.
Sources
A Century of Art Education in the Potteries. With notes on the Artists, 1953 Local Studies
1953 (Circa)
pp. 10-11 and 45.
Letter from C. B. Mander to Henry Cole, 19 June, 1858
19 June 1858
pp. 1-2.
Letter from C. B. Mander to Henry Cole, 31 May, 1858
31 May 1858
pp. 1-3.
The Burslem School of Design, Third Annual Meeting, 1856 Burslem School of Design
p. 1.
Citing this record
'William Jabez Muckley', 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=msib4_1218800506, accessed 02 Oct 2023]