John Robert Pinches
Born 1884
Died 11 February 1968
Active: 1899 - 1967
Country of birth and death: England
Die-sinker, medallist, sculptor, painter
Born in Brixton, London. He was apprenticed by his father to William de Saulles (1862-1903), Engraver to the Royal Mint. According to his obituary in The Times, it was at the insistence of de Saulles that Pinches was sent to the Slade in 1899 where he was awarded a scholarship for painting in 1902. From 1905-67 Pinches worked for the family firm and was Art Director for most of this time, his only absence was for war service.
The firm completed numerous commissions for government and commercial commissions. In addition Pinches executed a large number of portrait medals, of which an outstanding example was the medallic portrait of Sir Patrick Manson. He was active in promoting the need for higher standards in industrial design and was vocal in the pressure groups that resulted in the foundation of the Council for Industrial Design and reorganisation of the Royal College of Art.
Locations
Address 113 Knatchbull Road Lambeth London | View on map
1901 (Circa) - 1911 (Circa)
Living here with his parents and siblings
Address 21 Albert Embankment London | View on map
1921 (Circa) - 1956 (Circa)
Address 28 Wincott Street London SE11 | View on map
1932 (Circa)
Address 1 St Luke Avenue London SW4 | View on map
1939 (Circa) - 1967 (Circa)
Exhibitions, Meetings, Awards and other Events
Exhibited at The Royal Scottish Academy Exhibition, 1826-
1921 - 1923
Exhibited at the annual exhibition 2 times: 1921 (1 work) and 1923 (3 works).
Institutional and Business Connections
Partner in Messrs Pinches & Co
Listed as a Partner in the firm. See Forrer, vol. 4, (1909), p. 550, no dates are given.
Personal and Professional Connections
Apprenticed to William George de Saulles
1898 (Circa)
Dates uncertain but according to Pinches obituary in 'The Times' this was prior to studying at the Slade from 1899
Daughter/son/child of John Harvey Pinches
See Forrer, vol. 4, (1909), p. 550.
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 VIII, 1930 Biographical Dictionary of Medallists
Forrer notes that Pinches exhibited at the New York International Medallic Exhibition in March 1910. The artist also exhibited at the Royal Academy, London, in 1836, 1841, 1853 and 1854. see vol. 8, (1930), p. 133.
Listed in 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 IV, 1909 Biographical Dictionary of Medallists
Listed in Forrer as the 'son of J. H. Pinches, and a Partner in the firm'. See Forrer, vol. 4, (1909), p. 550, no further details are given.
Occupation given in Census Returns of England and Wales, 1901
'Art Student' his father 'Die Sinker & Medallist'
Occupation given in Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911
'Assisting in the business' worker, his father John H Pinches 'Die Sinker & Medallist' employer
Sources
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1901
2005
RG13 piece 419 folio 151 page 24
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911
2011
RG14PN2069 RG78PN72 RD25 SD4 ED20 SN41
England & Wales, Death Index: 1916-2007
2007
Name: John R Pinches
Birth Date: abt 1885
Date of Registration: Jan-Feb-Mar 1968
Age at Death: 83
Registration district: St Pancras
Inferred County: London
Volume: 5d
Page: 1323
England & Wales, FreeBMD Birth Index, 1837-1915
2006
Name: John Robert Pinches
Date of Registration: Apr-May-Jun 1884
Registration district: Lambeth
Inferred County: Greater London, London, Surrey
Volume: 1d
Page: 547
The Times Digital Archive 1785-1985
2008
The Times, Wednesday, Feb 14, 1968; pg. 12; Issue 57175; col G
Mr John Pinches Sculptor and painter
Category: Obituaries
Citing this record
'John Robert Pinches', 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_1239113002, accessed 08 Jun 2023]
