Omar Ramsden was a noted silversmith of the Arts and Crafts Era. In partnership with Alwyn Carr and a team of skilled artisans, he created spectacular silver goods that are still sought after today. But despite the renown of his work, and his involvement in the world of Arts and Crafts, there has been no published information about his life—until now.
?In Search of Ramsden and Carr is the first account of Ramsden’s life and work. While looking into her genealogy, author Helen Ashton uncovered family ties to Ramsden, an interest that soon became an obsession that resulted in this book. Ashton details Ramsden’s early life, including time spent in the United States, the establishment of his practice, and the adoption of a new style, adapted from Gothic and Renaissance designs with Celtic-style inscriptions, which would become their studio’s trademark. Fully illustrated with one hundred black-and-white and color images, this book will appeal to all who appreciate hand-worked metal and the Arts and Crafts movement.
| Dedication |
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6 | (1) |
| Introduction |
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7 | (5) |
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Chapter 1 Zeitgeist -- Setting the Scene |
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12 | (10) |
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Chapter 2 Early Family Backgrounds |
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22 | (22) |
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Chapter 3 Sheffield School of Art |
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44 | (14) |
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Chapter 4 The Earliest Years in London |
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58 | (26) |
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Chapter 5 Life at St Dunstan's Studio |
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84 | (29) |
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Chapter 6 Captain Carr's Life, During and After the War |
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113 | (27) |
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Chapter 7 Ramsden's Life After the War |
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140 | (18) |
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Chapter 8 Commissions for State and Church |
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158 | (26) |
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Chapter 9 The Craftsmen and the Workshop |
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184 | (12) |
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Chapter 10 Ramsden in His Own Words |
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196 | (16) |
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Chapter 11 Ramsden's Connections with the USA and Canada |
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212 | (10) |
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Chapter 12 The End of an Era: Ramsden's Death and a Family Falling-out |
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222 | (13) |
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Chapter 13 Alwyn Carr's Death and Will |
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235 | (8) |
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Chapter 14 Setting the Record Straight |
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243 | (8) |
| Acknowledgements |
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251 | |
Helen Ashton spent her early childhood in the Welsh hills and Hay on Wye, before her family moved north to the green suburbs of Newcastle upon Tyne. While raising her family she taught school for several years, then had a successful career writing best-selling school text books on food and nutrition. She then studied art history with the Open University, obtaining a First Class Honours Degree, with a particular interest in early Italian painting.
While looking into her genealogy, particularly the Cumberbatches from Barbados, she discovered the silversmith Omar Ramsdens connection to her family. Discovering his reputation for superb workmanship and his involvement in the world of Arts and Crafts, she delved deeper into his history. There was almost no published information about his life, in spite of the renown which his work had achieved. Her interest became a fascinating obsession, resulting in three years of research, finding out about his family background in Sheffield, his long partnership with Alwyn Carr. -- Helen Ashton
