This is a beautiful antique Newlyn Copper Charger or Wall Plaque dating to the late 19th Century. It was made by Phillip Hodder and John Drew MacKenzie.
It is certainly a fine piece of early Arts and Crafts Newlyn School Copper.
The design has all been picked out with tiny little dots - and this technique is called repousse work. This has been done down with great skill and attention to detail. I especially love the border of fishes - they are just amazing.
The charger has a central reservoir that features a galleon in full sail - and this would have been a most appropriate image for Cornish traders. Around the center is a thick border with seven fabulous fish swimming amongst tendrils of seaweed - and again a popular image to appear on Cornish metalwares.
It is a nice larger size coming in at 41 cm in diameter.
It is in lovely vintage condition - the front of the charger is polished copper with a nice rose gold shade to the metal. The reverse - has the original patina of age, as photographed.
As you can see it is in excellent condition and ready for you just hang on your wall for display. There is a tiny punched hole at the top - and it would simply slot into a fine panel pin on your wall.
The rim is wire edges for strength.
There is a little inscription on the reverse which has been etched in. This reads as follows: Des'd by J.D. MacKenzie. Work'd by P Hooder. NEWLYN Industrial Class, Newlyn.
HISTORY: Newlyn Copper dates from the Arts and Crafts period and relates to copperware originating in Newlyn, Cornwall.
In the late 19th century the fishing industry in Cornwall was becoming unreliable as a source of income; bad weather and seasonal fluctuations brought enforced periods of inactivity. It was decided that an alternative means of employment could be gained by training the unemployed fishermen to produce items in copper.
John Drew MacKenzie (1861 - 1918) was an artist who settled at Newlyn, and was a key figure in setting up the Newlyn Industrial Class.
After some early experiments, the class specialized in repoussee copper work and produced a wide range of domestic and decorative items.
The school remained active for about thirty years after its establishment in 1890.
Phillip Hodder (as annotated on the inscription) was a well-known worker at Newlyn and obviously was working under the instruction of MacKenzie on one of his designs. So my charger has an early provenance in the School.
Interestingly - there is a painting (by Stanhope Forbes Young) showing J.D Mackenzie in the Penlee Museum that shows him instructing another young apprentice - he holds a very similar charger to this one under his arm.
There is also another similar piece by J.D Mackenzie that is illustrated in Volume 20 of The Studio.
Newlyn School had a complete range of objects produced by the class including trays, mirror and photograph frames, chambersticks, plates and chargers, boxes, bowls, and coffee pots: designs typically featured fish, ships, and other nautical themes.
My charger is certainly an interesting and special early piece of Newlyn copper. This is reflected in my asking price.
A similar copper charger (with central bird motif) attributed to J.D. Mackenzie sold recently at Lyon and Turnbull for £1000 (including commission). Lot No. 198. Design Since 1860, 21st April 2021.
It will be posted only to the UK. It will e sent to you with Parcelforce48 - and will of course be very carefully packed and send insured in transit. This will cost about £14.95