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BILSTON ENAMELS

1. History Enamelling on copper became an art form in England during the 18th century. Bilston in the Black Country (West Midlands) and Battersea in London were the two most prominent areas for manufacture.

2. What is enamel? According to the dictionary, enamel ‘is a glass-like opaque or semi-transparent coating of metallic surfaces for ornament or as a preservative lining’. Used in decorating objects such as jewellery, buckles and small boxes – often known as ‘toys’ or later used in the protection of pots and pans and enamel commercial signs. The basic ingredients were soda, potassium silicate, lead oxide and silica made into a paste and fused together under heat. Tom Cope in ‘Bilston Enamels of the 18th century’ likens it to stained glass which is applied as a paste to the surface of gold, silver or more frequently copper because it was easier to shape. By adding certain quantities of various fine powered metallic oxides, different colours and tints may be produced.

3. Where it originated? The art of enamelling has been worked for many centuries throughout the world – China, India and even Roman Britain. Some excellent examples of early enamelling in England are the famous King Alfred jewel and an early reliquary casket from around 1180 which can be found in the British Museum. Many of the early items were produced for religious purposes such as chalices, crosses, medallions perhaps made for pilgrims. It is suggested that French craftsmen fleeing religious persecution in the 1750s first brought the process of enamelling to Bilston and Battersea in England. In fact W. and B. Forman in ‘Limoges Enamels’ suggest that the oldest painted enamels are two small medallions produced by Jean Fouquet around about 1450, and that Limoges held the monopoly on enamel painting. Limoges was of course famous for developing counter enamelling to the reverse side of the article in order to prevent warping. Two alternative methods of enamelling to be noted here are ‘champlevѐ’ or raised field, and ‘cloisonnѐ’ from the French word ‘cloison’ where finely rolled gold wire was shaped to provide guide lines in the design - both obviously of French origin.

In Dr George Williamsons book ‘Portrait Miniatures’ the miniature painter Jean Petitot (1607 – 1671) is mentioned as being supreme in the craft, which he is said to have learnt in France, where he worked at the court of Louis XIV. Other foreigners brought their trade to England such as Michael Dahl of Sweden and Zincke of Dresden. During times of upheaval, civil war and religious persecution there were many who became exiled and travelled abroad including craftsmen and their families, and even English craftsmen who went abroad.

By the late 17th century there were already many English enamellers such as Gervase Spencer and Nathaniel Hone, Thomas Flatman, Richard Gibson and Nicholas Dixon. Whilst the new French arrivals may have contributed to the craft therefore in the 1750s, they most obviously did not bring the art over with them at that time.

4. The History of Bilston Enamels Before craftsmen of enamelling there had to be metal workers – since a metal such as gold, silver or copper is required as a base for the design. The metal workers produced all manner of things including ‘toys’ such as buckles for shoes and belts, boxes for trinkets or snuff, jewellery and objects of a more practical nature. By the 1750’s this was further helped by the fact that, good quality copper was being produced in South Wales, and in the Birmingham area new types of metal were being produced.

During the Georgian period enamel boxes became items of extreme fashion and were a keen accessory, particular for use as snuff boxes or to hold their beauty spots. Many of the boxes were designed and crafted at Bilston in the Black Country, as well as Wolverhampton, Wednesfield and Birmingham, their production aided by the quantity of metals and enamel powders that could be purchased in nearby towns. Some of these can be viewed at the Black Country Living Museum near Dudley in the West Midlands

The Battersea factory in London, started by Theodore Jansen, was also famous for enamelled boxes and is has been suggested that its closure in 1756 lead to the origin of the Bilston enamel trade. However enamels were produced in Bilston long before this date and the operation there was short lived, so it maybe that some of the craftsmen from the closed Battersea trade brought their ideas to Bilston, or vice versa.

It has been suggested that Dovey Hawksford (born 1695) was probably the first notable Bilston enameller, developing the art to improve the attractiveness of boxes and other trinkets which he produced on a large scale. During his time he took on several apprentices including Thomas Homer and Thomas Stewart who would have been trained in his craft. Tom Pope suggests “It is clear that by the year 1760 enamelling was being successfully practised in a number of workshops…” and that this gave rise to all manner of other jobs or crafts including the production of mounts and hinges.

The Beckett family from Bilston were also prominent in the manufacture of enamels and ‘toys’, and mounts. So famous were they, that a road is named after them in the Bilston area. It was Benjamin the youngest who became an enameller, born in 1749, he lived to the age of 86. It is often difficult to follow the lineage of these families because forenames were often repeated not just generation after generation, but also within the same generation – cousins having the same name. However it is of little consequence since the enamels were generally unsigned.

It is suggested the rise of the Industrial Revolution in the early 1800’s helped the decline of the enamelling trade, with demand falling and trades in other industries such as iron and coal on the rise. Railways were a growing business at this time, but you also have the Napoleonic Wars to contend with and the changing ideas of fashion and increase in the pottery trade. Industrial enamelling however was to continue in the area and with the rise of industry and commerce, domestic enamelled ware and advertising signs were on the rise. (see Macfarlane & Robinson and Orme Evans and Chromo from Wolverhampton and Jordans of Bilston)

In 1968 there was however a revival of Bilston enamelling with Copper Enamels (Bilston) Ltd. being set up by the Marshall family and latter in 1970 a merger with a London antique dealer resulted in a name change to Bilston & Battersea Enamels. www.localhistory.scit.wlv.ac.uk

5. Other families involved in the enamelling trade William Perry Joseph Smith Thomas Homer originally Walsall Richard Ames arriving Bilston 1684 Edward and John Green in Elizabethan times Richard Knowles James Brett – ‘father of enamel trade 1760,- 1779 Samuel Hanson John Hoo of Bradley |Hall Box Painters: Thomas Bayliss Penelope Careless John Simmons ENGRAVERS John Vardon

Reference : "BILSTON ENAMELS OF THE 18TH CENTURY" BY TOM COPE Published by the Black Country society