Late Victorian More Folk Art

A great piece of Americana, this 19th century fancy cast iron foot stool comes from a Masonic lodge. Note the stars, columns, acanthus leaf legs a...

A large mid to late 19th century Lechetier Barbe & Co hand cranked artist studio easel Provenance, the studio easel was the property of Hugh Richard Hosking known as Dick Hosking (1904-91). Dick trained as a mural painter at the Royal College of Art (1924-1928) and was Principal of Coventry College of Art (1948-1964). Some of his work is located in the Leamington Museum and Art Gallery, some public commissions are still in situ he also designed The Martyr's Mosaic in the Foyer of the east entrance of Broadgate house Coventry By repute of the family the easel was originally from the Studio of Augustus John, as Dick was a close friend. Augustus Edwin John was a Welsh painter, draughtsman, and etcher. For a short time around 1910, he was an important exponent of Post-Impressionism in the United Kingdom The easel is oak in construction with its original turned oak and cast iron winding crank, the crank turns a cast iron crown wheel and pinion attached to a spiral. Right-hand level adjustment key on the bottom strut, original cast iron castors. The easel has its original black and gilt paper label on the reverse that is just legible and very fragile. The easel is off solid construction, with age related ware, with paint and pigment residue were expected. L&B were brush makers in Paris from the 1810s: The Barbes and the Lechertiers were linked by marriage and begun trading at 60 Quadrant, Regent St in 1827 selling musical inurement's then in 1844 registered as artists’ colourmen selling lay figures, pigments, brushes, easels and the like. In 1859 the business was trading as Lechertier Barbe & Co (the same as our easel). L&B moved to 95 Jermyn St...

Late 19th century fire bucket with hand-forged handle and original paint.