Antique Metalware Society
Home Up Antique Metalware Society Birmingham Brass Makers Registered Designs Design Developments Copper Glossary HMS Victory Copper Not Brass or Copper Oil Lamp Makers Unidentified

©  2004-9. Small extracts may be used with acknowledgement to 'Oldcopper Website' or  'Broseley Local History Society' as appropriate.

 

 

     
 

 
 

 

The aim of the society is to increase the knowledge and appreciation of objects made of non-precious metals and their alloys. Many aspects of metalware are studied. including their styles, uses, methods of manufacture and history, with an emphasis on the study of domestic artefacts.  Interests are wide but the Society generally avoids topics for which alternative Societies already exist such as pewter, numismatics and militaria, and the objects studied are mainly European in origin.  Since there are many different definitions of the word ‘Antique’ a date deadline is not invoked.  The Society continues to study predominately pieces that were hand-made as opposed to mass-produced.

Daytime meetings are held twice a year, usually on a Sunday in the Spring and Autumn, at a location convenient for the majority of members who attend regularly. The programmes at meetings contain talks, reports on research and opportunities for members to handle and discuss objects. Additional meetings and museum visits are also arranged.

A Journal and two Newsletters are produced annually for members. These publications include authoritative articles based on research projects, accounts of meetings, précis of talks, book reviews, letters and items of news. Many standard reference books have been written by members of the Society.

Membership of the Society is open to those who are willing to share their knowledge and enthusiasm for base-metal objects. Present members include collectors, archaeologists, metallurgists, dealers and museum curators.

Membership details and application form are available from:

Stephanie Seavers,
Secretary, Antique Metalware Society,
Metalwork Section,
Victoria and Albert Museum,
Cromwell Road,
SW7 2RL
    United Kingdom  

email:  antiquemetalwaresociety@googlemail.com

 

 
 

  Autumn Meeting 3rd October 2010

  in Hartley Witney, Hampshire.  This venue is easily accessible by road and rail with convenient parking outside the hall.

Spring Meeting 6th March 2011

  in Hartley Witney, Hampshire.

Last Meeting 7th March 2010

This was held in London with the programme:

10.30   Annual General Meeting.  Current membership is now 182.  Keith Pinn was elected chairman.

11.30   'Little Treasures' - Michael Finlay who described many very special items and their stories from many years of dealing with antiques.

14.00   'V & A - Search the Collection'  - Angus Patterson who covered the way in which the entire collection of artefacts of the V&A is now up online at: http://collections.vam.ac.uk.

14.30   'Caskets, Caddies and Sundries' - Vin Callcut.  After describing recent work on the two websites there was coverage of several types of item made during the early 20th century that raised design questions related to earlier products. 

15.15   Object Discussion - members items.

16.30   Close

 

 AMS Autumn Meeting 4th October 2009

This was held in Hartley Witney,  Hampshire with the programme:

10.45    The Gloucester Candlestick reconsidered - Stephanie Seavers

11.30    Weight-driven spit Jacks of the 17th Century - some surviving examples -                 Tony Weston

12.12    Lost or just mislaid?  - Roderick Butler's look at some significant objects.

14.00    Mould, Metal and Myth - Eagle Lecterns revisited - Christopher Green

15.00    Object Discussion Session - members pieces.

AMS AGM & Spring Meeting 8th March 2009

This meeting was held in London with the Programme:

Kirstin Kennedy 'Metalwork in the Medieval and Renaissance Galleries of the Victoria and Albert Museum’.

Tony North,  'Herrengrund Metalwork'

Keith Pinn, 'Base Metal Candlesticks'

Members objects discussed.

Some of these talks may be published later.

 

 

 
 

Selected List of Articles in Past Publications

   
 

Base Thoughts 1 Spring 1989

 

Trade Weights

R F Homer

Metal Terminology

R Brownsword

English Brass Candlesticks c.1690-1750

J Douglas

Notes on Peter Hornsby’s Talk on Mortars

 

 

 

Base Thoughts 2 Spring 1990

 

Latten Spoons

R F Homer

Goffering Iron Stands or ‘Italian Irons’

D Bradbury

English Brass Candlesticks c. 1750-1800

J Douglas

Braziers Marks

P Hornsby

The Use of Brass in the English Scale Making Trade

D Crawforth Hitchins

 

 

Base Thoughts 3 Spring 1991

 

Casting Techniques

R Harrison

The Downhearth and the Articles used therein

E Hopwell

Essay Pieces of the Edinburgh Hammermen

D Lamb

 

 

Base Thoughts 4 Spring 1992

 

Compositional analysis as an aid to determining the origins of late medieval brass eagle-lecterns

R Brownsword

Warming Pans

E Hopwell

Firework Mortars

P Hornsby

British Bells

M Bliss

Some Purchases of Brass in 17th century England

P Hornsby

English Brass Chamber Candlesticks pre-1800

J Douglas

 

 

The Journal Vol.1 June 1993

 

Further Notes on Warming Pans

R Butler

Fire Insurance Marks

D Robinson

Essays of the Glasgow Hammermen

A Neish

Tobacco and Snuff Boxes

 

Scottish Brass Travelling Chalices

A Neish

Imports of Copper, Brass & Latten from Sweden 1669-1680

P Hornsby

Ornamental Ironwork in Cheltenham

A Chatwin

Early 19th Century Candlestick Nozzles

J Johnson

 

 

The Journal Vol. 2 June 1994

 

The Mysterious John Fathers – Potcaster

R & V Butler

Medieval Workers of Copper Alloy & their Products

R Brownsword

Cooking Pots & their Contents

P Hornsby

Influence of Dr. Christopher Dresser

W Clegg

Wrought Iron

R Brownsword

Researching Patents

P Hayward

 

 

The Journal Vol. 3 June 1995

 

Birmingham Steel Tobacco Boxes

D Fennimore

Note on Inscription on English Warming Pan Lids

C Bangs

Brass Pinmaking in the West Country

J Day

Neale Mortars

R Brownsword

Scientific Tests to Authenticate Antiques with particular Reference to Metalware

P Hornsby

Some North-Country Bushel Measures and their Use

M Finlay

A German Bronze Aquamanile

C Bangs

Liberty Metalware

J Hornsby

Book Reviews

 

 

 

The Journal Vol. 4 June 1996

 

British Late Medieval Inscribed Bronze Jugs: a Stylistic Study

M Finlay

British Late Medieval Inscribed Bronze Jugs: a Technical Study

R Brownsword & E Pitt

Medieval Phosphor Bronze not confirmed

R Brownsword & E Pitt

Tinned Iron Spoons

R Hobday

Keys of the First to Twentieth Centuries

D Robinson

Who Made Latten Spoons?

R F Homer

Neale Mortar Exhibition

R Brownsword

A Mighty Crock

R Butler

The Aldbourne Foundry & Cast Rumbler Bells

W Moir

Book Reviews

 

 

 

The Journal Vol. 5 June 1997

 

Marked English Cabinet Handles & Plates

D Fennimore

A Group of Medieval ‘Brass’ Flagons

R Brownsword

Evidence for a medieval ‘Brass’ Industry

R Brownsword

An Eighteenth Century Provincial Founder & Brazier: -  Roger Rice of Bristol

R & V Butler

Wedding Knives: The Golden Age of English Cutlery

S Moore

Trade Card:  John Brailsford, Cutler

 

Pilgrim Tokens

P Hooper

Tinder Boxes, Strike-a Lights & Fire Steels

A Crawforth & D Robinson

Lacquered Brass Work 1834

D Lardner

Book Review

 

 

 

The Journal Vol. 6 June 1998

 

Polished Steel Wares of Woodstock

A R E North

English pre-Reformation Eagle Lecterns

R Brownsword

EK:  An 18th Century Candlestick Maker Unmasked

R Butler

Medieval Harness Pendants

M Finlay

Domestic Hearth Equipment

A Crawforth

Miniature Fireplaces

M Douglas

 

 

The Journal, Vol. 7, June 1999  
'Published as The Act Directs' P Hayward & R Butler

Japanned Tin-Ware.  Rise & Fall of an Art Industry

Y Jones

Exporting Japaned Ware

H Loveridge

James Talman, brazier, weightmaker & shopkeeper?

D Crawforth-Hitchins

Tale of Two Ewers

C Bangs & P Northover

Who was Francis Keeble?

M Finlay

Irish Metalwork

D Hall

Wrought-iron Regalia Racks in the City of Exeter

H Tapley-Soper

 

 

The Journal, Vol. 8, June 2000  
Medieval Bronze \fonts R Spichal

A Significant pair of Candlesticks

G Pass

French Bronze Standard Grain Measure

G Darrou

Britannia Metal

D Lamb

Furniture Furniture

R & V Butler

An Inscribed Key from North Norfolk

R Brownsword

Friendly Society Antiques

S Chapman

Friendly Society Medals

C Walker

Domestic Lighting 1780s to 1880s

K Pinn

 

 

The Journal Vol. 9, June 2001  

The Decoration of Metals: Two Victorian Patents

D. Lamb

A Unique Friendly Society Plaque

S. Chapman

Mortars, Skillets and the Silver Dollar

R. Brownsword

The Metalware of W.A.S. Benson 1854-1924

W. Clegg

Irish Metalware Part II

D. Hall

The Stratford and other Ewers – Report on a Discussion

K. Pinn

A Bronze Gallon Baluster Measure

T. Campbell

Book Review: The Rushlight and Related Holders by Robert Ashley

 

Various Short Pieces

 

 

 

The Journal Vol. 10  June 2002  

West Country Chandeliers and their Makers

Robert Sherlock

Pewterers and Braziers – a Dual Trade?

Ronald F Homer

Earliest Recorded Edward Neale Mortar

David Pearsall

Some British Medieval Copper-alloy Mortars

Michael Finlay

Disc-base Candlesticks with Pillar Stems in Brass

Jan Gadd

An Unusual Pear-shaped Brass Teapot

Garland Pass

Highland Brooches

D. Caldwell, K. Eremin and others

Antwerp, the Entrepôt – Some Mysteries Explained

Roger Brownsword

De-silvered Copper Ingots from Central Europe

Paul Craddock

Savealls

John Douglas

Manufacturing Practices and Decorative Processes

Neil Bollen

H and Harrison

David Pearsall

 

 

The Journal Vol. 11 June 2003  

Bronze Shield-shaped Weights

Diana Crawforth-Hitchins

Some Observations on the Crowned R Mark

Nigel Weekes

Dinanderie – a New Perspective

Roger Brownsword

Hogscraper Candlesticks

Danny Robinson

Rococo Cast-brass Watch-stands

Edward Harris

Braziers & Pewterers on Bristol Quay

Mike Marsden

Introduction to Close Plate

Keith Pinn

More on Firesteels, a discussion

Jürgen Weiner & Andrew Crawforth

Compositions of Some Early Leaded-bronze Mortars

Roger Brownsword

Two Eighteenth-Century Locksmiths’ Accounts

Michael Finlay

 

 

The Journal Vol. 12 June 2004 (published 2005)

 

Brass Founders, Braziers and Copper-Smiths in Bristol, c1650-1890

David J Eveleigh

More Ingots

Paul Craddock

The Origin of Handbells

William Butler

Decorative Victorian Doorstops and Flatbacks

Ian M Ross

Nutcracks in Pictures

Andrew Crawforth

 

 

The Journal Vol. 13 June 2005

 

‘Surrey’ Enamels Reattributed: Part 1

Claude Blair

French Plating 

Tonny Beentjes & Mark Erdmann

Some Early 17th-Century Gloucestershire Pewterers

Andrew J. Crawforth

Bronze Founding in 17th-Century Somerset: Documentary and Archaeological Evidence

Christopher Green & Roderick Butler

Brass-Mounted Hangers from the Hounslow Sword Mill

Anthony R.E. North

Architectural Metalwork from The Magpie & Stump

Megan Thomas

Anglo-French Candlesticks

Andrew J. Crawforth

Scottish Traditional Gunmaking

David Caldwell

Some Petty Gentry and Their Brasses: 1450-1650

Fergus Cannan

The Belinda Gentle Metalware Gallery at the V&A

Angus Patterson

Book Review: The English Candlestick by Eloy Koldeweij

Tonny Beentjes

   
The Journal Vol. 14 June 2006  
Casters, Dredgers and Muffineers 1680-1840 Andrew J Crawforth
"Surrey" Enamels Reattributed, Par 2 An Illustrated List of Known Types Claude Blair and Angus Patterson
Japanning on Metal: Recent Experiments Cynthia Gorman
Oldcopper Website: www.oldcopper.org Vin Callcut
Contrasts: English Gothis Revival Wares in Brass Anthony R E North
How Many for the Pot? Roger Rosewell
Conserving a Tinned-Copper Dish with Rottenstone Rubber Gates Turner
Scandall: The Melchett Firebasket Eric Turner
Antique American Trivets and Stands Margaret Lynn Rosack
Tiffany's Early Transatlantic Style Clare Phillips
   
The Journal Vol. 15 June 2007  
Skultuna Brass Manufactory, Sweden Jan A Gadd
Aboriginal Breastplates: An Australian Tradition in Metalware Julian Holland & David Kaus
Equipment Below Stairs Tessa Murdoch
The Art of Illumination: Medieval Candlesticks and Manuscript Art Stephanie Seavers
The Cotehele Aquamanille Rachel Hunt
Asante Goldweights Angus Patterson
300 Years of the Warming Pan Robert A. Higham
Saving the Barnard Archive for the Nation Ann Eatwell
An English 'Lobster-Tailed Pot Charlotte Austin
Metal Mounts on Ivories from Islamic Spain Catia Viega-Wesolowska
An Unknown Type of Fire-Steel from Iran Jürgen Weiner
   
The Journal Vol. 16 June 2008  
Brass Basins and Bowls from a Single Nuremberg Workshop around 1500-80 Jan A Gadd
Early Ecclesiastical Hand-Bells in Ireland and Britain Cormac Bourke
A Fourteenth Century Latten Ewer from Tong Castle Dr Roger Brownsword
Some London Makers of Chandeliers Robert Sherlock
The Mount Edgumbe Irish Bronze-Age Horns Cynthia Gascell Brown
The Gloucester Cathedral Candlestick: Ongoing Research Catia Viega-Weolowska and Stephanie Seavers
The Gloucester Candlestick: A Case for a Gloucester Provenance Roderick Butler and Christopher Green
The Penton Mewsey Bell John Isherwood
A German Puzzle Peacock Anthony R E North
Hidden Histories: Uncovering the Secrets of James Dixon's Britannia Metal Goods Rachel Conroy
A Sound Conscience is a Wall of Brass Angus Patterson
Scandal 2: The Return of the Relief Eric Turner
Letter re warming pans Roderick Butler, John Douglas and Keith Pinn.
   
The Journal Vol. 17 June 2009  
   
Ornamental or Useful:  A Cut Steel Chatelaine by Boulton and Wedgewood. Sinty Stemp
English Roasting Jacks, Part 1: Weight-Driven Spit Jacks of the 17th Century Tony Weston
Inscribed Park Gate Keys: Some Clues to Social History Diana Crawforth-Hitchins
'The Brass Caps': Germanic Military Headgear from the American War of Independence. Matthew Keagle
Irish City Standards Andrew J Crawforth
A 'Tentative' Classification of Rope Lighters Jürgen Weiner
A Timely Aquisition: A Matthew Boulton Pattern Book at the V&A, ca. 1779 Angus Patterson
Storage and Handling of Scabbards: Advice for Collectors Donna Stevens
Book Review: 'The Dunhill Petrol Lighter - a Unique Story' by David Blei and Luciano Bottoni Jürgen Weiner
   
   
   
   
   
 
   
 

Cost to members only of individual Journals (including postage) as follows: 

Base Thoughts (the original form of The Journal)

  UK

 Overseas

Base Thoughts - 1 – 3 bound together 

  £12

 £14

Base Thoughts  - 4  £10  £12
The Journal  Volumes 1 - 13  £10 each £12 each

 

 

 

10% discount on four or more volumes

 The Journal Volume 17 is the current issue and is included in the joining subscription, until such time as the Journal Volume 18 becomes available in Summer 2010.

 1 January 2007   The above price list is effective from this date and supersedes any previous price lists.

 

   
 

 

   
 

Stephanie Seavers,
Secretary, Antique Metalware Society,
Metalwork Section,
Victoria and Albert Museum,
Cromwell Road,
SW7 2RL
    United Kingdom  

email:  antiquemetalwaresociety@googlemail.com