|
One of my ongoing areas of research is centered around the garden objects in the Winterthur collection. Through collaboration between various departments at the museum, including objects conservation, gardens, curatorial, and registration, we have made exciting advancements in the preservation and understanding of these important objects.
I helped develop a sustainable maintenance plan that involves an objects conservator and/or preventive technician annually washing and/or waxing each sculpture currently on view in the gardens. Part of the waxing protocol employs a cayenne pepper wax applied to lead sculptures to prevent squirrel damage (see publications, below). In the winter months, some of our sculptures, like the iron lilies, get covered, a system we refined over the years by tracking the internal environmental parameters and adjusting until we got it right. We also developed a labeling system that allows for a more streamlined tracking of those objects such as benches and chairs that get moved more regularly than other decorative sculptures, and together with our curators, we continue to conduct research into the best treatment approaches, history of our lead sculptures in particular, and fundraising for additional objects to be treated and added to our maintenance plan. |
Outer courtyard at H. Crowther, Ltd. in London, UK, September 2019. In the 20th century, Crowther was one of the main supplier of lead garden objects to Henry Francis du Pont at Winterthur.
|
In September 2019, I was fortunate to be able to visit H. Crowther Ltd., a lead garden ornament manufacturing firm based in London. The company was established in 1908 by Henry Crowther. The business then passed to his son Jim, who in turn passed the business to its current director, Peter McBride. In addition, Jim’s granddaughter (Henry’s great-granddaughter) currently works for the company. Peter is currently grooming his assistant Edward to eventually take over and carry on this direct line of ownership and knowledge.
From the 1920s to current day, nearly 80% of Crowther’s production is shipped to the United States, mainly Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, New Jersey, and the Carolinas. Unfortunately, Crowther does not hold any records of end-client purchases, even those that are purchased directly from the London-based firm. The majority of their custom productions go to distribution centers.
Despite the lack of physical records, it was evident from speaking with Peter and exchanging photographs of Winterthur’s sculptures/seeing sculpture examples in their studio that many of the lead sculptures purchased by H.F. du Pont in the 20th century came from H. Crowther Ltd. Peter’s knowledge of the firm’s inventory and transitions over its history is a valuable source worth documenting.
My visit to Crowther was able to answer many of the questions we had regarding the manufacture of our lead sculptures, and we are looking to have Peter visit Winterthur to continue this collaboration and important research.
From the 1920s to current day, nearly 80% of Crowther’s production is shipped to the United States, mainly Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, New Jersey, and the Carolinas. Unfortunately, Crowther does not hold any records of end-client purchases, even those that are purchased directly from the London-based firm. The majority of their custom productions go to distribution centers.
Despite the lack of physical records, it was evident from speaking with Peter and exchanging photographs of Winterthur’s sculptures/seeing sculpture examples in their studio that many of the lead sculptures purchased by H.F. du Pont in the 20th century came from H. Crowther Ltd. Peter’s knowledge of the firm’s inventory and transitions over its history is a valuable source worth documenting.
My visit to Crowther was able to answer many of the questions we had regarding the manufacture of our lead sculptures, and we are looking to have Peter visit Winterthur to continue this collaboration and important research.