Harry Lyons speaks about Dr Christopher Dresser at Rochdale Antiques Society

Dr Christopher Dresser, 1834 – 1904, a designer for an Industrial Age, was the topic of a talk by Harry Lyons, a London Art Dealer and authority on Dr Dresser.

Dr Dresser was a contemporary of William Morris, but unlike Morris, Dresser wanted to use an industrial process using machinery, thus making items more affordable.

In 1859 his serious design work began, lecturing in the London School of Design and doing design work for Minton, Wedgwood, Colebrook and Halifax silk companies, Birmingham manufacturers, Lancashire textile and carpet companies.

He lectured at the Royal Society of Arts, promoting new designs and was art advisor to many importers, while writing a book on Japanese Arts and Crafts. He arranged international displays at Alexander Palace and used his own name on items as a trade mark.

He was art editor to a weekly magazine and President of Art Furnishers Alliance.

All of this time-consuming work made him ill and he had to cut back and concentrate on his own Studio where he employed 10 – 12 staff.

They designed metalwork to be sold at Liberty’s and Clutha glass made in Glasgow out of industrial glass, brightly-coloured cotton material for an African company, Ault pottery with Peruvian designs, and damask linen produced in Belfast. Much of this still looks very modern today and a collection of his work, given by Harry Lyons, can be seen in Middleborough Museum.

Rochdale Antiques Society programme:

http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/events/search?searchtype=text&searchvalue=Rochdale+Antiques+Society