John R. Bowen

Cork Silver and Gold John R. Bowen

The work of the Cork silversmiths and goldsmiths over the past 400 years is scarcely known, and has never before been the object of a published dedicated study. The Airgeadoir exhibition at Cork's Crawford Gallery, from April to June 2005, provides the backdrop for the publication of this overview of the subject. Profusely illustrated, this book is much more than the catalogue of a ground-breaking exhibition: it is a rich source of reference as well as an enduring record of the most comprehensive collection of the work of these artists and craftsmen ever assembled.
The items described and illustrated, include early ecclesiastical pieces dating to the late 1500s, and a profusion of secular items, coffee pots, salvers, freedom boxes, maces and flatware executed through the years of great achievement in the 1600s and 1700s.
The book charts the decline in the trade after the end of the Napoleonic Wars and its renaissance during the twentieth century, including the fascinating story of Cork's 'Republican' silver. The works of famous makers such as Robert Goble, William Newenham, George Hodder, Carden Terry and the latter's daughter, Jane Williams, are featured, as is a selection of work made in Kinsale and Youghal.
Other features of the book include a directory of prominent Cork makers as well as a comprehensive bibliography for further reading/study.