British canvas, stretcher and panel suppliers’ marks. Part 12, England outside London
This guide surveys suppliers’ marks and labels on the reverse of picture supports. This part is devoted to suppliers in England excluding London. Marks relating to framing, restoration and picture dealing are not treated here. Part 14, devoted to restorers, includes the canvas stamps of R.W. King (Yarmouth and Norwich) and J.R. Taylor (Manchester).
Several of the suppliers bought in materials from larger companies and applied their own label or stamp, often quite small. Examples include Keet (on a Roberson support), Mason (Ackermann & Co and Roberson & Miller), Lanham, Norton and Whitehead (Winsor & Newton), Tovey and Whitehead (G. Rowney & Co).
Measurements of marks, given where known, are approximate and may vary according to the stretching or later conservation treatment of a canvas or the trimming of a label. Links are given to institutional websites where the dimensions of works can be found. For individual suppliers, see the database, British artists' suppliers, 1650-1950. Square brackets are used to indicate indistinct or missing lettering in transcripts, with readings sometimes based on other examples.
Compiled by Jacob Simon, January 2019, updated February 2020, and based on the pioneering work of Cathy Proudlove and the suppliers’ database created by Jacob Simon. With thanks to Dr Joyce Townsend for providing information on paintings in Tate.
The following suppliers appear in this resource: Birmingham: Mrs Elizabeth Norton, George Priest Brighton: William Mason Bristol: S.G. Tovey Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk: William Spanton Croydon: James Sheers Derby: Garth Cooper Dover, Kent: Underdown & Chettle Leamington, Warwickshire: William Whitehead Leicester: A.E. Snaith & Co Liverpool: John Hampson, Henry Jeffreys, H. Jeffreys & Son, George James Keet, Joseph Richardson Loughton, Essex: Madderton & Co Ltd, operating nationally Manchester: Farquharson & Co, Henry Nathan & Sons Norwich: Daniel? Watson Sheffield, Hibbert Bros St Ives, Cornwall: James Lanham, James Lanham Ltd, operating nationally Stratford, Essex: H.R. & A. Scott Walsall, Staffordshire: Thomas & William Henry Bullock Wareham, Dorset: Daler Board Co. Ltd, operating nationally Worcester: Samuel Wells
Supplier, work details Supplier dates, mark transcripts Product marks (not to uniform scale)
Thomas & William In business at 71 Bridge St in the 1890s Henry Bullock, Walsall See British artists' suppliers, 1650-1950 - B
Illustrated: Stamp, within box, 2.9 cm wide, on board or Unspecified work, 1912. stretcher: Source: Cobbe coll., see note 2. T. & W. H. BULLOCK, Artists’ Repository 71[?] BRIDGE STREET, WALSALL.
Supplier, work details Supplier dates, mark transcripts Product marks (not to uniform scale)
Garth Cooper, Derby In business 1895-1935 and perhaps for longer See British artists' suppliers, 1650-1950 - C
Illustrated: Stamp, 7.7 cm wide, on canvas: Unspecified work, 1916. Source: Cobbe coll., see Garth Cooper. note 2. Artists' Colourman 13 & 15 Cheap[side]
Daler Board Co. Ltd, In business from 1946 Daler-Rowney Ltd from 1985 Wareham, Dorset See British artists' suppliers, 1650-1950 - D
Illustrated: Label, partly obscured by Redfern Gallery label Ernest Hamilton Amor, with date 1952, on board: George Moore’s House, 121 Ebury Street, D[ALER] London, by 1952 (with ...... Nick Waters Art, 2018) Made in Fin ...... [list of 10 sizes] Made in Light and Heavyweight Board by DALER BOARD CO. Ltd. Wareham – Dorset – England Patent Applied for
Illustrated: Label in dark blue on board: Derrick Hughes, Cowboy on Horseback in River [outer and inner band of oval:] (with Stag Gallery, DALER BOARD/ FOR OILS Cirencester) DALER BOARD
Patent No. 634920 TO FIT FRAME SIZES
STOCK/ SIZES [16 sizes listed] LM
HANDMADE AT WAREHAM . ENGLAND
Illustrated: Label in light and dark blue on board: John Wells, Old Wall and Wire, c.1960-75 [outer and inner band of oval:] (Bonhams, 10 July 2018, DALER BOARD/ FOR OILS lot 184) DALER BOARD
Also found on: Patent No. 634920 Stanley Nowell, Welsh Moorland, 1972 (Sulis Fine Stock Sizes Art, 2017) [12 sizes listed] LM
HANDMADE AT WAREHAM . ENGLAND
Supplier, work details Supplier dates, mark transcripts Product marks (not to uniform scale)
Illustrtaed: Label, 10.9cm wide, in light and dark blue on J. Peski, Portrait of a Boy, board: 1979 (Criterion Auctioneers, Islington, 13 [outer and inner band of oval:] January 2020, lot 149) DALER BOARD/ FOR OILS DALER Patent No. 634920
HANDMADE AT WAREHAM ENGLAND TO FIT THE FOLLOWING FRAME SIZES: [19 Sizes listed] LM TITLE DATE
Stamped with size lower right: 22 x 18 COARSE GRAIN
Illustrated: Label in light and dark blue on board: H.R. Charge, Muted Landscape, 1985 (Sulis [outer and inner band of oval:] Fine Art) DALER BOARD/ for/ OILS & ACRYLIC Daler A board with this design of Patent No. 634920 label is repr. in Daler- Rowney’s 1986 catalogue, Hand made at Wareham, Dorset, England to fit described as ‘Double primed the following frame sizes: [19 sizes listed] with the unique Daler 18 x 14 ins./ Fine Grain. surface on a substantial backing board.’ It is found again in the 1991 catalogue. Title Date
Illustrated: Stamp, 9.2 cm wide, linear border, on canvas: William Johnstone, Untitled (Grey form “GRANGE” abstract), 1960s/70s COTTON (Bonhams, Edinburgh, 26 CANVAS June 2019, part of lot MADE BY 262) DALER BOARD CO. LTD.
Illustrated: Stamp, 8.2 cm wide, on primed stretcher Robert Hogg Matthew, turnover: Abstract Study, 1964 (Criterion Auctioneers, DALER BOARD CO. LTD. Islington, 16 October 2017, lot 80)
Supplier, work details Supplier dates, mark transcripts Product marks (not to uniform scale)
Farquharson & Co, In business 1881-94 Manchester See British artists' suppliers, 1650-1950 - F
Illustrated: Stencil, 13.6 cm wide, oval format, on canvas: Unspecified work. Source: Cobbe coll., see FARQUHARSON & Co. note 2. ARTISTS COLORMEN 221 STRETFORD RD MANCHESTER.
John Hampson, In business 1844-47 Liverpool See British artists' suppliers, 1650-1950 - H
Illustrated: Stencil on canvas: Unspecified portrait. Source: The Archives of FROM Alexander Katlan, now J. HAMPSONN housed in the Winterthur – 36 – Museum and Libraries, repr. Mount Pleasant from Katlan 1992, p.460, LIVERPOOL see note 4.
Hibbert Bros, Sheffield At 117 Norfolk St 1882-2005 See British artists' suppliers, 1650-1950 - H
Illustrated: Stamp, 7.8 cm wide, in centre of canvas: Stanley Royle, The Goose Girl, c.1921 I HIBBERT BROS (National Gallery of 117, NORFOLK STREET, Ireland) SHEFFIELD.
Also stamped with size in inches on right tacking edge: 36 x 28
Henry Jeffreys, H. Jeffreys in business 1866-94 or later, Jeffreys Jeffreys & Son, & Son by 1900-1911 or later Liverpool See British artists' suppliers, 1650-1950 - J
Illustrated: Stamp, about 8.5 cm wide, on canvas: Unspecified work, 1870. Source: Cobbe coll., see H. JEFFR[EYS] note 2. ARTIST [COLOURMAN?] REN[SHAW STREET] L[IVERPOOL]
Supplier, work details Supplier dates, mark transcripts Product marks (not to uniform scale)
Illustrated: Label, 2.3 cm wide, linear border, on stretcher: Edward G. Handel Lucas, Pansies and Eggs in a H. JEFFREYS Bird’s Nest, 1871 ARTIST COLOURMAN. (Christie’s, 14 May 1976, 90 & 92, RENSHAW ST lot 180). N.B. Lucas would LIVERPOOL. have been only 10 years old in 1871 and not in Liverpool, so the date may not be accurate.
Illustrated: Stamp on canvas: Unknown artist, Boats at Sea (Private coll., H. JEFFREYS & SON, information from Zach RENSHAW STREE[T] Kidwell, 2017) LIVERPOOL
Illustrated: Stamp, 11.3 cm wide, on canvas: Unspecified work, 1889. Source: Cobbe coll., see JEFFREYS & SON, note 2. LIVERPOOL.
George James Keet, In business 1848-64 Liverpool See British artists' suppliers, 1650-1950 - K
Illustrated: Label, torn, 9.0 cm wide, linear border, on William Huggins, Sheep board: on a Hill Side, 1857 (Christie’s, 14 May 1976, G. J. KEET, lot 3) [STATION]ER and ARTISTS’ COLOURMAN, ... [& 90] RENSHAW ST., & ARCADE, [LI]VERPOOL. [(His only] Establishment.)
[... Schools Suppli]ed at London Prices.
Illustrated: Label, torn, 4.5 cm wide, linear border, on Henry Benjamin Roberts, board with C. Roberson & Co label: An Unhappy Model, 1861 (Sotheby’s Belgravia, 11 G. J. KEET, November 1975, lot 75) [STAT]IONER, ENGRAVER, PRINTER, [AND] ARTISTS’ COLOURMAN, Also found on: [86, 88 & 90] RENSHAW STREET, Cover of a Winsor & Newton [LI]VERPOOL handbook, published 1855 [Dressing Cases,] Desks, Inks Stands, &c. (providing missing wording)
William Davis, Corner of a Cornfield, c.1870 (Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool), in conjunction with a Roberson label
Supplier, work details Supplier dates, mark transcripts Product marks (not to uniform scale)
James Lanham, James In business as a colourman from 1887 and as Lanham Ltd, St Ives, James Lanham Ltd from 1907 Cornwall See British artists' suppliers, 1650-1950 - L
Illustrated (top): Oval metal label on stretcher: Stanhope Forbes, Sir Philip Dawson MP, 1914 JAMES LANHAM (Bonhams, 28 June 2016, ARTISTS COLORMAN lot 11) ST IVES - CORNWALL - Illustrated (bottom): Henry Bishop, Havelock Ellis, later 1890s (National Portrait Gallery)
^ Forbes
^ Bishop Illustrated: Stamp, 8.7 cm wide, on stretcher (not the Unspecified work, 1889. original stretcher): Source: Cobbe coll., see note 2. JAMES LANHAM Artists’ [Colourm]an ST. IVES, Cornwall.
Illustrated: Label on reverse of mirror: Newlyn copper, Mirror (Private coll., see Newlyn From Copper Project JAMES LANHAM, LTD., Newsletter, January Artists’ Colourmen, 2007.pdf). Presumably a ST. IVES, CORNWALL. trading label, included ------here for reference. DIRECT AGENTS for Schoenfeld, Edouard, Lefranc, Newman, Heyl, Cambridge, Vibert, &c. &c. [James Lanham Ltd from ------1907] IMPORTERS OF EVERY KIND OF FOREIGN ARTISTS’ MATERIALS.
Illustrated: Stamp, linear border, on reverse of stretcher: Bryan Wynter, Seedtime, 1958-9 (Tate). For WINSOR & NEWTON’S ‘Winton’ canvas, see Part WINTON 10 of this guide. Supplied by JAMES LANHAM LTD. ST. IVES – CORNWALL
Supplier, work details Supplier dates, mark transcripts Product marks (not to uniform scale)
Madderton & Co Ltd, In business 1896-1939 Loughton, Essex See British artists' suppliers, 1650-1950 - M
Illustrated: Label, linear border, on canvas board, not Unknown artist, Sheep in transcribed line for line: landscape, 1910? (ebay, Stockholm, March 2018) “CAMBRIDGE” ARTISTS’ CANVAS BOARDS “C.” THESE BOARDS ARE COVERED WITH Also found on: CANVAS—NOT PAPER. Frank Willson Judd, Pond in The following sizes fit the Pochade, Thumb-hole, a Mountain Landscape, and other Wooden Boxes we supply: 1913 (John Moran Auctioneers Inc, 21 August [two lists of sizes] 2018, lot 2033) MADDERTON & CO., LTD., LOUGHTON, ESSEX, ENGLAND. Sole Makers of the “Cambridge” Artists’ Colours and Materials.
William Mason, Brighton In business at this address by 1832-38 See British artists' suppliers, 1650-1950 - M
Illustrated: Label, 2.7 cm wide, decorative border, over Edward Pritchett, The label of Roberson & Miller, on panel: Piazzetta or The Prison, Venice (Christie’s, 25 W. MASON, April 1975, lot 24) From Ackermann’s Repository of Arts 1 Ship St, Brighton.
Illustrated: Label, 2.4 cm wide, decorative border, over Edward Pritchett, The label of Ackermann & Co (repr. in Part 2 of this Piazzetta or The Prison, guide), on panel: Venice (Christie’s, 25 April 1975, lot 24) W. H. MASON, From Ackermann’s [Repository of Art]s
[1 Ship] St, Brighton.
Henry Nathan & Sons, In business as Nathan & Sons 1881-1914 Manchester See British artists' suppliers, 1650-1950 - N
Illustrated: Stencil, 10.8 cm wide, on canvas: Samuel John ‘Lamorna’ Birch, Landscape, 1895 H. NATHAN & SONS. (Private coll., information ARTISTS’ COLOURMEN from Cyndie Lack) 119, DEANSGATE MANCHESTER. This or similar found on: H.W. Garrat, Looking Ahead Through Cab Window of Garratt Locomotive, 1909 (Science and Industry Museum, Manchester)
Supplier, work details Supplier dates, mark transcripts Product marks (not to uniform scale)
Mrs Elizabeth Norton, Business active 1866-1919 Birmingham See British artists' suppliers, 1650-1950 - N
Illustrated: Label, 2.6 cm wide, linear border: MS (initials), unspecified work. Source: Cobbe E. NORTON’S coll., see note 2. ARTISTS’ REPOSITORY. (FROM NEW ST.) 29, Paradise Street, BIRMINGHAM.
[Business moved to Paradise St in 1866]
Illustrated: Label, 2.7 cm wide, linear border, on millboard: W.P. Starkey, Harvest Flowers (Sotheby’s E. NORTON’S Belgravia, 3 December ARTISTS’ REPOSITORY. 1974, lot 101), millboard (FROM NEW-ST.) with Winsor & Newton mark 29, Paradise Street, of type found c.1870-73. BIRMINGHAM.
Illustrated: Label, 2.8 cm wide, linear border, on stretcher Unspecified work. (stamped ‘24’): Source: Cobbe coll., see note 2. E. NORTON’S ARTISTS’ REPOSITORY, Also found on: 29, Paradise Street, Jonathan Pratt, Young BIRMINGHAM.
Woman Painting at an Easel (Christie’s, 25 July 1975, lot 28), canvas with Winsor & Newton mark. Illustrated: Stamp (double image) with palette, brushes Joseph Southall, The and easel, 4.5 cm wide, on prepared Winsor & Sleeping Beauty, 1903 Newton board: (Birmingham Museums Trust), board with Winsor & within palette: Newton imprint, partly visible E. NORTON above Norton stamp, see 29, PARADISE ST. Part 11 of this guide. BIRMINGHAM
George Priest, In business 1849-65 Birmingham See British artists' suppliers, 1650-1950 - P
Illustrated: Stamp, 10.3 cm wide, on canvas: Unspecified work. Source: Cobbe coll., see G. PRIEST note 2. PICTURE LINER &c. 31, Navigation St. Birmm. Also found on: ARTISTS JOINER & Andrew Deakin’s Near General Dealer in Materials. Shifnal, 1855 (Christie’s, Wholesale & Retail South Kensington, 11 March 1999, lot 118)
Supplier, work details Supplier dates, mark transcripts Product marks (not to uniform scale)
Joseph Richardson, In business at this address in 1847 Liverpool See British artists' suppliers, 1650-1950 - R
Illustrated: Stencil, oval format, on canvas: Unspecified portrait (Private coll.) Source: FROM Cobbe coll., see note 2. JOSH RICHARDSON Arti[st]s ……… Col[ourman] 79 Lord St[reet] LIVERPOOL
H.R. & A. Scott, In business c.1900-1903 or later Stratford, Essex British artists' suppliers, 1650-1950 - S
Illustrated: Stencil, broken linear border, on canvas: J.G. MacQueen(?), Shipping Scene, 1903 H.R. & A. SCOTT (Private coll., 2017) 41, BROADWAY STRATFORD
James Sheers, Croydon At this address by 1887-1916 or later See British artists' suppliers, 1650-1950 - S
Illustrated: Stamp, 9.4 cm wide, on canvas: Unspecified work, 1905. Source: Cobbe coll., see J. SHEERS, note 2. 55, CHURCH STREET, CROYDON.
A.E. Snaith & Co, In business c.1899-1914 Leicester See British artists' suppliers, 1650-1950 - S
Illustrated: Stamp, 7.3 cm wide, on canvas: T. Westcott, Boats at Sea, 1911 (Criterion A.E. SNAITH & CO Auctioneers, Islington, 12 ARTISTS CO[L]OURMEN, February 2018, lot 430) LEICESTER.
Supplier, work details Supplier dates, mark transcripts Product marks (not to uniform scale)
William Spanton, Bury In business as a colourman c.1850-70 St Edmunds, Suffolk See British artists' suppliers, 1650-1950 - S
Illustrated: Stencil, oval format, on canvas: Edward Robert Smythe, A Boy and a Girl with Two FROM Ponies, 1854 (Christie’s, W. SPANTON’S 16 July 1976, lot 60) Paper [Hanging Manufacturer] C[arver,] G[ilder & Decorator] Also found on: Artists [Repository &c] Edward Robert Smythe, [Abbeygate St Bury] St Edmunds Waiting for the boats at Pakefield (Reydon Hall sale, Bonhams Knightsbridge, 6 December 2011, lot 300, providing a reading for indistinct words in example illustrated here)
S.G. Tovey, Bristol Repository of Arts trading 1838-43 See British artists' suppliers, 1650-1950 - T
Illustrated: Label, 3.0 cm wide, linear border, on millboard: R. Gregory, King William's College, FROM Castletown, Isle of Man, S.G. TOVEY’S c.1840? (John Round REPOSITORY OF ARTS coll. and photograph), in – 2, North Street – conjunction with G. Rowney BRISTOL & Co label, repr. in Part 9.
Underdown & Chettle, In business c.1889-96 Dover See British artists' suppliers, 1650-1950 - U
Illustrated: Stencil, 13.6 cm wide, on canvas: George W. Baldry, probably Soldier in Dress UNDERDOWN Uniform, 1893 (Dover & CHETTLE collections) GILDERS & PICTURE RESTORERS MARKET SQUARE DOVER
^ reproduced from a tracing
Daniel(?) Watson, In business by 1845-65 Norwich See British artists' suppliers, 1650-1950 - W
Illustrated: Stencil, oval format, on canvas: Attrib. Anthony Sands, Yarmouth Beach, c.1860- W A T S O N 65 (Ancient House, –- –- Museum of Thetford Life) Artists Colorman –- –- NORWICH
Supplier, work details Supplier dates, mark transcripts Product marks (not to uniform scale)
Samuel Wells, In business c.1854-56 Worcester See British artists' suppliers, 1650-1950 - W
Illustrated: Stencil? 6.8 cm wide, on canvas: Benjamin Williams Leader, Angling in a WELLS. Rocky Pool, 1862 Artists Colourman. (Sotheby’s Belgravia, 29 –- WORCESTER –- July 1975, lot 111)
William Whitehead, In business by 1842-1881 or later Leamington See British artists' suppliers, 1650-1950 - W
Illustrated: Stencil, 9.0 cm wide, oval format, on canvas: T. Temple, A Chestnut Horse in a Stable, 1871 –- FROM –- (Sotheby’s Belgravia, 9 W. Whitehead September 1975 lot 97), Leamington. in conjunction with Winsor & Newton stamp
This or similar found on: John William Haynes, The Forgotten Word (Bonhams Knightsbridge, 22 March 2016, lot 60), in conjunction with G. Rowney & Co label, c.1862-81
Notes
For an historical survey with time chart and map, see Cathy Proudlove, ‘Technical focus: suppliers’ marks and labels’, The Picture Restorer: The Journal of the British Association of Painting Conservator-Restorers, no.55, autumn 2019.
1. Acknowledgments: With thanks to Dr Joyce Townsend for providing information on paintings in Tate, collected by members of the Tate Conservation Department since the 1970s, Dr Tim Moreton, who for many years recorded canvas markings on the reverse of portraits at the National Portrait Gallery, and Nicola Costaras for access to conservation files at the Victoria and Albert Museum. Thanks also to Cyndie Lack for her generous help and to Ele von Monschaw. 2. Earlier research: In the early 1970s, Cathy Proudlove (née Leach) distributed copies of her unpublished list of artists’ colourmen. In the course of her professional career at the former Area Museums Service for South East England and with Norfolk Museums Service, Cathy has seen and recorded, or been sent by professional colleagues, details of many suppliers’ marks and labels, some from private collections. She has published on the subject: ‘19th Century Prepared Artists’ Canvases’, Antique Collecting, July 1973, pp.2-4, and ‘London Artists’ Colourmen. Part I: A to D’, The Picture Restorer, no.10, autumn 1996. For a period, 1974-77, Alec Cobbe arranged for marks on paintings in sales at Sotheby’s Belgravia and Christie’s to be photographed (see his article on Winsor & Newton, Studies in Conservation, vol.21, no.2, May 1976, p.94). The photographs were later acquired by the late Richard Kissack, who planned to publish a book. Eventually he gave them to Cathy Proudlove, and images deriving from this collection have been reproduced when an image from a public collection has not been found. 3. Courtauld Institute database: A searchable database, Courtauld - Colourmen Online, was launched in 2011 and was consulted in the preparation of the current compilation. 4. Katlan: See Alexander W. Katlan, American Artists’ Materials. Volume II A Guide to Stretchers, Panels, Millboards, and Stencil Marks, 1992.
Copyright in this compilation, © National Portrait Gallery, London, January 2019, February 2020. Images are used here under fair dealing copyright provisions for non-commercial research. Copyright in individual images lies with owner, photographer or commissioner as may apply. Freely downloadable for research and personal use.