BY TONY PRATT, THE CANTERBURY AUCTION GALLERIES
Engineer and entrepreneur Matthew Boulton (1728-1809) was one of the most famous industrialists of his age whose Soho Works in Birmingham was the largest hardware factory in the world.
Noted for the steam engines he built in partnership with James Watt, collectors revere him for his highly prized gold and silver objects that once graced the homes of the Georgian elite.
Intent on challenging French dominance in the market, he visited Paris in 1765 to learn the secrets of the bronze workshops there before returning to establish a department whose sole purpose was the large-scale production of ormolu. The alloy of copper, zinc and tin produced gilt bronze ormolu mounts that gave objects the appearance of literally dripping with gold.
The choice of Europe’s crowned heads, however, were ormolu-mounted vases – like this pair made from purple, blue and yellow fluorspar known as Blue John, a rare semi-precious mineral found only in mines in Castleton, Derbyshire. George III and Queen Charlotte were among his customers, buying several from him in 1770.
この記事は Kent Life の August 2020 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です ? サインイン
この記事は Kent Life の August 2020 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です? サインイン
The choice of leaders
It’s a small, scenic Kentish market town on the border with Surrey, famous for not one but two great leaders. We take a look around Westerham
The eco-warriors
Awarded a Queen’s Anniversary Prize in 2019 in recognition of its research in global nature conservation, the role of Kent-based DICE has never been more relevant
Kent's most CURIOUS MONUMENTS
Our county can boast some of the most celebrated and downright unusual protected mouments in the country
Ghosts of a river's life
Kent Life discovers an an other-worldliness about the marshes, creeks, and saltings of the lower reaches of the river Medway
The return of the son
The Unknown Warrior’s journey from the World War One battlefields via Dover to his resting place in Westminster Abbey is 100 years old this month
We will remember
In a year when we got an inkling of what living through a war means, we remember the 75th anniversary of the end of the Great War
Age-old advice
Just become a grandparent for the first time? Perhaps you need a little guidance, so here are some top tips about how to embrace your new family role
10 GOOD REASONS TO VISIT Medway Towns
A vast Dockyard, a Napoleonic fort and a JCB diggers theme park - let’s visit Chatham and Medway
KENT'S CREEPIEST- GHOST STORIES
Here are 10 tales to make you shiver as we celebrate All Hallows’ Eve
Joking apart
From his home in Broadstairs, Royston Robertson comes up with satirical, topical and sometimes just plain silly cartoons
