Arthur Girling Grimwade FSA[1] (10 February 1913 in London[2] – 21 November 2002)[3] was a British antiquarian known for his work in the history of silversmithing and goldsmithing, a field in which he was "highly respected"[4] and a "world authority".[5] He spent 20 years writing the reference work London Goldsmiths 1697-1837: Their Marks & Lives, which was published in 1976;[6] he also wrote numerous other reference works and scholarly articles, beginning with a 1947 article in Country Life about items in the collection of the Ashmolean Museum.[2]
In 1932, Grimwade began work at Christie's auction house (despite his father having wanted him to work at the Bank of England);[2] as a trainee, his salary was £1 a week.[7] After serving in the Second World War as a signaller, he returned to Christie's in 1946.[7] On 30 April 1954, he was promoted to director,[8] a position he held until 1979.[3] During this time, he worked with Guy Hannen,[9] and, while valuating the assets of Burghley House, discovered the artefact now known as the Burghley Nef "neglected and black in a cellar".[7]
In "the 1950s", Grimwade joined the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths, where he was "the first person to be given official access to their mark books, [which were] until then a secret in-house resource;"[2] in 1984, he served as the Goldsmiths' Prime Warden.[7]
In 1953, he became a Fellow of the Royal Society of Antiquaries,[7] and in 1962, he was honorary curator for the Honourable Artillery Company.[10]
In 1971, he visited California, serving as a guest lecturer in silver artefacts at the University of California, Davis.[11]
References
edit- ^ Salon (Society of Antiquaries of London Online Newsletter) #71; published February 14, 2020; retrieved October 15, 2023
- ^ a b c d "Obituary: Arthur Grimwade; Leading expert in historic plate.", by Philippa Glanville; in The Independent; December 17, 2002; p. 18
- ^ a b Arthur Grimwade - World-renowned silver expert generous with his expertise, by Terry Mullaly, in The Guardian; published December 17, 2002; retrieved October 15, 2023
- ^ "Silver in London: the Parker and Wakelin Partnership 1760-1776", reviewed by Pippa Shirley; in Apollo, vol. 161, no. 516; published February 2005
- ^ "Millions Under the Hammer", by Richard Seddon, in the Birmingham Post; published 4 December 1965; p. 10
- ^ London Goldsmiths, 1697–1837. Their Marks and Lives. By Arthur G. Grimwade. Pp. x + 728 + 8 pls. London: Faber & Faber, 1976. £35., reviewed by Graham Hughes, in The Antiquaries Journal; volume 57, no. 1, March 1977; p. 146; https://doi.org/10.1017/S0003581500031097
- ^ a b c d e "Arthur Grimwade", in The Times; published December 3, 2002; p. 34
- ^ " New Directors Of Christie's", in The Times; published 1 May 1954; p. 3
- ^ "Getting the Feel of Antiques", by Vivian Brown (Associated Press); in the Clovis News-Journal; published 14 July 1977; p. 19
- ^ "News of the Day: Silver" in The Age; 20 February 1962; p. 2
- ^ "UCD Extension Course antique lovers' dream", in the Woodland Daily Democrat; published September 30, 1971; p. 6