William Burgess
George Montague Ellwood (1875-1955) Artist, Designer & Interior Decorator was born in 1875 & educated at Holloway Art School & later studied in Paris, Berlin, Dresden & Vienna & at Camden School of Art from 1916 to 1924. In 1897 he won the gold medal for his furniture designs at the National Competition, South Kensington. He was one of the founding members of the 'Guild of Art Craftsmen', comprising the likes of Onslow Whiting (metal & repousse' work) J Osmond (a carver), & Richard Garbe (sculptor), a break away group of many talented artists & craftsmen formed just before the turn of the 1900's, working closely together & holding regular exhibitions of their works, situated at Camden Square, London. Some of Ellwood's best work was between 1900-1905/6 when he was the head designer for J S Henry (John Sollie Henry, founded c1880) of Old Street, London. Ellwood was their most prolific designer; he had a very particular artistic architectural style, & an eye for line & fine detail of the highest order, he like Edward William Godwin knew how to thin the piece's & parts which make up furniture yet without compromising it's integral strength by using more architectural yet decorative lines particularly in his use of multiple stretchers that run horizontally & vertically uniting along the lengths creating a superior design & a far stronger chair, sometimes so fine & so avant garde for the time, even in today's world his designs are still thoroughly modern. Along side other designers such as C F A Voysey, W J Neatby, G Walton, W A S Benson, & E G Punnett whom also supplied designs for J S Henry. J S Henry made furniture to their designs in oak, walnut, green stained sycamore & mahogany, often inlaid with fruitwood's, pewter & copper depicting stylistic & organic designs. Ellwood's designs for J S Henry were exhibited at the 1900 Paris Exhibition & won a silver medal, one of two the firm were awarded. He exhibited at a number of venues between 1899 & 1915, including four times at the Royal Academy. He also worked for Bath Cabinetmakers & the Bristol based firm of Trapnell & Gane. He later traded as Ellwood & Sledmere (late with J.S. Henry Ltd) at 53 Mortimer Street, London. & designed posters for the London Underground Group between 1912 & 1914 now displayed at The Transport Museum. He became editor of Drawing & Design Journal & in later years continuing his life's work he wrote several knowledgeable books on drawing & design & also advertising. He died in 1955.
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