George Logan Biography

George Logan: A Key Figure in the Glasgow Arts and Crafts Movement

George Logan (1866-1939), born in Beith and a trained cabinetmaker and watercolourist, joined Wylie & Lochhead in 1882, marking the earliest and longest-serving association with the company among his peers, Taylor and Ednie.

Logan's Role in Wylie & Lochhead's Expansion

Wylie & Lochhead, pivotal in the Glasgow Style, began to gain a reputation in the 1870s for fitting out omnibuses and ocean liners. As a large firm of coachbuilders and cabinetmakers, they were appointed makers to Queen Victoria and furnishers of the royal suite at the Glasgow Exhibition in 1888. Logan was one of three heavily influential designers within the firm.

Teaching Career and Freelance Work

Similar to Taylor, Logan also worked and taught at the West of Scotland Technical College during the First World War. He retired from Wylie & Lochhead in 1937, but he occasionally did freelance work for other manufacturers, including the Greenock Cabinetmaking Company.

Logan's Artistic Talents and Design Philosophy

Recognized as a fine watercolourist and musician, Logan believed that 'the secret of colour harmonies is with those whose hearts are betrothed to nature...' His designs, poetic and considered, may not have always prioritized 'absolute comfort,' but they leaned towards creating a favorable atmosphere rather than mere imagery. This dedication to musicality and atmospheric design was further expressed in his poetry writing and prayers for the Greenock Telegraph.

Researched and written by Tony Geering

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