Artificers' Guild

Biography

The Artificers' Guild was founded in 1901 by Nelson Dawson, with Edward Spencer (1873 - 1938) as the principal designer. In 1903 Montague Fordham took control of the company and promoted Edward Spencer to be director of the guild's workshops. The guild produced many designs of silverware, mainly designed by Spencer, who often incorporated other materials such as ivory, shagreen, nuts and mother of pearl. The Guild employed over 40 staff at its peak and holds a collection around 2000 design drawings, many of them signed by Spencer. The Guild closed down in 1942, not soon after Spencer's death.