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
- ^ 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