The first thing I do when I want to investigate any subject is go to Google.
Sadly, this time it didn't help very much.
I bought this solid brass lamp on eBay by Alex Rothwell. While I could find a few of his other pieces, I couldn't find anything out about him. I assumed that was because he had stopped making miniatures before the internet got going. If you know anything about him I would love to hear it. Like when he was active, where he is from and if he is still around.
His lamp is really gorgeous. I was lucky to win the bid on eBay.
I bought this solid brass lamp on eBay by Alex Rothwell. While I could find a few of his other pieces, I couldn't find anything out about him. I assumed that was because he had stopped making miniatures before the internet got going. If you know anything about him I would love to hear it. Like when he was active, where he is from and if he is still around.
His lamp is really gorgeous. I was lucky to win the bid on eBay.
For Linda... She asked to see my finish mirror in a miniature setting.
I managed to get the mirror out of my compact and cut it to fit the frame. It is nice to have a real glass mirror in it. It does makes it very hard to photograph though.
OH WOW!!!! That is GORGEOUS Catherine, what a wonderful lifting setting......I adore it all! The mirror really brings the frame to life......another triumph!!!
ReplyDeleteLinda x
lifting setting...?
ReplyDeleteSilly me!......" little setting"....😤
Thank you Linda. It is really fun to find something that will work in a dollhouse that was never intended for that purpose. Even more fun to make a new casting.
DeleteThe mirror came out beautiful! I love the scene and photos. Fun and inspirational project :) Great results---
ReplyDeleteThank you Linda. i was pretty happy with it. Since the original was such a mess and had missing pieces.
DeleteBeautiful mirror and absolutely STUNNING chest. Is it one by the amazing Chris Malcomson. I spot your gorgeous needlepoint pillow too. What a luxurious bedroom.
ReplyDeleteCarol
Thank you. Don't you love Mr. Malcomson's work. I wish I could have seen him in person in Chicago this year. ;-(
Deletemarvellous
ReplyDeleteThank you Claude.
DeleteWow!
ReplyDeleteSo I found an ebay.com listing (old) that was for a doth well piece. I can't remember my ebay.com log-in (not my CDN login). This seller seems knowledgable. Maybe contact them? You need a U.S. ebay account to contact them as I couldn't see them via the canadian site
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Retired-Artisan-Alex-Rothwell-Silver-Plate-Georgian-Writing-Desk-Set-Candelabra-/172144896949
Thank you! I used that link and emailed that seller. Maybe she will be kind enough to answer someone who is not bidding on one of her pieces.
DeleteWOW! You sure sent me to the right place. born-again answered me and here is what she told me about Alex Rothwell. She sent me pictures of him too.
DeleteI've been told he is alive but retired. He's from England, lived in London when he first made a dollhouse for his daughter Victoria, then made a few more dollhouses he sold there (60's-70's I think). The first retail outlet for his work was the Singing Tree at New King's Road. He only worked in 1:12 scale. After he got tired of carrying dollhouses around, he started making furnishings only & after making many wooden things including corner cupboards, found it too imprecise & so started working with metal exclusively, using "Sheffield" silver plate making mostly lighting but some desk items & fireplace equipment, some lamps were electrified, all was in the style of the Georgian & Victorian period. For 35 years or so at least, he worked full or part time in miniatures & most of that was in metal. Originally trained as a physicist, he worked in aerodynamics, was a research engineer, a research scientist, a corporate planner, an investment analyst in stock broking & also did plumbing, wiring, & carpentry for himself. He sold his items to America, France, Sweden, & the Netherlands through dollhouse shops etc.. priced sometime in the 1990-2000 period from 5GBP to 100GBP each but did not sell to the public or directly by catalog. He lived in the Northwest of England in that 1990-2000 period. His work is in the American Museum in Bath & several of the room settings shown in The Dollhouse Sourcebook by Caroline Clifton-Mogg feature his work. I am attaching two photos of him, but they aren't good. I sincerely hope this is helpful, but I do want to say that I don't appraise DH items, as I have no license to do so & I won't authenticate items as his, as I do not have enough knowledge of him to do so, plus I actively buy them myself. I am new to the DH world, but I do a lot of research. Regards, Chris Wood
"If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world." C. S. Lewis
Having just attended the new Alice Through the Looking Glass film last night, I find your C.S.Lewis quote enchanting and timely. Love your lamp and your mirror is divinity!
DeleteAlex Rothwell sounds amazing. My husband and I met a miniature artist last year in Kensington who had been a machinist for Boeing and was now making sublime miniature metal pieces in his 80's. Aren't we lucky that all this talent gets turned to miniatures for us to admire and hopefully acquire.
Wow! Catherine, you sure do make the perfect miniatures! And that Chest is incredible! I know nothing about the light... but I see you found a good bit of info from that ebay seller!
ReplyDeleteYour setting is Exquisite, as usual! I admire your expertise!
Thank you!
ReplyDeleteIt is a rather eclectic mix of furnishings. Nothing of the same period or style. I rather like things that way myself. I imagine the owner of these things as someone who traveled and bought what she liked. Just mixing things she felt were harmonious together. Not a person that thought everything had to match.
I Love the look of the mirror over the inlayed chest of drawers! All of the gold tones are harmonious between all three pieces, so that there is unity in their diversity.
ReplyDeleteBut isn't it wonderful when collective minds are at work, specifically the link that Kat forwarded to you which helped you find the answer to your question? I find that nearly as thrilling as the success of your Marvelous Mirror! :D
Your mirror looks fab, even with the giant hand in it =0P A lovely, feminine and luxurious room.
ReplyDeleteThank you Pepper.
ReplyDeleteI thought better a giant hand then my face. I am trying to hide off to the left.
I thought for sure you would know who Alex Rothwell was. I even thought you might have a piece of his work.
I think Alex must have been around long before I started collecting, though I have seen his pieces pop up from time to time. I bet Kristin Baybars would be the oracle on him and his work =0)
DeleteCatherine, the lamp is really lovely, but I must say the whole room setting is just gorgeous. You'd never know it was miniature... it's heartwarming!
ReplyDeleteAll the best
Vivian
Thank you Vivian.
DeleteHello Catherine,
ReplyDeleteWhat a gorgeous lamp! It is magnificently crafted, but sadly I have no information about Alex. Your mirror is also fantastic. It looks so grand!
Big hug
Giac
Thank you Giac. The mirror or one like it, really belongs in a grand house like yours. ;-)
ReplyDeleteA beautiful scene!
ReplyDeleteGeneviève
Thank you Geneviève.
ReplyDeleteOH NO!!!! Somehow I deleted Jean Day's comment. I am so sorry Jean. Plus it deleted the comment I made back to you.
ReplyDeletePlease come and visit again soon. SORRY!!
Wow! Just gorgeous! Love how it turned out even more now that its in its 'setting'.
ReplyDeleteThank you Sheila. ;-)
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on the lamp Catherine, what a win! I can't help you with info on Alex Rothwell, but maybe someone here already gave you info (haven't read the comments..). The mirror is great, I read in your last post about the wax, amazing it's such a match with real antique gilding, it's really exciting to discover isn't it? I agree it's better with real mirror glass, thankfully we have things like compacts so we can obtain thin mirrorglass for our hobby :D.
ReplyDeleteGlad you found so much info on Alex. Hard to find anything about people who worked before the net. I have shopped at the Singing Tree and its gone too. Too bad. Sublime setting too, btw.
ReplyDelete