Jones Antique Lighting are proud to present this important arts and crafts chandelier by Jesson, Birkett & Co formally The Faulkner Bronze Company possibly designed and/or made By Thomas Birkett or Anne Stubbs. The hand-crafted, beaten and rivetted copper frame hangs pendant 3 original large flared vaseline lampshades of the highest quality probably made by John Walsh Walsh or alternatively one of the other Stourbridge glassworks. England c.1900

Provenance: See light (2nd from left) displayed in photo from Faulkner Bonze exibition dated 1901, Also illustrated a 5 arm version of the chandelier in the Jesson, Birkett and Co catalogue.No.E245

Ht. (as displayed)104cm/41in, Ht.(min)80/30.5, W.46/18

Faulkner Bronze Company/ Jesson, Birkett & Co. Ltd

1901-1910

• The Faulkner Bronze Company was formed in 1901 by the Directors, Fred. G. Faulkner, Thomas Birkett and Arthur. G. Jesson based in Tenby Street, Birmingham. 

• The firm produced light fittings, copper wares and Loetz style glass wares enclosed in copper under the “Cobral Ware” mark, a process they patented in 1901.

• Thomas Birkett was a former member of the Birmingham Guild of handicraft and he was joined at Faulkner Bronze Company by other former Guildsmen, John Webster and A. E. Williams.

• Also at Faulkner Bronze was Spencer Humphrey, known for his repousse work, and designers, Bert Harvey and Anne Grisdale Stubbs. Anne was a star pupil and gold medallist at the Birmingham School of Art. She later married Thomas Birkett.

• The firm only lasted for a few years and was reconstituted as Jesson, Birkett & Co Ltd in 1904 when Fred Faulkner retired.

• The firm continued to make the most exquisite copper and mixed metal inkwells, cigarette boxes and light fittings, often using older Richard Llewellyn Rathbone designs.

• Anne G. Stubbs was clearly a key designer for the firm and her work was often illustrated in The Studio.

• The firm tended to use either enamels or Ruskin Pottery roundels for decoration.

• The firm wound up in 1910 and Thomas Birkett went on to work for Simplex Conduits Ltd in Birmingham.