Lawrence Weaver's design reference work appeared in 1909, and is now available from Donhead in this re-printed facsimile edition. It describes and documents many examples of decorative leadwork, which being durable and attractive lends itself in its simplicity to a multitude of forms. Whilst examining in detail the history and workmanship to be found on fonts, statues, urns and vases, the book also includes more modest structures such as pipes, pipeheads and rain-water cisterns. The author also explores the use of lead in roofing, particularly for spires, steeples and domes, and points out that it is one of the most efficient of roofing materials, giving many excellent examples of its use on Sir Christopher Wren's churches in London. With over 400 illustrations, comprising black and white photographs and drawings of all the different types of lead ornaments and structures, this volume will be of value to craftsmen engaged in leadwork, conservation professionals and all architects and architectural historians with an interest in this field.
INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. FONTS: Destroyed and Incorrectly Described Examples - Geographical Distribution - Classification by Design - Detailed Description of the Thirty Existing Ancient Fonts - Various Font-like Vessels. RAIN-WATER PIPEHEADS: Early Uses of Down-pipes - Hampton Court - Windsor Castle - Haddon Hall - Knole Park - Dome Alley, Winchester - Hatfield - Guildford - St John's, Oxford - The Character of the Early Work - The Overlapping of Styles - Bolton Hall - Stonyhurst and Bideford - Local Schools of Leadwork - Shrewsbury, Nottingham, and Aberdeen. CISTERNS: Possibilities of Decorative Treatment - The Great Tank at St Fagan's - Methods of Making - West Country and London Cisterns Compared - Detailed Descriptions of Examples Illustrated. MEDIA VAL LEADED SPIRES: The Character of Spires - Classification - "Collar" and "Broach" - Destroyed Cathedral Spires - Existing Leaded Spires - Scots Leadworkers - St Nicholas, Aberdeen - Old St Paul's - Chesterfield. LEADED STEEPLES OF THE RENAISSANCE: Wren's Steeples and the Sky-line of London - A Classification - Class (a), The Two True Spires - Class (b), The Spire-form Steeples - Some Destroyed Steeples - Scottish Examples - The Character of Wren's Work v LEADED DOMES, LANTERNS, AND WALLS - A LOST FOUNTAIN: Curves in Roof-lines, A Slow Development - The Use of Lanterns - Wren's Treatment of Domes and Lanterns - Class (c), Constructive Details of their Leadwork - Archer's Work - The National Gallery - Nonsuch and Cheapside - The Great Foundation of Windsor. LEAD PORTRAIT STATUES: Fairfax - Charles II - William III - Marlborough - Prince Eugene - Queen Charlotte - Sir John Cass - George I. LEAD FIGURES GENERALLY: The Cross of Cheapside - Neptune at Bristol - Karne - Melbourne, Derbyshire - Giovanni de Bologna - Harrowden Hall - Wrest Park - Wilton - Nun Monkton - Methods of Casting - Hampton Court - Syon - Castle Hill - Deceitful Figures - Forgers of "Antique" Leadwork - Studley Royal - The Water Note in Leadwork - Eighteenth-Century References to Statues - Hardwick Hall - Glemham Hall - Enfield Old Park - Norfolk Market Crosses -The London Apprentice. VASES AND FLOWER-POTS: Shenstone on Urns - Melbourne - Parham House - Hampton Court -Windsor - Wilton - Castle Hill. SEPULCHRAL LEADWORK: Romano-British Coffins and Ossuaries - Mediaval Coffins and Heart Cases - Absolution Crosses - Tomb Lettering. VARIOUS OBJECTS AND DECORATIVE APPLICATIONS OF LEAD: Roman Pigs and Pipes - Pilgrims' Signs - Papal Bulla - Ornaments on Woodwork - Charms - Tobacco Boxes - Ventilating Quarries. MODERN LEADWORK: Fonts - Rain-water Heads - Cisterns - The Larger Architectural Uses - Figures on Buildings and in Gardens - Fountains - Vases - Clock-faces - Sundials - Gasfitting - Inscription.
Biography
Lawrence Weaver
