Altus Arts

Description

Florence Camm - Watercolour drawing for a stained glass window. A depiction of St Margaret of Antioch. In fine Arts & Crafts style.
This is an early design for a stained glass window depicting St Margaret of Antioch. Florence Camm belongs to the famous family of stain-glass designers from Birmingham. Her father, Thomas William Camm (1839-1912) founded family firms of stained glass designers, first with his brothers John Matthew and Henry Charles as Camm Bros in 1882, and then under the name T. W. Camm & Co, from The Studio in Smethwick. Florence was one of three of nine children to join the family business to which she dedicated her life. The firm gained international reputation and received commissions from America, Spain, New Zealand and India. ??From 1892-1912 she studied at the Birmingham School of Art, until 1912 the year of her father's death, leaving the school to concentrate on the family firm of stained glass design. She was taught stained glass design by Henry Payne. c.1916: Taught art classes at the Smethwick Junior Technical School for a period. She is recorded as living at Warley Woods, near Bearwood, Birmingham in 1936. Thomas William Camm started making stained glass in Brewery Street before moving to larger premises, presumably the purpose-built studios still standing on the corner of High Street and Regent Street; with two breaks he continued to work in Smethwick until his death in 1912, and the business was then carried on by his daughter and two sons. The works was closed c. 1963. Camm's three brothers, who had originally been associated with him, returned to Smethwick from Birmingham in 1893, and started a business in High Street as Camm Brothers; as Camm & Co. the business produced stained-glass windows and other decorative glass until c. 1966. The firm enjoyed an international reputation and received commissions from America, Spain, New Zealand and India. The picture is close in style and drawing to a stained glass window: St Margaret of Antioch and St Cecilia , circa 1925, the centre piece of a three-light Landing Window from St Margaret's Well, Halesowen, Birmingham. Designed by Florence Camm and executed by her and Walter H. Camm for Thomas William Camm. (courtesy of Leicester Galleries). Florence Camm exhibited at the two works at the Royal Society of Arts, Birmingham; eight works at the Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool; forty-three works at the Royal Academy; and two at the Royal Scottish Academy.