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| Mary Wright |
12 February 1912 - London Standard Newspaper Archives, p.9 - Mr Albert Bonner, of 17 Gordon Place, Kensington, youngest son of the
late Mr. Henry Calthorpe Bonner, was married on Saturday, at St
Columba’s Pont Street, to Miss Mary Wright, eldest daughter of the
late Mr Hugh Wright, of Alticry, Wigtownshire, and Blackburn,
Berwickshire. ... Miss Dora Wright was her sister’s only attendant,
and wore a dress of amethyst Liberty crepe, the fetching bodice being
finished with a bunch of purple pansies. She also wore a large picture
hat, and carried a bouquet of pink carnations, which, with an amethyst
necklet and pendant, was the bridegroom’s gift. Mr Arthur Cheatle was
best man.
They moved from London to Scotland and lived at Mary's family home of Alticry, visiting France at least once - there's a photo of them all at a fancy dress party in France and Bertie is in a head-to-toe bird costume, which had the photo not been captioned on the back, he would be completely unrecognisable. A couple of times a year from 1923 they holidayed in Bath and after Mamie died Bertie continued to go on his own until 1931.
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Albert Edward Bonner's bible, given to him by his godfather John Barker |
When Mamie and Bertie's nephew Hugh MacIntyre moved from Uruguay into
Alticry in 1963/4, he returned some of Bertie's personal possessions that
were still in the house, tools, letters, etc. to the Bonner family. Bertie had long since died in 1943, having lived his widower days in the
house he bought in 1927 in Freshford, Limpley Stoke near Bath. He was
the tenth and youngest child of Henry Calthrop Bonner and his wife Susan
Ellen Freeman, farmers from East Rudham in Norfolk.
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| Bertie sawing wood at Alticry front door. |
Surmising from the extract of The Art Journal below, I believe he learnt his skills at the London County Council Central School. His AEB hallmark was first registered in the London Guild in 1905
December 1906 - The Art Journal
- The Arts And Crafts Exhibition II -
”Of the school-work, detailed notice would be out of proportion. Here one looks for the evidence of the Arts and Crafts teaching to be shown in a level of conscientious and well-directed work, rather than in special evidence of originality. Some of the work noticed in detail in the foregoing notice, as Mr. Bonner’s pendant, and the delicately embroidered linen frock of Miss Lessore, was part of
”Of the school-work, detailed notice would be out of proportion. Here one looks for the evidence of the Arts and Crafts teaching to be shown in a level of conscientious and well-directed work, rather than in special evidence of originality. Some of the work noticed in detail in the foregoing notice, as Mr. Bonner’s pendant, and the delicately embroidered linen frock of Miss Lessore, was part of
the last students’ exhibition at the L.C.C. Central School."
Here are the most accomplished examples I could find on the internet of his enamel work and some of his spoons. He also made remarkable bowls.
Enamel picture on the lid of a silver playing card box 1912.
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| Six-legged bowl, 1907. Photo by Marlin Antiques. |
What was his relationship with Mamie's sister, Aunt Dora, who also lived at Alticry and was an accomplished metal worker and designer. Was she his pupil or did she learn her skill earlier? Aunt Dora deserves a write-up all of her own as she was quite a character - the stuff of family legend.
Below is a photo of the three of them in the Alticry garden, Bertie on the ground, surrounded by friends c1916.
Since I first wrote this blog in November 2019, we as a family have a higher appreciation of AEB's work and how lucky we are to have him as part of our story. My sister-in-law has kindly been researching to see if we have overlooked anything and found two additional items which belonged to AEB: his cigarette case (not made by him) and an inkwell of his own creation.
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| AEB's cigarette case |
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| Inkwell with clear glass insert. |
If you want to learn more about the Arts and Crafts movement, here is an interesting and educational video.
Below is my own research. If you would like to use it, please quote this blog. CEH.
Albert Edward Bonner (b. May 1862 - d. 13 September 1943)
11 June 1862 - CEH Personal Collection - Baptised in East Rudham, Norfolk. Godfather John Barker gave him
a bible.
2 April 1871 - Census UK - Son of the head of the household. Aged 8. Lynn Road, East Rudham,
Docking, Norfolk.
3 April 1881 - Census UK - Son of the head of the household. Aged 18. Fakenham Manor House,
East Rudham, Docking, Norfolk.
20 April 1889 - Thetford & Watton Times and People’s Weekly Journal, p.6 - Terrible boiler explosion at Rudham. An inquest was opened and AE
Bonner represented his father HC Bonner who was too ill to be
present.
5 April 1891 - Census UK
- Son of the head of the household. Aged 28. Syderstone, Docking,
Norfolk.
16 November 1891 - Eastern Daily Express - Trades and Industrial Exhibition at Lynn - “Among the carvings
one of the most noticeable entries is a carved grandfather’s clock case,
for which Albert E. Bonner of East Rudham justly earns a bronze medal”.
198 entries for medals.
21 November 1891 - Norfolk News - as above.
1896 - The Studio. An Illustrated Magazine of Fine and Applied Art. Vol. 6
- “Mr Fred Collcott and Mr AE Bonner will hold Day Classes for pupils at
the Studio, 18 Rochester Road, …”
22 July 1898 - The Essex County Chronicle, p.7 - Lectern in oak presented by Mr Rayner and her daughters in memory
of Mr Bromley Rayner and a pulpit in memory of Rector Rev SW Waud were
both executed by AE Bonner of Hawick, NB (Rettendon Church). [Not sure if this is our AEB]
11 November 1898 - Western Daily Press
- Bristol and Clifton Arts and Crafts Society Annual Exhibition - “The
best piece of wood carving is a small panel by Albert Bonner. It sums up
all the qualities which the others lack, except, perhaps, originality.
Considering its difficult character it is remarkably well executed, and is
an example of wood carvers in general”.
26 October 1899 - Carving night classes advertised in Edinburgh.
27 February 1900 - Exhibition of works from students of the Edinburgh
Arts and Crafts Club.- “Corner cupboards, tables, mirror frames, etc.
Panels in different styles of carving and in different woods by Mr. Albert
E. Bonner were characterised by delicacy of design and perfection of
workmanship”.
6 December 1901 - Exhibition in Bath where he says one of his “rules is
never to make two articles - unless of course they form part of a set -
exactly alike.” His beaten silver bowls, pepper pots, spoons and so forth,
make a very interesting display.
27 December 1902 - Gallery 1, Princes Terrace, Hereford Road, Bayswater.
Exhibition of Applied Arts organised by AE Bonner and John Baillie.
Artists included WS Headaway, Mr and Mrs Arthur Cave Gaskin, Mr Herbert
Carr, Mrs Arthur Mure, Miss Ethel Virtue, Miss Eva Nelson, Miss Maclaren,
Miss Eleanor Rowe, Miss ME Reeks, the Chiswick Art Worker’s Guild, the
Kilarney Furniture Industries, Mr Walter Crane and Mrs Walter Crane
(embroideries), Mr Alexander Fisher (enamels), Miss Ridley (guilded
frames) Lady Alix (decorated books).
1903 - The Academy and Literature, Vol.3 p.641 - Advert for “Exhibition of Modern Work, Jewellery, Enamel,
Embroidery & C. 1 Princes Road, W. John Baillie and AE Bonner.
10 March 1903 - The London Gazette
- Baillie & Bonner dissolved.
1904 - The Athenaeum, p.557 - “The Exhibition of the Royal Society of British Artists in
Suffolk Street is now open. Mr. AE Bonner opens next Monday at 18 Holland
Street, Kensington, an Exhibiiton of Hand Weaving by Miss C Brown, Miss E
Chapman and Miss EJ Colling”.
1905 - Exhibition of Applied Arts at 18 Holland Street, Kensington. “His
own work includes some excellent jewellery, particularly one would mention
a necklet of amethystine coloured enamels and pearls, and two pendants in
the same cane, one with opals and the other with enamels. A chatelaine of
enamelled silver is well designed, and some small articles of table
furniture are also good”.
22 November 1905 - Directory of Gold and Silversmiths, Jewellers and Allied by John Culme, 2000. - AEB hallmark first recorded. Address given
was 18 Holland Street. Artist. [London Guild]
1906 - The Burlington Magazine for Connoisseurs Vol. 8
- “AE Bonner. Exhibition of Enamels, Jewellery, Leather Work …”
December 1906 - The Art Journal
- The Arts And Crafts Exhibition II -
”Of the school-work, detailed notice would be out of proportion. Here one looks for the evidence of the Arts and Crafts teaching to be shown in a level of conscientious and well-directed work, rather than in special evidence of originality. Some of the work noticed in detail in the foregoing notice, as Mr. Bonner’s pendant, and the delicately embroidered linen frock of Miss Lessore, was part of
”Of the school-work, detailed notice would be out of proportion. Here one looks for the evidence of the Arts and Crafts teaching to be shown in a level of conscientious and well-directed work, rather than in special evidence of originality. Some of the work noticed in detail in the foregoing notice, as Mr. Bonner’s pendant, and the delicately embroidered linen frock of Miss Lessore, was part of
the last students’ exhibition at the L.C.C. Central School.
What is shown in the school cases, and in the carved frames, clocks and fine cabinet-making sent from various craft-schools, is
the preparation for independent work in some cases, and, in all, a
discipline that is the best procurable substitute in modern life for the
teaching that filled and shaped the whole life of the guild-apprentice
when art glorified industry. The London County Council schools and
classes, the Birmingham Schools, the Sir John Cass Institute, and the
Northampton Institute are chief among the schools whose exhibits in the
various crafts confirm the claim for the effective action of the Arts and
Crafts in teaching. The elaborately-wrought covered cup by Mr. Toms (p.
124), the inlaid clock from the L.C.C. Central School (p. 122), the
embroidery from Birmingham, (p. 127), are examples of what is being done.” https://archive.org/stream/gri_33125006187831/gri_33125006187831_djvu.txt
Sat. December 1908 - The Athenaeum, p.769 - “Mr AE Bonner’s Exhibition of Silver Spoons, Pepperpots &c,
and Enamels, Jewellery …”
9 December 1908 - Directory of Gold and Silversmiths, Jewellers and Allied by John Culme, 2000. - AEB recorded as at 17 Gordon Place,
Kensington, W.
1909 - May have collaborated with Henry Wilkinson Colinson.
December 1901 - The Art Journal
- London Exhibitions - Albert E Bonner. https://archive.org/stream/gri_33125006187864/gri_33125006187864_djvu.txt
2 April 1911 - Census UK
- Head of the household. Aged 49. 17 Gordon Place, Kensington, W. Had 3
visitors in the house and 2 servants. Occupation Artist, Metal Work. (The
Applied Arts Centre).
12 October 1911 - The Bath Chronicle
- Exhibition of Arts and Crafts and Women’s Work at the Assembly Rooms,
Bath. “Mr Albert E Bonner of Kensington, London, shows once more a
fascinating collection of dainty silverware and jewellery. These goods are
manufactured from beaten silver and the wide range of designs is quite
remarkable. Mr Bonner prides himself in his originality in this respect,
and in his ornamentation he unquestionably displays great fertility of
resource”.
10 February 1912 - Married Mary Wright of Alticry (b. 17 December 1863 -
d.
12 February 1912 - London Standard Newspaper Archives, p.9 - Mr Albert Bonner, of 17 Gordon Place, Kensington, youngest son
of the late Mr. Henry Calthorpe Bonner, was married on Saturday, at St
Columba’s Pont Street, to Miss Mary Wright, eldest daughter of the late
Mr Hugh Wright, of Alticry, Wigtownshire, and Blackburn, Berwickshire.
... Miss Dora Wright was her sister’s only attendant, and wore a dress
of amethyst Liberty crepe, the fichn bodice beix^ finished with a bunch
of purple pansies. She also wore a large picture hat, and carried a
bouquet of pink carnations, which, with an amethyst necklet and pendant,
was the bridegroom’s gift. Mr Arthur Choalle [?] was best man.
6 August 1921 - Bath Chronicle
- Limpley Stoke Show. 1st prize Collection of honey: Mr AE Bonner (H. Holley).
20 January 1923 - Bath Chronicle
- Bath Visitors’ List. Mr Bonner (Wigtownshire).
10 and 22 November 1923 - Bath Chronicle
- Bath Visitors’ List. Mr & Mrs Bonner (Alticry, Elrig,
Wigtownshire).
18 and 25 October 1924 - Bath Chronicle
- Bath Visitors’ List. Mr & Mrs Bonner (Port William,
Wigtownshire).
1927 - Somerset Architects index
- 1927 House, Freshford, Som for AE Bonner; RIBAD; ?same house as
Freshfords, Limpley Stoke file CrA/14/3
6 August 1927 - Bath Chronicle
- Bath Visitors’ List. Mr A Bonner (Scotland).
17 May 1930 - Bath Chronicle
- Bath Visitors’ List. Mr Bonner (Wigtownshire).
30 August 1930 - Bath Chronicle
- Bath Visitors’ List. Mr Bonner (Wigtownshire).
31 January 1931 - Bath Chronicle
- Bath Visitors’ List. Mr Bonner (Limpley Stoke).
23 October 1936 - CEH Personal Collection - Recorded in the diary of KM Clark. “Mr Bonner here for weekend”.
AEB went to visit KM Clark at Clemsfold, Horsham before she travelled to
Uruguay to get married to AEB’s nephew, Hugh MacIntyre (Wright).
May 1939 - HCWH Personal Collection - a magazine with AEB’s signature and his handwriting, so still
alive.
29 September 1939 - 1939 Register
- Trinity Marian Hotel, Clifton, Eastbourne, Sussex. Retired artist,
widowed.
13 September 1943 - Albert Edward Bonner died.
24 November 1943 - The Scotsman
- Gross estate at death of £5,617.
27 November 1943 - Bath Weekly Chronicle
- Probate granted to Arthur Render of Farnley Close, Peaslake, Guildford,
Surrey and Maurice B Bird of Little Belstead, Little Watham, Chelmsford,
Essex, nephews.
1963/4 - When the MacIntyres of Uruguay moved into Alticry they returned
most of AEB’s personal possessions, tools, letters, etc to his
family.
