Black Country Photos
Statue of John Northwood, Merry Hill
John Northwood
John Northwood was born in Wordsley, baptised on 13th November 1836. He was the son of Frederick and Maria Northwood. At the age of twelve, he was apprenticed to W. H., B. & J. Richardson to decorate, gild and enamel glass. He was hired again by Benjamin Richardson when his new factory opened in 1852. He also received a medal by the School of Design in 1855. He left Richardson’s in 1859 and formed a partnership with Joseph, H.G. Richardson and Thomas Guest. In 1860, this was dissolved and J. & J. Northwood became his business. In 1861 Northwood invented the Template Etching machine and later the Geometrical Etching machine. He also developed the substance now known as ‘white acid’ which could be directed more usefully without causing the side effects of hydrofluoric acid. In 1864, Northwood was commissioned by Sir John Benjamin Stone to carve The Elgin Vase. By 1873, it was completed: the frieze around the body of the vase depicted two equestrian groups from the Parthenon sculptures, aka the Elgin Marbles. This fine piece was a forerunner for the invention of rock crystal techniques later. George Woodall, who worked at Northwoods, would have seen its development over the nine and a half years taken to finish it and heard the praise given to Northwood after the Vase was given to the city of Birmingham as a gift. Its reception was warm, but the trade papers did mislabel the piece as a “beautiful cameo vase entirely the labour of his own hands.” The vase was actually made of pure flint glass. Like cameo carving that was to follow, “the breaking off accidentally of a small piece scarcely larger than the head of a pin, would have totally spoiled the whole work. It is almost amusing to contemplate now the various dangers the vase has passed through since its earlier days. M. Northwood relates that he, upon one occasion, let the tool he was working with, fall upon the foot, and it was some minutes before he dare examine it, to find the vase uninjured. Another time the steel point of his tool broke between the handle and the body, and many days passed before he could extract the piece, which was eventually done by consuming it with acid.” The County Express, 2nd November 1878. His son, John Northwood II, continued to carve cameo work and was also Director and Technical Manager at Stevens & Williams as well. His grandson, Kenneth Northwood, worked for Thomas Webb & Sons for many years before retiring to Devon. A statue of John Northwood I can be seen at the Merry Hill Shopping Centre, near Brierley Hill, West Midlands.
Statue of John Northwood, Merry Hill
John Northwood
John Northwood was born in Wordsley, baptised on 13th November 1836. He was the son of Frederick and Maria Northwood. At the age of twelve, he was apprenticed to W. H., B. & J. Richardson to decorate, gild and enamel glass. He was hired again by Benjamin Richardson when his new factory opened in 1852. He also received a medal by the School of Design in 1855. He left Richardson’s in 1859 and formed a partnership with Joseph, H.G. Richardson and Thomas Guest. In 1860, this was dissolved and J. & J. Northwood became his business. In 1861 Northwood invented the Template Etching machine and later the Geometrical Etching machine. He also developed the substance now known as ‘white acid’ which could be directed more usefully without causing the side effects of hydrofluoric acid. In 1864, Northwood was commissioned by Sir John Benjamin Stone to carve The Elgin Vase. By 1873, it was completed: the frieze around the body of the vase depicted two equestrian groups from the Parthenon sculptures, aka the Elgin Marbles. This fine piece was a forerunner for the invention of rock crystal techniques later. George Woodall, who worked at Northwoods, would have seen its development over the nine and a half years taken to finish it and heard the praise given to Northwood after the Vase was given to the city of Birmingham as a gift. Its reception was warm, but the trade papers did mislabel the piece as a “beautiful cameo vase entirely the labour of his own hands.” The vase was actually made of pure flint glass. Like cameo carving that was to follow, “the breaking off accidentally of a small piece scarcely larger than the head of a pin, would have totally spoiled the whole work. It is almost amusing to contemplate now the various dangers the vase has passed through since its earlier days. M. Northwood relates that he, upon one occasion, let the tool he was working with, fall upon the foot, and it was some minutes before he dare examine it, to find the vase uninjured. Another time the steel point of his tool broke between the handle and the body, and many days passed before he could extract the piece, which was eventually done by consuming it with acid.” The County Express, 2nd November 1878. His son, John Northwood II, continued to carve cameo work and was also Director and Technical Manager at Stevens & Williams as well. His grandson, Kenneth Northwood, worked for Thomas Webb & Sons for many years before retiring to Devon. A statue of John Northwood I can be seen at the Merry Hill Shopping Centre, near Brierley Hill, West Midlands.