Omar Ramsden (1873-1939) - silversmith

He was born on the 21st August 1873 in Sheffield. His father was a manufacturer of electro plated goods. Strangely he was christened Omer but was know as Omar. He spent 7 years of his childhood in America. Apprenticed to a Sheffield silversmith in 1887, he attended classes at the Sheffield School of Arts from 1890 where he met Alwyn Carr.

He won the Sheffield Corporation Scholarship in 1894 and attended the Royal College of Arts summer school at the V&A

1873 Born.
1887 starts apprenticeship.
1890 attends Sheffield School of Art, meets Alwyn Carr.
1894 wins Sheffield Corporation Scholarship.
1897 enters and wins competition to design new Sheffield City Mace.
1898 established a studio with Alwyn Carr at 4 Stamford Bridge Road, Chelsea, London.
15.02.98 Rn&Cr mark registered at the London assay office.
03.01.99 Rn&Cr mark registered at the Sheffield assay office.
1901 moves to the larger  Albert Studio in Albert Bridge road, Battersea, London.
1905 moves to Dunstan's studio, Seymour Place off the Fulham Road, London.
c1918 partnership with Carr ends.
1939 died.

His work  is often inscribed as well as hallmarked. Written in English up to 1905 and in Latin after.
e.g. "Omar Ramsden et Alwyn Carr me fecerunt" or "Omar Ramsden me fecit" . Although his work is in the arts and crafts style with hand finished tool marks, he was not adverse to the use of labour saving techniques and therefore costs. He often spun hollow ware, adding the hammered finish later or even sub contracting the casting works.

He only ever has two apprentices; Leslie Durbin from 1929 and Frederick Page from 1934.

Alwyn Carr - silversmith

He was born into a prosperous Sheffield family and attended Sheffield School of Arts where he met Omar Ramsden. He to was awarded the Sheffield Corporation Scholarship and attended the Royal College of Art summer school at the V&A.

1890 attends Sheffield School of Art, meets Omar Ramsden.
1893 wins Sheffield Corporation Scholarship.
1898 established a studio with Ramsden at 4 Stamford Bridge Road, Chelsea, London.
15.02.98 Rn&Cr mark registered at the London assay office.
03.01.99 Rn&Cr mark registered at the Sheffield assay office.
1901 moves to the larger  Albert Studio in Albert Bridge road, Battersea, London.
1902 designs the Chancellor's mace for the University of London.
1905 moves to Dunstan's studio, Seymour Place off the Fulham Road, London.
1914 enlisted in the Artists Rifles.
1915 commissioned into the RASC and serves in France.
1918 invalided out of the Army as honorary Captain.
c1918 partnership with Carr ends and he moves to a studio previously used by the artist Sir Hamo Thorneycroft.
1940 Died, buried in Little Marlow.