Details

Name

William Armstrong Davidson

Brief Biography

1877 - 1951, Scottish

Occupation

Silversmith

Description

Born 1877, Bridge of Allan, Stirlingshire. Late 1880s, attended classes at the Glasgow School of Art (GSA). 1890s, with his brother Peter Wylie Davidson set up a metalwork and design studio at 93 Hope Street, Glasgow producing applied art wares. 1901, exhibited three metal sconces and a zinc framed mirror at the Royal Glasgow Institute of Fine Arts 1902, exhibited two Celtic brooches in the Schools Section at Cork International Exhibition. Before 1919, worked in the Royal Mint. 1919, appointed Head of Modeling, Metalwork and Leatherwork Departments at Dundee College of Art. He held this post for 28 years teaching and overseeing the students work in silversmithing jewellery and enamels, fine chasing in silver and gold, leatherwork and modeling. Over this time he continued to undertake private commissions and even repairs to statuary at Glamis Castle, Angus.
Private Commissions included many civic and institutional commissions for the City of Dundee including: the chain of office for the Lord Provost and the leather panels for his chair at the City Chambers, the War memorial at Dundee Training College, the badges of office for the 9 Trades Guilds including the Dundee Institute of Architects and the Dundee Master Plumbers Association.
He also made the key for Dundee City Chambers, opened by the Duke of Kent 1947, retired from Dundee College of Art. An annual prize to students working in either silversmithing or sculpture is still awarded in his name. Died 10 January 1951, Dundee.