Two copper and wrought iron trivets made by the Newton School of Metal Work from designs attributed to John Williams, circa 1900.

These particular designs appear in the Newton School design archive. The hand drawn designs are unsigned but from the style they can be attributed to John Williams or perhaps his sister, Mary.

The Newton School made many useful and beautiful objects in line with the ethos of the Arts and Crafts Movement. I have seen quite a few of these trivets over a number of years collecting Newton School metalwork and the archive has a few different designs. The repousse copper tops have different foliate patterns often with fruiting flowers. The legs, frame and twisted handle are all made from wrought iron.

The School workshop had its own forge and the workers made many items in wrought iron including finely wrought firescreens in what was referred to as Venetian Iron Work. These trivets married the School’s skill with iron working along with repousse work on copper and brass.