Margaret De Courcy Lewthwaite Dewar
(1878 – 1959)
The daughter of a Tea Planter, born in Ceylon or Sri Lanka as it is now known, De Courcy Lewthwaite Dewar studied part-time at the GSA from 1891and went on to be appointed as Instructor in Enamels in 1902 until 1908 and again from 1912 until the late 1920s. She also had her own studio in the city from 1900 until 1926. Working predominantly in enamel and metalwork, she made sconces, jewellery, clock and mirror surrounds, plaques and caskets. She also produced costumes, graphics, designs for bookplates, calendars, tea-room menus, engraved and painted. Her work was often illustrated in The Studio and she exhibited internationally, including at the Turin International Exhibition of Decorative Art in 1902. Like Ann Macbeth she was involved in the Suffrage Movement for which she designed calendars, programmes and bookplates. Her work appears at auction, particularly paintings. A 1900 copper and enamel mantle clock (pictured below) sold as part of the Taffner Collection Auction by Lyon and Turnbull in 2012 for over £8,000.
Domed lantern pediment, with enamel bands over Celtic cross design enamelwork with central circular dial, painted Arabic numerals, the base of the cross decorated with two figures, one playing a pipe, the sides with panels of fairies and enamel inscription 'Now the bright morning star comes dancing from the East, and rapt thro' many a rosy change the twilight died into the bank', raised on a spreading rectangular plinth. Circa 1900. Image Courtesy of Lyon & Turnbull, Fine Art Auctioneers
Image Courtesy of Lyon & Turnbull, Fine Art Auctioneers