William Bloye: Difference between revisions

William James Bloye
William James Bloye
Born	1890; Cornwall
Died	6 June 1975; Arezzo, Italy
Known for	Sculpture
Awards	FRBS; Otto Beit Medal;

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William James Bloye (1890–6 June 1975) was an English sculptor, active in Birmingham either side of World War II.

He studied, and later, taught at the Birmingham School of Art (his training was interrupted by World War I, when he served in the Royal Army Medical Corps from 1915 to 1917;^[1] he was eventually succeeded at Birmingham by John Bridgeman), where his pupils included Gordon Herickx, Roy Kitchin, Raymond Mason, John Poole and Ian Walters. He also studied stone-carving and letter cutting under Eric Gill around 1921.

In 1925 he became a member of the Birmingham Civic Society, having, at about that time, a studio at 111, Golden Hillock Road, Small Heath, Birmingham. As Birmingham's unofficial civic sculptor he worked on virtually all public commissions including libraries, hospitals and the University. He often carved bas-relief plaques, typically for public houses in Birmingham.

During the 1920s, he served on the Technical Committee of the Birmingham Civic Society.^[2]

He became a member of the Royal British Society of Sculptors: associate (with the honorific suffix) ARBS in 1934, and fellow (FRBS) in 1938. He also won the latter's Otto Beit Medal. Retiring from the School of Art in 1956 he moved to Solihull. He died in Arezzo, Italy in 1975.

In December 2010, a blue plaque was unveiled at City College, on the site of his former studio.^[1]

As of January 2010, Birmingham City Council are working on the restoration Bloye's statue of Pan at Aston Hall. The statue's head is missing, and they have appealed for old photographs, to assist in its reconstruction.^[3]

RBSA

Bloye was closely associated with the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists (RBSA). Although the two 1919 bronze plaques at the RBSA entrance are the earliest known work by Bloye in Birmingham, he only became a member in 1930.^[4] After a period as vice-president, he became president in 1948^[5] and served in that role until 1950. He was also the RBSA's Professor of Sculpture^[5] from at least the mid-1940s until at least 1961^[6] (after which time the post is no longer mentioned in the annual catalogues).^[7]

The Society's permanent collection includes one of his works, a life-size plaster bust, "Head of Man".^[8] It is undated and not usually on display. The subject's name is not recorded.

Works

Work	Location (Birmingham unless stated)	Date	Coordinates (With links to map and aerial photo sources)	Notes
Bronze Plaques	Royal Birmingham Society of Artists	1919 (1919)	52°29′06″N 1°54′27″W / 52.484891°N 1.907520°W / 52.484891; -1.907520	Formerly at the Society's old headquarters on New Street^[9]
Allegories of Art and Industry	over the north-west door of Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery (The Feeney Gallery extension), Great Charles Street	c 1919 (1919)	52°28′52″N 1°54′18″W / 52.4811°N 1.9050°W / 52.4811; -1.9050	Sculpture^[9]
Call; Front Line and Return	Hall of Memory, Broad Street	1925 (1925)	52°28′46″N 1°54′25″W / 52.4795°N 1.9070°W / 52.4795; -1.9070	Interior bas-relief carvings^[9]
Coat of arms and two lion reliefs	Council House, Priory Road, Dudley	1928 (1928)	52°30′44″N 2°05′03″W / 52.5122°N 2.0841°W / 52.5122; -2.0841	façade on Council House (Town Hall)^[10]
Fox and Hollybush	Acocks Green	1927 (1927)-8	52°26′39″N 1°50′03″W / 52.44408°N 1.83418°W / 52.44408; -1.83418	Bas-relief from former Fox Hollies pub.^[9] Now on Lidl supermarket
War Memorial: George and the Dragon and lions on flagpoles	Town Hall, Priory Street, Dudley	1928 (1928)	52°30′41″N 2°05′04″W / 52.5115°N 2.0844°W / 52.5115; -2.0844	also four bronze lions (1936) on flagpoles, Town Hall tower^[10]
Dudley's Past	Town Hall, corner of Priory Road and Priory Street, Dudley	1935 (1935)	52°30′43″N 2°05′02″W / 52.5120°N 2.0839°W / 52.5120; -2.0839	^[10]
Running stag	Perry Barr Stadium	1929 (1929)	52°31′09″N 1°53′52″W / 52.519192°N 1.897717°W / 52.519192; -1.897717	Stone bas-relief; attributed^[9]
The Antelope	Sparkhill	c. 1929 (1929)	52°27′12″N 1°51′57″W / 52.453362°N 1.865753°W / 52.453362; -1.865753	Bas-relief pub sign. Designed by Bloye, sculpted by his assistant, Tom Wright^[9]
Allegory of Painting	Art Gallery, Avenue Road, Leamington Spa	1929 (1929)		Life-size female nude in sandstone^[11]
Aesculapius	Chest Clinic, Great Charles Street	1930 (1930)	52°28′54″N 1°54′17″W / 52.4817°N 1.9047°W / 52.4817; -1.9047	^[9]
Pan	Aston Hall, Birmingham	1934 (1934)		Undergoing restoration.^[3]
Capitals and Heads	Council House, Priory Road, Dudley	1935 (1935)	52°30′44″N 2°05′03″W / 52.5122°N 2.0841°W / 52.5122; -2.0841	^[10]
Dudley from the Wren's Nest	Council House, Priory Road, Dudley	1935 (1935)	52°30′44″N 2°05′04″W / 52.5121°N 2.0844°W / 52.5121; -2.0844	Two plaster reliefs, within building - entrance to council chamber and entrance to committee reception room^[10]
The Towers	Tower Hill, Great Barr	1936 (1936)	52°32′08″N 1°55′14″W / 52.535574°N 1.92062°W / 52.535574; -1.92062	Bloye was responsible for all the stone carving on this brick building^[9]
Royal Oak	Lozells	c. 1936 (1936)	52°30′10″N 1°54′02″W / 52.502687°N 1.900501°W / 52.502687; -1.900501	Decoration around the doorway of a former pub (now a shop). Formerly brightly painted^[9]
St. Nicholas Rescuing the Three Children	Was at John Shelton School, Coventry	1936 (1936)		Lost after the school was demolished in 1999^[11]
Bear and Staff	The Bear Inn, Stratford Road, Sparkhill	c. 1937 (1937)	52°26′54″N 1°51′40″W / 52.448235°N 1.861201°W / 52.448235; -1.861201	Bas-relief pub sign^[9]
Boar's Head	Perry Barr	c. 1938 (1938)	52°31′45″N 1°53′44″W / 52.529153°N 1.895465°W / 52.529153; -1.895465	Painted wood pub sign comprising a model boar's head, on a pole.^[9] Taken from the arms of the Gough-Calthorpe family of nearby Perry Hall.
Doorway	Yardley Library, Yardley	1938 (1938)	52°27′40″N 1°48′58″W / 52.461°N 1.816°W / 52.461; -1.816
Apollo fountain	Coronation Gardens, Ednam Road, Dudley	1939 (1939)	52°30′46″N 2°05′00″W / 52.51277°N 2.08337°W / 52.51277; -2.08337	Sculpture on top of fountain^[10] The model was international gymnast and basketball player Fred Starkey.^[12]
Queen Victoria	Victoria Square	1951 (1951)	52°28′47″N 1°54′11″W / 52.479628°N 1.902998°W / 52.479628; -1.902998	Bronze statue, recast from a marble statue by Thomas Brock^[9]/
Josiah Mason	Now at the junction of Chester Road & Orphanage Road in Erdington	1952 (1952)	52°31′54″N 1°49′30″W / 52.531556°N 1.825128°W / 52.531556; -1.825128	Bronze bust, recast from a marble statue (subsequently destroyed) by Francis John Williamson of 1885, which stood opposite Mason Science College in Edmund Street^[9]
Bas-relief	Mechanical Engineering Building at the University of Birmingham	1954 (1954)	52°26′57″N 1°56′06″W / 52.44928°N 1.93509°W / 52.44928; -1.93509	^[9]
Boulton, Watt and Murdoch	Broad Street	1956 (1956)	52°28′43″N 1°54′30″W / 52.4786°N 1.9084°W / 52.4786; -1.9084	^[9]
John Skirrow Wright	Birmingham Council House	1956 (1956)	52°28′48″N 1°54′10″W / 52.480082°N 1.902760°W / 52.480082; -1.902760	Bronze bust cast form a marble statue (subsequently destroyed) by Francis John Williamson^[9]
St. Alphege	St. Alphege CofE school, New Road, Solihull	1959 (1959)		Restored in 1994^[11]
Mermaid fountain	University of Birmingham Guild of Students	1960 (1960)	52°26′57″N 1°55′38″W / 52.44927°N 1.927225°W / 52.44927; -1.927225	Bronze^[9]
Mermaid	University of Birmingham Guild of Students	1960 (1960)	52°26′58″N 1°55′39″W / 52.44951°N 1.92741°W / 52.44951; -1.92741	Clipsham stone sculpture, on wall^[9]
Decoration	The Mermaid (public house), Sparkhill	c. 1960 (1960)	52°27′25″N 1°52′08″W / 52.456861°N 1.868761°W / 52.456861; -1.868761	(Bas-relief pub sign attributed to Alan Bridgewater^[9])
Bust of Wilfred Byng Kenrick	Byng Kenrick Grammar School For Girls	1962 (1962) (unveiled 1963)		Bronze. Lost, believed stolen.^[9])
Coat of Arms	Dental Hospital	c. 1973 (1973)	52°29′09″N 1°53′42″W / 52.485875°N 1.895101°W / 52.485875; -1.895101	Fibreglass^[9]
Head of Man	Royal Birmingham Society of Artists	undated		Plaster^[8]
Ten panels in ceiling	Moseley School (old assembly hall)	undated	52°26′26″N 1°51′52″W / 52.44066°N 1.86433°W / 52.44066; -1.86433	Plaster^[13] (Full image set at Media related to Moseley School assembly hall ceiling panels at Wikimedia Commons).

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References

^ ^a ^b "Life of Birmingham sculptor William Bloye commemorated". City College. 2010-12. Retrieved 11 December 2010. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
^ "Ornamental Fountain". National Recording Project. Public Monument and Sculpture Association. Retrieved 28 October 2010.
^ ^a ^b "The mystery of the headless statue". Birmingham Newsroom. Birmingham City Council. 2011-01-17. Retrieved 17 January 2011.
^ Anon (1930). "The Spring Exhibition, 1930 (catalogue)". RBSA. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
^ ^a ^b Anon (1948). "Royal Birmingham Society of Artists Autumn Exhibition 1948 (catalogue)". RBSA. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
^ Anon (1961). "The Second Spring Exhibition, 1961 (catalogue)". RBSA. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
^ RBSA catalogues, 1962 onwards
^ ^a ^b RBSA archives, catalogue number B43
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o ^p ^q ^r ^s ^t ^u Noszlopy, George T. (1998). Public Sculpture of Birmingham including Sutton Coldfield. Public Sculpture of Britain. Vol. 2. Liverpool University Press. ISBN 0-85323-682-8.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Noszlopy, George T. (2005). Public Sculpture of Staffordshire and the Black Country. Public Sculpture of Britain. Vol. 9. Liverpool University Press. ISBN 978-0-85323-999-4.
^ ^a ^b ^c Noszlopy, George T. (2003). Public Sculpture of Warwickshire, Coventry and Solihull. Public Sculpture of Britain. Vol. 6. Liverpool University Press. ISBN 0-85323-847-2.
^ Anon (2001-04-02). "Former city man tribute". Birmingham Evening Mail. - via HighBeam Research, subscription needed
^ The Moseleians Association - Moseley School and the work of William Bloye (1890-1975)

Template:Persondata

[CityCol-1] "Life of Birmingham sculptor William Bloye commemorated". City College. 2010-12. Retrieved 11 December 2010. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)

[2] "Ornamental Fountain". National Recording Project. Public Monument and Sculpture Association. Retrieved 28 October 2010.

[BCC-Pan-1-3] "The mystery of the headless statue". Birmingham Newsroom. Birmingham City Council. 2011-01-17. Retrieved 17 January 2011.

[RBSA-1930-Spring-4] Anon (1930). "The Spring Exhibition, 1930 (catalogue)". RBSA. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)

[RBSA-1948-Autumn-5] Anon (1948). "Royal Birmingham Society of Artists Autumn Exhibition 1948 (catalogue)". RBSA. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)

[RBSA-1961-Spring-6] Anon (1961). "The Second Spring Exhibition, 1961 (catalogue)". RBSA. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)

[7] RBSA catalogues, 1962 onwards

[RBSA-B43-8] RBSA archives, catalogue number B43

[Noszlopy-9] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o ^p ^q ^r ^s ^t ^u Noszlopy, George T. (1998). Public Sculpture of Birmingham including Sutton Coldfield. Public Sculpture of Britain. Vol. 2. Liverpool University Press. ISBN 0-85323-682-8.

[NoszlopySBC-10] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Noszlopy, George T. (2005). Public Sculpture of Staffordshire and the Black Country. Public Sculpture of Britain. Vol. 9. Liverpool University Press. ISBN 978-0-85323-999-4.

[NoszlopyWarks-11] Noszlopy, George T. (2003). Public Sculpture of Warwickshire, Coventry and Solihull. Public Sculpture of Britain. Vol. 6. Liverpool University Press. ISBN 0-85323-847-2.

[Starkey-12] Anon (2001-04-02). "Former city man tribute". Birmingham Evening Mail. - via HighBeam Research, subscription needed

[13] The Moseleians Association - Moseley School and the work of William Bloye (1890-1975)

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@@ Line 204: / Line 204: @@
 | {{Coord|52.51277|-2.08337|type:landmark_region:GB-BIR}}
 | Sculpture on top of fountain<ref name="NoszlopySBC" /> The model was international gymnast and basketball player [[Fred Starkey]].<ref name="Starkey">{{cite journal|last=Anon|date=2001-04-02|title=Former city man tribute|journal=[[Birmingham Mail|Birmingham Evening Mail]]|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-17734402.html}} - via [[HighBeam Research]], subscription needed</ref>
 |- class="vcard"
 | class="fn" | ''Queen Victoria''
@@ Line 211: / Line 212: @@
 | {{Coord|52.479628| -1.902998|type:landmark_region:GB-BIR}}
 | Bronze statue, recast from a marble statue by Thomas Brock<ref name="Noszlopy" />/
 |- class="vcard"
 | class="fn" | ''[[Josiah Mason]]''
@@ Line 218: / Line 220: @@
 | {{Coord|52.531556| -1.825128|type:landmark_region:GB-BIR}}
 | Bronze bust, recast from a marble statue (subsequently destroyed) by [[Francis John Williamson]] of 1885, which stood opposite Mason Science College in [[Edmund Street]]<ref name="Noszlopy" />
 |- class="vcard"
 | class="fn org" | Bas-relief
@@ Line 225: / Line 228: @@
 | {{Coord|52.44928|-1.93509|type:landmark_region:GB-BIR}}
 | <ref name="Noszlopy" />
 |- class="vcard"
 | class="fn org" | ''[[Boulton, Watt and Murdoch]]''
@@ Line 232: / Line 236: @@
 | {{coord|52.4786| -1.9084|type:landmark_region:GB-BIR}}
 | <ref name="Noszlopy" />
 |- class="vcard"
 | class="fn" | ''[[John Skirrow Wright]]''
@@ Line 246: / Line 251: @@
 |
 | Restored in 1994<ref name="NoszlopyWarks" />
 |- class="vcard"
 | class="fn org" | ''Mermaid fountain''
@@ Line 253: / Line 259: @@
 | {{Coord|52.44927| -1.927225|type:landmark_region:GB-BIR}}
 | Bronze<ref name="Noszlopy" />
 |- class="vcard"
 | class="fn org" | ''Mermaid''
@@ Line 260: / Line 267: @@
 | {{Coord|52.44951|-1.92741|type:landmark_region:GB-BIR}}
 | Clipsham stone sculpture, on wall<ref name="Noszlopy" />
 |- class="vcard"
 | class="fn org" | Decoration
@@ Line 267: / Line 275: @@
 | {{Coord|52.456861| -1.868761|type:landmark_region:GB-BIR}}
 | (Bas-relief pub sign attributed to Alan Bridgewater<ref name="Noszlopy" />)
+|- class="vcard"
+| class="fn org" | Bust of [[Wilfred Byng Kenrick]]
+| class="label" | [[The International School (Birmingham)|Byng Kenrick Grammar School For Girls]]
+| {{Start date|1962}} (unveiled 1963)
+|
+|
+| Bronze. Lost, believed stolen.<ref name="Noszlopy" />)
 |- class="vcard"
 | class="fn org" | Coat of Arms
@@ Line 274: / Line 291: @@
 | {{Coord|52.485875| -1.895101|type:landmark_region:GB-BIR}}
 | [[Fibreglass]]<ref name="Noszlopy" />
 |- class="vcard"
 | class="fn org" | Head of Man
@@ Line 281: / Line 299: @@
 |
 | Plaster<ref name="RBSA-B43" />
 |- class="vcard"
 | class="fn org" | Ten panels in ceiling
@@ Line 288: / Line 307: @@
 | {{coord|52.44066|-1.86433|type:landmark_region:GB-BIR}}
 | Plaster<ref>[http://www.moseleians.co.uk/index2.asp?id=126&bid=P28&Title=William_Bloye The Moseleians Association - Moseley School and the work of William Bloye (1890-1975)]</ref> (Full image set at {{Commons category inline|Moseley School assembly hall ceiling panels}}).
 |}