Contributors to the founding collection of the Pitt Rivers Museum and Pitt-Rivers' second collection

W

W.P.; Biography: Nothing is known of this previous owner of a spoon; Dates: No specific dates known; Collection: Second collection

W.T. Copeland & Sons; Biography: Manufacturer of earthenware, parian, fine porcelain etc. at Stoke. From 1855 onwards the Staffordshire firm of W.T. Copeland & Sons (now known as Spode) made copies of sculpture in Parian, a new type of ultra-white unglazed porcelain which closely resembled a type of marble from the island of Paros. Parian porcelain, which had been invented by Copeland in 1844, was a popular medium for domestic sculpture during the second half of the nineteenth century, enabling the widespread dissemination of celebrated images.; Dates: circa 1847-1970; Collection: Second collection

Wadham; Biography: Nothing is known of this archaeologist who excavated a barrow with Barrett [qv] in Wiltshire; Dates: No specific dates known; Collection: Second collection

Wake, Dr; Biography: Nothing is known of this collector except he is associated with a stone hammer from Newark and a spindle whorl, both of which came via G.F. Lawrence; Dates: No specific dates known; Collection: Second collection

Waldron, Clement W.; Biography: of Llanduff, author of 'No 4: Notes on Llandaff 1860-1888' The Llandaff Society Occasional Papers. Solicitor and Registrar of Llandaff Probate Registry; Dates: No specific dates known; Collection: Second collection

Walford; Biography: Thames boatman who found artefact, nothing further is known. He is identified in Pitt Rivers 'On the discovery of a dug-out canoe in the Thames at Hampton Court' Journal of the Anthropological Institute 7 [1878] pp. 102-103; Dates: No specific dates known; Collection: Founding collection, PRM

Walhouse, Moreton John; Biography: Anthropologist and folklorist, no detail known except he appears to have worked for the Indian Civil Service according to the 1901 census.; Dates: c1822-?; Collection: Founding collection, PRM

Walker, John; Biography: John Walker might have been a dealer, based in Castle Street, West Street, Leeds but no information can be found about him; Dates: No specific dates known; Collection: Second collection

Walker, Robert; Biography: Mr R. Walker of Uffington (as the account in the Manchester Guardian of 10 June 1882 confirms) was an antiquarian who was involved in discovering Woolstone Villa in Uffington as well as having a fan collection. See website; Dates: No specific dates known; Source: http://www.berkshirehistory.com/castles/woolstone_villa.html; Collection: Second collection

Walker, Robert Bruce Napoleon; Biography: Gabon-based West African British merchant and explorer, collector of ethnographic objects.; Dates: 1832-1901; Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/André_Raponda_Walker; Collection: Founding collection, PRM and second collection

Wallace, William; Biography: Nothing is known of this previous owner of a jug from Queensferry, Edinburgh in 1787; Dates: No specific dates known; Collection: Second collection

Walpole, Horatio [Horace]; Biography: Fourth earl of Oxford, author, politician and patron of the arts.; Dates: 1717-1797; Source: www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/28596; Collection: Second collection

Walter, Sophia; Biography: Nothing is known of this previous owner of a glass tumbler; Dates: No specific dates known; Collection: Second collection

Wareham, William; Biography: William Wareham of 14 Charing Cross Road London, a curiosity dealer who sold to the British Museum ('A Biographical Dictionary of Nineteenth Century Antique and Curiosity Dealers' M. Westgarth: 2009 special issue Journal of Regional Furniture). Also seems to have been based in Castle Street, Leicester Square.; Dates: No specific dates known; Collection: Founding collection, PRM and second collection

Warne, Charles; Biography: Dorset antiquary; Dates: 1801-1887; Source: http://myancestors.wordpress.com/2008/03/01/charles-warne-fsa/; Collection: Second collection

Waterfall, George Howard; Biography: Rector of Tollard Royal, Wiltshire. He is probably the George Waterfall listed in the 1891 census as living in Tisbury, Donhead and aged 59, in the 1871 census he is listed as 'George Waterfall, head of household, aged 39, Rector of Tollard Royal, born in Gleadless Derbyshire'; Dates: 1832-?; Collection: Second collection

Watt, George; Biography: Botanist, born and educated in Scotland. He published a ten volume report on Indian botany, Dictionary of the Commercial Products of India (1889-90) See also http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Watt_(botany); Dates: 1851-1930; Source: http://www.ces.iisc.ernet.in/biodiversity/sahyadri/wgbis_info/botanical.htm; Collection: Second collection

Webb; Biography: Nothing is known of the Webb collection, which was sold by George Fabian Lawrence [qv]. Two baskets from Egypt are associated with this collection. It is possible it belonged to John Webb, a London dealer, upholsterer and cabinet-maker who worked at 8 Old Bond Street and 13 George Street around the 1850s and 1860s. In the 1860s he retired from business and lived in Cannes. He was a friend of Henry Cole and left South Kensington Museum £10,000 for the purchase of objects. [Caygill and Cherry, 1997 'AW Franks' page 178]; Dates: No specific dates known; Collection: Second collection

Webb. Geraldine; Biography: Geraldine Webb was the daughter of William Frederick Webb (1829-1899), landowner. He purchased Newstead Abbey in 1861. The Spanish garden at Newstead was designed by Geraldine Webb in about 1896. Wife of Lt Gen Sir Herbert Chermside, she appears to have died in 1910.; Dates: 1860-1910; Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Frederick_Webb; Collection: Second collection

Webster, William Downing; Biography: Webster was a dealer and auctioneer based in Bicester and London. See Waterfield/King, Provenance. Barbier-Mueller Museum, 2006. Webster also contributed objects to the John Evans' collection [Macgregor, 'Sir John Evans...' 2008: 29]; Dates: 1863-1913; Collection: Second collection

Wedgwood; Biography: Josiah Wedgwood and Sons, pottery manufacturers.; Dates: to present; Source: http://www.thepotteries.org/potters/wedgwood.htm; Collection: Second collection

Weller, James; Biography: Nothing is known of this collector associated with finds from Sedlescombe, East Sussex; Dates: Unknown, active 1876; Collection: Founding collection, PRM

Wells; Biography: Silversmith based at Piccadilly, London; no trace can be found of him online; Dates: No specific dates known; Collection: Second collection

Wells, Robert; Biography: Bellfounders of Aldbourne from 1700s. Either father or son, both with the same name and both bellfounders in the village.; Dates: Unknown, active 1755-1798; Source: here; Collection: Founding collection, PRM

Westendarp, Charles; Biography: According to "The history of the collections contained in the Natural history departments of the British museum" 1904 'Mr. Westendarp was an ivory merchant in the City of London. In 1877, he presented a few fossils collected by himself in Weimar, and, in 1879, some Post-Pliocene Ghastropods from East Africa. In 1884, he made a large donation of 778 specimens of various kinds from all parts of the world'. This might be the same person. There are other ceramic objects donated to the British Museum from Peru which are probably from the same source, but no more detailed name is given; Dates: No specific dates known; Collection: Second collection

Westmacott, Richard; Biography: Either Richard Westmacott (1775-1856) British sculptor (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Westmacott) or his son also Richard Westmacott (1799-1872) also a sculptor (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Westmacott_(the_younger)); Dates: See above; Collection: Second collection

Wetherall, Frederic Augustus; Biography: General in the British Army.; Dates: 1754-1842; Source: www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/29144; Collection: Founding collection, PRM

Wharton, ?William James Lloyd; Biography: The collection appears to be of African, Fijian, New Guinea and Indian artefacts, some of which came in via G.F. Lawrence [qv] The British Museum also has 3 charms from West Africa from a Wharton, acquired during AW Franks reign so they may be from the same person. Cliff Thornton of the Captain Cook Society suggests that this is probably Sir William James Lloyd Wharton (1843-1905), Royal Navy admiral and hydrographer; Dates: ? 1843-1905; Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Wharton_(hydrographer); Collection: Second collection

Whelan, Francis Edward; Biography: According to the British Museum records Whelan was a British coin dealer and representative of Rollin and Feuardent [qv] Ready also contributed objects to the John Evans' collection [Macgregor, 'Sir John Evans...' 2008: 29] According to Macgregor, Whelan acted for Rollin and Feuardent in London.; Dates: 1848 - 1907; Collection: Second collection

Whieldon pottery; Biography: Thomas Whieldon of Fenton Low (or Little Fenton) Stoke-on-Trent, a leading potter; Dates: 1740-1780; Source: http://www.thepotteries.org/potters/whieldon.htm; Collection: Second collection

Whincopp, William; Biography: Wine merchant in Woodbridge, Suffolk who was a collector of antiquarian and geological objects; Dates: 1795-1874; Source: here; Collection: Second collection

Whintle, C.; Biography: Nothing is known about this collector, associated with two corroded sword blades believed to have come from the founding collection; Dates: No specific dates known; Collection: Founding collection, PRM

Whitaker, William; Biography: Geologist, bibliographer and pioneer hydrogeologist.; Dates: 1836-1925; Source: http://www.essexfieldclub.org.uk/portal/p/Noteworthy+naturalist/s/8; Collection: Founding collection, PRM and second collection

Whitby, George; Biography: Cannot find any information about this individual; Dates: No specific dates known; Collection: Second collection

White, J.; Biography: Nothing is known of this collector, associated with spurs from Patagonia; Dates: No specific dates known; Collection: Founding collection, PRM

Whitfield; Biography: Collector associated with an object from the Society Islands. The British Museum has several objects from R.G. Whitfield collection from the Pacific, which were acquired in 1872; this might be same source.; Dates: No specific dates known; Collection: Founding collection, PRM

Wickham, Henry; Biography: Forester, explorer and pioneer planter.; Dates: 1846-1928; Source: http://www.amazon.com/Thief-End-World-Rubber-Empire/dp/B001BSN4QW; Collection: Founding collection, PRM

Wigan, Edward; Biography: Collector of coins. On his death, Wigan's entire collection was purchased by Rollin & Feuardent (q.v.), and the British Museum subsequently (1872) bought many of the Greek and Roman coins. Associated with Henry [Harry] Osborn Cureton [qv]. John Allan, 'Guide to the Department of Coins and Medals', British Museum, London 1934. Obituary in 'Numismatic Chronicle', 1871, pp.12-13.; Dates: 1823-1871; Source: here; Collection: Founding collection, PRM and second collection

Wilkinson Sword; Biography: Based in Pall Mall, London; gunmaker, bayonet maker etc. In 1804 Wilkinson Sword was appointed Royal gunmakers to HM George III. The product range over the years has been very wide including typewriters, shears, scissors and motorcycles. In 1973 the company merged with another and then was bought out.; Dates: 1772- present; Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilkinson_Sword; Collection: Founding collection, PRM

Wilks or Wilson, John; Biography: Nothing is known of this previous owner of a pewter mug; Dates: Unknown active 1778; Collection: Second collection

Willett, Henry; Biography: Founding father of Brighton Museum. He was a businessman, brewer and property developer in Brighton. He collected fossils from the Sussex Downs and was also interested in archaeology, and local history especially pottery.; Dates: 1823-1903; Source: http://www.virtualmuseum.info/collections/themes/willett/html/; Collection: Second collection

Williams, H. G.; Biography: Nothing is known of this collector of material from Madeira River, Brazil.; Dates: No specific dates known; Collection: Founding collection, PRM

Williamson; Biography: Nothing is known about this collector, associated with a bronze figure found in the River Thames at Chertsey; Dates: No specific dates known; Collection: Founding collection, PRM

Willoughby, Lord; Biography: The relevant object was co-owned by Hugh Welch Diamond [qv] and bought via Fenton [qv]. Lord Willoughby could be Peter Robert Drummond-Burrell, 21st Baron Willoughby de Eresby (1782-1865) whose collection contained ceramics. For details of pieces from the Gwydyr collections, see Savill, Rosalind, 'The Wallace Collection, Catalogue of Sèvres Porcelain, London', London, 1988, II, p. 900 f.n. 12, 13 and the BM biographical database; Dates: No specific dates known; Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Drummond-Burrell,_22nd_Baron_Willoughby_de_Eresby; Collection: Second collection

Willson, Mrs Samuel; Biography: Wife of Samuel Willson, 393 Strand [qv]. Nothing further is known of her; Dates: No specific dates known; Collection: Second collection

Willson, Samuel; Biography: Note: Some sources spell the surname Wilson. Dealers of 393 Strand, London. An old family of curiosity and antique furniture dealers, started in Wardour Street, London. A.W. Franks also used this dealer.'Samuel Wilson [sic] is listed as 'curiosity dealer' at 19 Castle Street, Leicester Square in Pigot's Directory, 1839 and Samuel Willson is listed as 'curiosity dealer' at 14 Bear Street, Leicester Square in 1841. By the mid 1850s Willson had moved to the Strand and Willson is listed as 'curiosity dealer' at 393 Strand in 1860 and at the same address in Kelly's Directory, 1882. Samuel appears to have been related to the modern and second hand furniture dealer Thomas Willson, who traded during the first quarter of the nineteenth-century and is believed to have commenced business in 1818. ... Willson continued the firm into the twentieth-century as Willson Brothers. ... 'The first portion of the very extensive stock of Messrs Willson & Co, curiosity dealers, 393 Strand, by direction of the executors of the senior partner, deceased', was sold by Mr Foster, on 22nd April, 1880. The auction comprised, 'antique carved, marquetrie and buhl furniture, Old Dresden, Sèvres, Oriental & English China, majolica, bronzes, clocks etc'.' Mark Westgarth, A Biographical Dictionary of Nineteenth Century Antique and Curiosity Dealers, (Regional Furniture, Special Issue, 2009).His address is also given as 7 King St, St James's London in the CUL Volume II as well as 393 Strand.; Dates: No specific dates known; Collection: Second collection

Wilson, Captain; Biography: Nothing is known of this donor except he donated material from India so may have served in the Indian Army?; Dates: No specific dates known; Collection: Second collection

Windele, John; Biography: Antiquary, based in Cork, Ireland.; Dates: 1801-1865; Source: www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/29716; Collection: Founding collection, PRM

Witherington, George; Biography: Probably a labourer on Cranborne Chase at Higher Chase Farm. A boy named George Witherington is listed in the 1851 census for Sixpenny Handley, aged 14 and an agricultural labourer, this is probably the same person. Unfortunately this is the last census transcribed to date; Dates: No specific dates known; Collection: Second collection

Wood, John George; Biography: Natural historian, author and ethnographic collector.; Dates: 1827-1889; Source: www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/29883; Collection: Founding collection, PRM

Woodburn, Miss; Biography: Nothing is known of this collector, associated with a crucifixion picture and a date 13 March 1856.; Dates: Unknown active? 1856; Collection: Founding collection, PRM

Woodford; Biography: of Farnham, Dorset. A Henry Woodford is listed as living in Farnham in 1891; he was described in the 1891 census as a pauper [cripple], as wass his son Sidney. Either of them could be this person; Dates: No specific dates known; Collection: Second collection

Woodhouse; Biography: Nothing is known of this collector, associated with Roman finds, but the British Museum has collections obtained from a James Woodhouse in 1866 which might be the same collector.; Dates: Unknown, active before 1884; Collection: Founding collection, PRM

Worcester Pottery; Biography: The first pottery was founded in Worcester in June 1751 by Dr Wall. In 1789 this was given its first Royal Warrant.; Dates: From 1751; Source: http://www.worcestercitymuseums.org.uk/mag/spirit/sppot.htm; Collection: Second collection

World Fair, Chicago 1893; Biography: Also known as World's Columbian Exposition; Dates: 1893; Collection: Second collection

Wright; Biography: A dealer of Audley Street, London, he is associated with South African and Indian objects; Dates: No specific dates known; Collection: Second collection

Wright, Bryce McMurdo; Biography: Either father or son, both with same name, both dealers based in Great Russell Street, London. They specialised in minerals and fossils, ethnographic and archaeological objects.; Dates: 1814-1875 or 1850-1895; Collection: Founding collection, PRM and second collection

Wright, Evelyn; Biography: Dealer of 144 Wardour Street. According to the National Portrait Gallery: Evelyn Wright 1900-1919, dealer in works of art, then antique furniture dealer. At 22 Wardour St, London 1827-1850, 22 & 23 Wardour St 1851-1877, street renumbered 1878, 142 & 144 Wardour St 1878-1894, 1896-1903, 144 Wardour St 1904-1919. He took over a family art dealing firm sometime in the 1890s.; Dates: 1845-1919; Source: http://www.npg.org.uk/research/conservation/directory-of-british-framemakers/w.php; Collection: Second collection

Wright, William, John & Frederick; Biography: Dealers of Wardour Street, London. 'William Thrale Wright is listed as 'carver and gilder' at 22 Wardour Street in Pigot's Directory, 1839 and was recorded as carver and gilder to HRH Princess Sophia Matilda. John Wright 'picture restorer' and W. Wright 'carver and gilder' are listed at 22 Wardour Street in Tallis's London Street Views, 1838/40 ' (See Plate 7). William Wright is listed as 'antique furniture dealers and cabinet makers' and 'ancient furniture importers' at 26 Wardour Street in 1844. The Wrights traded from three addresses in Wardour Street in the 1850s, at numbers 20, 22 & 27, which comprised premises in which the Wright family lived together with workshops, warehouses and a yard. The census returns for 27 Wardour Street in 1861 list John Wright as 'upholsterer', aged 48 born Marylebone and William Wright (age not recorded) 'upholsterer', together with his sons William (32), Frederick (29) and Edman (20) all 'upholsterers' at 22 Wardour Street. By 1870 they were trading at 22, 23 & 27 Wardour Street and in Kelly's Directory, 1878-82 William & Frederick Wright, 'antique furniture dealers, art dealers & importers' are listed at 22, 23, 142 & 144 Wardour Street. William & Frederick Wright at 142 & 144 Wardour Street, and John Wright at 134 Wardour Street, 'antique furniture dealers' in Kelly's Directory, 1882.' Mark Westgarth, A Biographical Dictionary of Nineteenth Century Antique and Curiosity Dealers, (Journal of Regional Furniture, Special Issue, 2009).; Dates: No specific dates known; Collection: Second collection

Wyndham, Percy Scawen; Biography: Soldier, Conservative politician, collector. Younger son of George Wyndham, first Baron Leconfield.; Dates: 1835-1911; Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Percy_Wyndham_(politician); Collection: Second collection

Compiled by AP during RPR project 2009-2012