I’m delighted to
welcome back non-fiction author, Christine Sanderson, as she
launches her third book in her series Bassett-Lowke – The Making of
an Identity.
As many people –
and especially model rail enthusiasts will know, Wenman Joseph Bassett-Lowke
was the co-owner of the renowned Northampton based Bassett-Lowke company, who
were not only famous for their locomotives, model ships, stationary engines and
architectural models, but also for Bassett-Lowke’s interest in art and design.
The company was heavily involved in
model making during the First and Second World Wars. Owing to their skill and
expertise the company was the perfect choice to be deployed in invaluable model
making for the Ministry of Defence.The first house
Bassett-Lowke owned was 78 Derngate in Northampton, today a Grade II* Listed
Building and a popular tourist attraction. However, the building isn’t famous
just because of the man who owned it. It’s also renowned for being the only
house in England remodelled by the famous Scottish architect, Charles Rennie
Mackintosh.
As a member of the
78 Derngate committee, a tour guide and researcher with 20-years experience of
Bassett Lowke and Derngate, Christine also writes articles for the ’78 Derngate
Newsletter’ and the ‘Lowko News’ for the Bassett-Lowke Society. She is on the Committee of the Friends of 78
Derngate and gives talks on Wenman Joseph Bassett-Lowke. So, there is no one more qualified than
Christine to write these books.THE BOOKS
The first in the
series Bassett-Lowke Art: The Making of an Identity, features over 80
colour pages illustrating the work of those artists who were famous in the
engineering and art world such as Henry Greenly, Cecil J. Allen, Edward
McKnight Kauffer and of course Charles Rennie Mackintosh. Christine went on a
year-long quest to source rare catalogues and acquire the necessary copyright
permissions to use them in her book.
Her second book, Bassett-Lowke
War Work: The Making of an Identity, covers the extent and importance of the work undertaken
by the artisans of Bassett-Lowke Ltd and their associated companies
Winteringham Ltd and E W Twining Ltd.
The work, undertaken mostly in desperation and with the utmost secrecy,
bearing in mind the shortage of materials, makes for an incredible story.
And her third book, Bassett-Lowke
Stationery: The Making of an Identity covers the stationery designed for the
company, including letterheads, envelopes, invoices and acknowledgement
cards. Information on who designed the
images, where known, is included along with original artwork and additional
information from stickers found on the stationery advertising fairs and
exhibitions the company attended. This book will appeal not only to those
interested in the history of the Bassett-Lowke business, but also to people
interested in art and design.
With 70+ pages and
over 100 colourful images, this A5 sized book is full of fascinating facts
about the ephemera of the Bassett-Lowke company.
Printing was
generously funded by the ‘Friends of 78 Derngate’ enabling all proceeds from
the book to go directly to 78 Derngate.
The remodelled
interior of 78 Derngate was transformed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh in 1916/17
for W J Bassett-Lowke and his wife Florence Jane Jones as their new marital
home.
78 Derngate has
been meticulously restored and opened to the public.
Next door at 80
Derngate, is the museum of W J Bassett-Lowke’s famous model making company,
showing many exhibits of model locomotives, model ships and various ephemera
connected to 78 Derngate and Bassett-Lowke’s life.
There is also a
boutique restaurant, light filled art galleries, a stylish shop and elegant
spaces that can be hired for meetings, events and functions.
GET YOUR COPY
Bassett-Lowke
Stationery – The Making of an Identity By Christine Sanderson
ISBN
978-1-3999-3848-8
Priced at £7.50
+pp it is now available to buy at 78 Derngate or via the website www.78dergate.org/shop
For more
information on 78 Derngate – The Charles Rennie Mackintosh House including
opening times and admission prices go to: www.78derngate.org
I'd like to wish Christine every success with her latest book.
