M. C. Oliver
Encyclopedia
Mervyn C. Oliver MBE
(3 March 1886 - 10 December 1958) was a twentieth century British calligrapher and silversmith
taught by Edward Johnston
and an early Craft Member of the Society of Scribes and Illuminators (SSI). He is most renowned for his work on the Stalingrad Sword as well as the designing of several war memorials throughout the United Kingdom
including those at Durham University
and Eton College
. His work has been exhibited throughout Europe and America, most notably in London's Victoria & Albert Museum, and the Harrison collection in San Francisco's Public Library, both of which still retain a few examples of his work amongst the other pieces of twentieth century calligraphy they maintain.
Oliver taught at the Central School of Arts and Crafts, London, The Chelsea School of Art, St. Martin's School of Art and the Hampstead Garden Suburb Institute and is hailed by the SSI as being one of the "greatest British teachers of the twentieth century." As such he played a major part in the revival of British calligraphy which was begun by Edward Johnston
in the early 1900s, with former pupils including the former chairwoman of the SSI Heather Child. He was the author of the chapters on the design of manuscript books and inscriptions, and the development of illumination in The Calligrapher's Handbook (1956) and was awarded the MBE
for his contributions to British art in the same year.
MBE
MBE can stand for:* Mail Boxes Etc.* Management by exception* Master of Bioethics* Master of Bioscience Enterprise* Master of Business Engineering* Master of Business Economics* Mean Biased Error...
(3 March 1886 - 10 December 1958) was a twentieth century British calligrapher and silversmith
Silversmith
A silversmith is a craftsperson who makes objects from silver or gold. The terms 'silversmith' and 'goldsmith' are not synonyms as the techniques, training, history, and guilds are or were largely the same but the end product varies greatly as does the scale of objects created.Silversmithing is the...
taught by Edward Johnston
Edward Johnston
Edward Johnston, CBE was a British-Uruguayan craftsman who is regarded, with Rudolf Koch, as the a father of modern calligraphy, in the form of the broad edged pen as a writing tool, a particular form of calligraphy....
and an early Craft Member of the Society of Scribes and Illuminators (SSI). He is most renowned for his work on the Stalingrad Sword as well as the designing of several war memorials throughout the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
including those at Durham University
Durham University
The University of Durham, commonly known as Durham University, is a university in Durham, England. It was founded by Act of Parliament in 1832 and granted a Royal Charter in 1837...
and Eton College
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
. His work has been exhibited throughout Europe and America, most notably in London's Victoria & Albert Museum, and the Harrison collection in San Francisco's Public Library, both of which still retain a few examples of his work amongst the other pieces of twentieth century calligraphy they maintain.
Oliver taught at the Central School of Arts and Crafts, London, The Chelsea School of Art, St. Martin's School of Art and the Hampstead Garden Suburb Institute and is hailed by the SSI as being one of the "greatest British teachers of the twentieth century." As such he played a major part in the revival of British calligraphy which was begun by Edward Johnston
Edward Johnston
Edward Johnston, CBE was a British-Uruguayan craftsman who is regarded, with Rudolf Koch, as the a father of modern calligraphy, in the form of the broad edged pen as a writing tool, a particular form of calligraphy....
in the early 1900s, with former pupils including the former chairwoman of the SSI Heather Child. He was the author of the chapters on the design of manuscript books and inscriptions, and the development of illumination in The Calligrapher's Handbook (1956) and was awarded the MBE
MBE
MBE can stand for:* Mail Boxes Etc.* Management by exception* Master of Bioethics* Master of Bioscience Enterprise* Master of Business Engineering* Master of Business Economics* Mean Biased Error...
for his contributions to British art in the same year.