Ellin & Kitson
Encyclopedia
Ellin & Kitson partnership was formed in New York City by two English Sculptors from Yorkshire England in early 1879. Prior to this date they were working as Robert Ellin Company. They advertised their business as ARCHITECTURAL SCULPTORS concentrating on churches.
The elder was Robert Ellin
born about 1838; the younger was John William Kitson
born 1846. According to the Kitson family, it was Robert Ellin who first came to the United States and then encouraged William Kitson to follow. Their first known collaboration was a mahogany breakfront entered into a juried show for the United States Bi-Centennial held in Philadelphia in 1876. According to Kitson family history, they entered their work as Americans, thinking it would set them apart from the many English entries. At the time of the Centennial celebration, their firm Ellin & Kitson had been awarded the execution of the Astor Memorial Alter.
The breakfront was very noted and won a prize. In addition to the breakfront, they also entered various church furnishings, which was their company emphasis. Kitson family oral history tells of many trips which William took to South America to personally select the mahogany and other woods for various projects.
Some of the buildings they were involved with are as follows: The Tilden Home NYC, the William Kissam Vanderbilt
Home NYC, the Marquand Mansion NYC, Marble House Newport Rhode Island, the Equitable Insurance Building NYC, Mutual Life Insurance Company Nassau St NYC, Grace Church, New York
, Trinity Church Astor Redoes NYC, St. Thomas Episcopal Church Manaroneck Long Island and an earlier independent work of William Kitson on the capitals of the interior columns of Second Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia. Additionally, they constructed a vast number of buildings at the 1892 Chicago Exposition.
In addition to various tradesmen employed by this firm, William's younger brother Samuel James Kitson
was often involved, especially when fine sculptures were to be a part of the project. Samuel James Kitson appears not to have done further work with the firm after 1888.
Following the death of William Kitson in 1888, the firm was known as Ellin, Kitson and Company, omitting the ampersand.
Columbia University has in their special collections department a style book attributed to Ellin & Kitson.
The elder was Robert Ellin
Robert Ellin
Robert Ellin, a stone and wood sculptor, was active in the United States 1867 to 1904. He was most likely born in West Yorkshire about 1838. Not much is known about his life until his association with a fellow Englishman and Yorkshireman John William Kitson...
born about 1838; the younger was John William Kitson
John William Kitson
John William Kitson was an English-born architectural sculptor.-Early life:Kitson, the third child and the first born son of John McWhire and Emma Jaggar Kitson was born in 1846 in Berry Brow Huddersfield West Yorkshire England. He was sent to London at the age of 14 as an apprentice to learn the...
born 1846. According to the Kitson family, it was Robert Ellin who first came to the United States and then encouraged William Kitson to follow. Their first known collaboration was a mahogany breakfront entered into a juried show for the United States Bi-Centennial held in Philadelphia in 1876. According to Kitson family history, they entered their work as Americans, thinking it would set them apart from the many English entries. At the time of the Centennial celebration, their firm Ellin & Kitson had been awarded the execution of the Astor Memorial Alter.
The breakfront was very noted and won a prize. In addition to the breakfront, they also entered various church furnishings, which was their company emphasis. Kitson family oral history tells of many trips which William took to South America to personally select the mahogany and other woods for various projects.
Some of the buildings they were involved with are as follows: The Tilden Home NYC, the William Kissam Vanderbilt
William Kissam Vanderbilt
William Kissam Vanderbilt was a member of the prominent American Vanderbilt family. He managed railroads and was a horse breeder.-Biography:...
Home NYC, the Marquand Mansion NYC, Marble House Newport Rhode Island, the Equitable Insurance Building NYC, Mutual Life Insurance Company Nassau St NYC, Grace Church, New York
Grace Church, New York
Grace Church is a historic parish church in the Episcopal Diocese of New York, located at 800 and 804 Broadway at the corner of East 10th Street, where Broadway bends to the north, with Grace Church School and the church houses – which are now used by the school – behind it at 86-98...
, Trinity Church Astor Redoes NYC, St. Thomas Episcopal Church Manaroneck Long Island and an earlier independent work of William Kitson on the capitals of the interior columns of Second Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia. Additionally, they constructed a vast number of buildings at the 1892 Chicago Exposition.
In addition to various tradesmen employed by this firm, William's younger brother Samuel James Kitson
Samuel James Kitson
Samuel James Kitson was a fine arts sculptor active in the United States from about 1876 to 1906. He maintained studios in New York City and Boston, Massachusetts. Most of his statuary were executed in marble. Many were religious in nature. His work consisted of full body statues, head and...
was often involved, especially when fine sculptures were to be a part of the project. Samuel James Kitson appears not to have done further work with the firm after 1888.
Following the death of William Kitson in 1888, the firm was known as Ellin, Kitson and Company, omitting the ampersand.
Columbia University has in their special collections department a style book attributed to Ellin & Kitson.