Percy Metcalfe
Encyclopedia
Percy Metcalfe, CVO, RDI
(Wakefield
, 14 January 1895 - 1970), (often spelled Metcalf without "e") was an English
artist
sculptor and designer.
He studied art in Leeds, and in 1914 attended the Royal College of Art
London.
He produced many designs for Ashtead Pottery between 1923 and 1936.
One of his noted sculptural works is the bronze war memorial in Durban
, South Africa
.
Metcalfe designed the first coinage of the Irish Free State in 1928. He was responsible for the design of the George Cross
in 1940, particularly the head of King George VI on it; and was involved in the design of the Great Seal of the Realm
. He produced designs for coinage of several countries including Ireland
and Australia
. He created a portrait of King George V
which was used as the obverse for coins of Australia, Canada, Fiji, Mauritius, New Zealand and Southern Rhodesia.
In the 1930s Metcalfe designed car mascots.
In 2010, the Central Bank of Ireland plans to issue euro coins featuring Metcalfe's Irish coin designs with slight modifications to represent the "new generation." This will represent the first time his work is presented on the euro currency.
Royal Designers for Industry
Royal Designer for Industry is a distinction established by the British Royal Society of Arts in 1936, to encourage a high standard of industrial design and enhance the status of designers. It is awarded to people who have achieved "sustained excellence in aesthetic and efficient design for...
(Wakefield
Wakefield
Wakefield is the main settlement and administrative centre of the City of Wakefield, a metropolitan district of West Yorkshire, England. Located by the River Calder on the eastern edge of the Pennines, the urban area is and had a population of 76,886 in 2001....
, 14 January 1895 - 1970), (often spelled Metcalf without "e") was an English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
artist
Artist
An artist is a person engaged in one or more of any of a broad spectrum of activities related to creating art, practicing the arts and/or demonstrating an art. The common usage in both everyday speech and academic discourse is a practitioner in the visual arts only...
sculptor and designer.
He studied art in Leeds, and in 1914 attended the Royal College of Art
Royal College of Art
The Royal College of Art is an art school located in London, United Kingdom. It is the world’s only wholly postgraduate university of art and design, offering the degrees of Master of Arts , Master of Philosophy and Doctor of Philosophy...
London.
He produced many designs for Ashtead Pottery between 1923 and 1936.
One of his noted sculptural works is the bronze war memorial in Durban
Durban
Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
.
Metcalfe designed the first coinage of the Irish Free State in 1928. He was responsible for the design of the George Cross
George Cross
The George Cross is the highest civil decoration of the United Kingdom, and also holds, or has held, that status in many of the other countries of the Commonwealth of Nations...
in 1940, particularly the head of King George VI on it; and was involved in the design of the Great Seal of the Realm
Great Seal of the Realm
The Great Seal of the Realm or Great Seal of the United Kingdom is a seal that is used to symbolise the Sovereign's approval of important state documents...
. He produced designs for coinage of several countries including Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
and Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. He created a portrait of King George V
George V of the United Kingdom
George V was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 through the First World War until his death in 1936....
which was used as the obverse for coins of Australia, Canada, Fiji, Mauritius, New Zealand and Southern Rhodesia.
In the 1930s Metcalfe designed car mascots.
In 2010, the Central Bank of Ireland plans to issue euro coins featuring Metcalfe's Irish coin designs with slight modifications to represent the "new generation." This will represent the first time his work is presented on the euro currency.