W. J. Coffee
Encyclopedia
William John Coffee was an internationally renowned English artist
and sculptor who worked in porcelain
, plaster, and terra cotta
. He also worked in oil paint, although this was not the medium for which he became famous. His early career was as a modeller for Duesbury
at the china factory on Nottingham Road in Derby
, England
. The latter part of his life was spent in America.
Coffee worked for William Duesbury
in Derby, but he also worked at Pinxton Porcelain
and potteries at Frier Gate in Derby and at the village of Church Gresley
. During his time in Derby, Coffee made busts of some of the local dignitaries and historic figures including a life size bust of Erasmus Darwin
. This bust is a fine example of Coffee's modelling skills and is now on display at Derby Museum
. Coffee also produced a terra cotta copy of the Florentine Boar (1806) and a number of terra cotta statues of Greek figures representing medicine and healing for the garden of Joseph Strutt
. The boar was destroyed duiring World War II but has been recently replaced. Joseph Strutt's garden was given to the town as Derby Arboretum
in 1840 complete with statues, but those of the Greek figures are now missing or lost. Coffee also made a 10 feet (3 m) terra cotta statue of Asclepius
, the Greek god of medicine, for William Strutt
's Derbyshire Infirmary which was mounted above a dome at the very pinacle of the newly designed hospital.
Coffee emigrated from England to New York
City in 1816, where he became famous as a sculptor for American historical figures such as James Madison
and Thomas Jefferson
. He also made the ornamental plaster mouldings for Jefferson's house and for the University of Virginia
.
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...
and sculptor who worked in porcelain
Porcelain
Porcelain is a ceramic material made by heating raw materials, generally including clay in the form of kaolin, in a kiln to temperatures between and...
, plaster, and terra cotta
Terra cotta
Terracotta, Terra cotta or Terra-cotta is a clay-based unglazed ceramic, although the term can also be applied to glazed ceramics where the fired body is porous and red in color...
. He also worked in oil paint, although this was not the medium for which he became famous. His early career was as a modeller for Duesbury
William Duesbury
William Duesbury was an important enameller and British entrepreneur, founder of the Royal Crown Derby and owner of porcelain factories at Bow, Chelsea, Derby and Longton Hall.- Biography :Duesbury was born on 7 September 1725...
at the china factory on Nottingham Road in Derby
Derby
Derby , is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands region of England. It lies upon the banks of the River Derwent and is located in the south of the ceremonial county of Derbyshire. In the 2001 census, the population of the city was 233,700, whilst that of the Derby Urban Area was 229,407...
, England
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...
. The latter part of his life was spent in America.
Biography
William Duesbury
William Duesbury was an important enameller and British entrepreneur, founder of the Royal Crown Derby and owner of porcelain factories at Bow, Chelsea, Derby and Longton Hall.- Biography :Duesbury was born on 7 September 1725...
in Derby, but he also worked at Pinxton Porcelain
Pinxton Porcelain
Pinxton Porcelain was a porcelain works created by John Coke and William Billingsley in Pinxton in Derbyshire, England.-Biography:Pinxton Porcelain was founded on land rented from the Reverend D'Ewes Coke's third son who went into business with the businesman and porcelain painter William...
and potteries at Frier Gate in Derby and at the village of Church Gresley
Church Gresley
Church Gresley is a village and former civil parish in the South Derbyshire district of Derbyshire, England. The village is very close to the town of Swadlincote, between the town and Castle Gresley. According to the 2001 census the parish had a population of 4,805.The toponym "Gresley" is derived...
. During his time in Derby, Coffee made busts of some of the local dignitaries and historic figures including a life size bust of Erasmus Darwin
Erasmus Darwin
Erasmus Darwin was an English physician who turned down George III's invitation to be a physician to the King. One of the key thinkers of the Midlands Enlightenment, he was also a natural philosopher, physiologist, slave trade abolitionist,inventor and poet...
. This bust is a fine example of Coffee's modelling skills and is now on display at Derby Museum
Derby Museum and Art Gallery
Derby Museum and Art Gallery was established in 1879, along with Derby Central Library, in a new building designed by Richard Knill Freeman and given to Derby by Michael Thomas Bass. The collection includes a whole gallery displaying the paintings of Joseph Wright of Derby; there is also a large...
. Coffee also produced a terra cotta copy of the Florentine Boar (1806) and a number of terra cotta statues of Greek figures representing medicine and healing for the garden of Joseph Strutt
Joseph Strutt (philanthropist)
Joseph Strutt was an English philanthropist. He got his wealth from family textile business. The Strutt brothers were radical social reformers who gave significant donations and founded several important institutions in their native Derby area....
. The boar was destroyed duiring World War II but has been recently replaced. Joseph Strutt's garden was given to the town as Derby Arboretum
Derby Arboretum
Derby Arboretum is a public arboretum and park in the city of Derby in England. It was the first publicly owned, landscaped, urban, recreational park in England. It is located in the Rose Hill area, about a mile south of Derby city centre. After many years of neglect, the Arboretum has recently...
in 1840 complete with statues, but those of the Greek figures are now missing or lost. Coffee also made a 10 feet (3 m) terra cotta statue of Asclepius
Asclepius
Asclepius is the God of Medicine and Healing in ancient Greek religion. Asclepius represents the healing aspect of the medical arts; his daughters are Hygieia , Iaso , Aceso , Aglæa/Ægle , and Panacea...
, the Greek god of medicine, for William Strutt
William Strutt (inventor)
William Strutt FRS, was a cotton spinner in Belper, England.-Biography:Strutt was the first son of Jedediah Strutt and, after a good education, joined his father's business at the age of fourteen...
's Derbyshire Infirmary which was mounted above a dome at the very pinacle of the newly designed hospital.
Coffee emigrated from England to New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
City in 1816, where he became famous as a sculptor for American historical figures such as James Madison
James Madison
James Madison, Jr. was an American statesman and political theorist. He was the fourth President of the United States and is hailed as the “Father of the Constitution” for being the primary author of the United States Constitution and at first an opponent of, and then a key author of the United...
and Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom , the third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia...
. He also made the ornamental plaster mouldings for Jefferson's house and for the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
.