By Daryl Bennet and Colin Pill; 2008; 128pp.
Sansom & Company; Softcover

The Victorians were stern, energetic, and optimistic, and the “self-help” theories generated by these characteristics created a more fluid society in England than in Europe, allowing earnest and intelligent young working men to better themselves through the guilds, reading rooms, Mechanic’s Institutes, and free libraries established by philanthropists. In response to the huge impact of the Industrial Revolution, some of these educational groups emphasized how to design for, and work with, machines; others stressed hand-craftsmanship in order to counteract mechanization. The latter was the case with the Newlyn Industrial Class, formed in Cornwall, England, in the 1890s to provide off-season employment for the local fishermen. This highly-detailed study discusses the historical context, benefactors, design sources, and craftsmen of this significant group. Heavily illustrated with modern and period images of metalwork, marks, and advertising, and including a detailed chronology, brief bios of the craftsmen, and an index, Newlyn Copper is an invaluable source for Newlyn collectors and students of history alike.