Bernard Cuzner

Bernard Cuzner
Born	4 November 1877[1] Alcester in Warwickshire
Died	4 January 1956

Bernard Lionel Cuzner (4 November 1877[1] – 4 January 1956)[2] was an English silversmith and product designer.

Cuzner was born in Alcester in Warwickshire and initially trained as a watchmaker, before showing talent as a silversmith while taking evening classes in Redditch at the Redditch School of Art.[3] He moved to Birmingham to train at the Vittoria Street School of Jewellery and Silversmithing, and Birmingham School of Art where he was influenced by Robert Catterson Smith and Arthur Gaskin.[4] From 1900 he taught at the school and began designing for W. H. Haseler and Liberty & Co.

He was head of the department of metalwork at the Birmingham School of Art from 1910 until 1942.[4] His work was also part of the painting event in the art competition at the 1948 Summer Olympics.[5]

His work was within the Arts and Crafts style with extensive handwork.[4] He also designed, such as for Liberty's Cymric range of silverware and jewellery from 1899 as well as private commissions.[6]

Selected publications

• Bernard Cuzner, Decorative metal overlay, Dryad Press, Leicester (1931) 45 pages, 23 figures, photo and drawn
• Bernard Cuzner, A first book of Metal-work, The Dryad Press, Leicester (1931) 162 pages, 6 plates ISBN 9780905418544
• Bernard Cuzner, Silversmith's Manual, NAG Press, London, 1st edition (1935) 224 pages, 133 figures ISBN 978-0719800627

References

1. City of London; Freedom Admission Papers, 1929 May
2. Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; Evans, Hilary (March 2013). "Bernard Cuzner Bio, Stats, and Results". Olympics. Sports Reference.com. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 17 March 2013.
3. Brennan, Shawn (1990). "Bernard Cuzner". Reflections: arts & crafts metalwork in England and the United States. New York: Kurland-Zabar. OCLC 22451964.
4. "Biography for Bernard Cuzner". BMAGIC. Birmingham Museums and Art Gallery. Retrieved 27 October 2012.
5. "Bernard Cuzner". Olympedia. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
6. "Silver bowl on stand, set with South Australian opals". Victoria and Albert Museum. Retrieved 10 February 2015.