Gerald Benney | |
|---|---|
| Born | Gerald Adrian Sallis Benney 21 April 1930 Kingston-Upon-Hull, England |
| Died | 26 June 2008(2008-06-26) (aged 78) |
| Occupation(s) | Silver and goldsmith |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 4, includingSimon Benney andPaul Benney |
Gerald Adrian Sallis BenneyCBE (21 April 1930 – 26 June 2008) was a British silver and goldsmith who along withDavid Mellor andRobert Welch popularised stainless steel designs in post-war British homes. Like Mellor and Welch he was influenced by modern Scandinavian design and in particularGeorg Jensen.[1][2]
He was born inKingston-Upon-Hull on 21 April 1930. His father, Ernest, was the principal of a local art school and his mother was a silversmith. The family moved when his father became the principal ofBrighton College of Art. He attendedBrighton Grammar School and studied at Brighton College of Art from 1945 underDunstan Pruden. He began hisnational service in 1948. He began attending theRoyal College of Art in 1950. In 1957 he married journalist Janet Edwards inSherborne St John. They had a daughter and three sons.[2]
He was the first British craftsperson to ever hold fourRoyal Warrants at the same time. The modern Scandinavian style Gerald developed was taught to him byBerger Bergensen.[3]
Among his works are the altar plate forCoventry Cathedral and maces for five English universities,[4] and three in Australia (University of New England (1956);University of Newcastle (1966); andFlinders University (1969)).[5] TheVictoria and Albert Museum has a number of his pieces in its collection.[6] He also created cutlery forViners.[2]
He was appointed aCommander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the1995 New Year Honours, "for services to art".[7]
His sonSimon Benney (born 1 January 1966) now runs the business; he has also held four Royal Warrants simultaneously.[8] An older son,Paul Benney (born 30 May 1959), is an artist.
He died on 26 June 2008.[2]
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