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Reynolds, William Bainbridge (1893-1916)

Reynolds, William Bainbridge

London; architect, metalworker, designer (fl. 1893-1916)

Reynolds was articled to the architect, John Dando Sedding c. 1871 and then worked for George Edmund Street from c. 1874, following which he was employed in the office of John Pollard Seddon. He then pursued his interest in metalwork, initially working for John Starkie Gardner and then establishing his own business, W. Bainbridge Reynolds Ltd. The company specialised in ornamental metalwork, domestic and ecclesiastical. He worked with fellow architects including J.P. Seddon and C.F.A. Voysey. For the latter’s 1907 commission, Capel House, the Essex & Suffolk Equitable Insurance Company, Reynolds supplied some of the furniture handles, knobs etc. The oak dumb waiter, 1909, designed for Miss Charlotte McKay by Voysey and now at Crab Tree Farm, featured copper alloy, probably brass, ball feet made by Reynolds (illus. Livingstone, Donnelly and Parry, 2016, p. 225. 

Reynolds participated in the Arts & Crafts Exhibition Society, London, 1893-1916, showing architectural fittings, fire furniture, light fittings, garden gates, and church work including crosses, chalices etc. Furniture included:

1893 – lady’s work cabinet, oak stained green, designed by C.F.A. Voysey, executed by W. Hall and J. Wall, hinges by W.B. Reynolds (The Wood Handicrafts Society) (cat. no. 134), illus. Dekorative Kunst, vol. 1, issue 6 (March 1898) 

1896 – lectern for St. Cuthbert’s Church, Earl’s Court, designed and exhibited by W. Bainbridge Reynolds, executed by W. Bainbridge Reynolds assisted by G. Bell, W. Tickett, T. Martin and J. Brown (cat. no. 355); wrought-iron screen (photograph), by F.A. Walker, exhibited by W. Bainbridge Reynolds (cat. no. 663)

1906 – fire screen designed by F.G. Frost, executed by W. Bainbridge Reynolds, assisted by J. Milner and J. Landon, exhibited by W. Bainbridge Reynolds Ltd (cat. no. 80); lectern in brass and leather, by W. Bainbridge Reynolds, assisted by J. Green and F. Minns (cat. no. 82)

1910 – eagle lectern in brass, executed by A. Dufour, O. Brooker and F. Porter (cat. no. 464)

1916 – lectern in forged iron, decorated and gilt, executed by E. Burchell and E. Cole, price £65 (cat. no. 129); 

Index of these catalogues list Reynolds’ address as 28 Victoria Street (1896), 7B Old Town, Clapham (1906), Manor House Metal Works & 7B Old Town, Clapham (1910, 1912 and 1916). 

Sources: Livingstone, Donnelly & Parry, C F A Voysey Arts & Crafts Designer (2016); Arts & Crafts Exhibition catalogues, 1888-1916.