Francis Cargeeg
Encyclopedia
Francis Bertram Cargeeg (14 Sept 1893 – 25 March 1981) was a British maker of copperware.
, Cornwall
, South West England. He was the second youngest of 8 children registered as being born to William and Emma Cargeeg over the period 1878-1897.
Frank's father was originally a miner seeking tin and copper in the hard rocks of the County. Subsequently he moved up to the position of engine man (driver), initially at a mine and later at Harvey's of Hayle. Harvey's was an internationally known pumping engine and other mine goods manufacturer in the 19th Century.
After his initial schooling Frank became an apprentice at Holman's of Camborne
, another internationally recognized company. He finished his 6 year apprenticeship in engineering on December 2, 1914. World War I changed the face of employment in UK at that time and Frank went to sea in the merchant marine as 4th engineer on the SS Trevalgan, one of the Hain line ships.
After just one voyage he left the vessel on medical grounds. Thereafter he became employed in HM Dockyard, Devonport
. In 1939 he decided to leave his safe employment at this large facility and become self employed as an artist in hand beaten copper ware. Unfortunately, World War II intervened preventing him from carrying out his dream, instead he found himself employed in a new factory in Hayle producing dibromoethane
, an additive used in petrol allowing higher compression ratios to be used in the most modern aircraft engines of the time - such as the Merlin.
After the War he worked in Pool's of Hayle for a few years finally realizing his dream of full time employment in copperware in the late 1940s. At this time Cornwall had a history of copperware, beginning with Newlyn Copper
in the late 19th Century.
At this time he lived with his wife, Winifred, who he married in September 1919 and his unmarried sister Holly in her cottage, Trevean, at Mellanear Road, Hayle.
.
Between 1939 and 1970, Cargeeg was asked by the Gorseth Kernow
to create most of the copper regalia they use, including the Grand Bard's Crown. The Grand Bards Crown was photographed and written about in the Western Morning News
, 9 Sep 1940. Francis had been a member of the group since 1934. He became the Group's Deputy Grand Bard in 1962, and held the position until 1967.
He exhibited pieces at the Red Rose Guild in Manchester in 1950 and 1951. At St Ives
in 1948, along with Barbara Hepworth
, David Leach
and Ben Nicholson
. In the Newlyn Art Gallery
in the late 1940s. Penlee House Museum (Penzance, Cornwall) in early 2003, in a display arranged by J Laity, covered in the Western Morning News on 4 Mar 2003. Additionally, the sale of one of his works was detailed in D Lays catalogue on October 14, 2003. Finally, A few articles were published by him including in the Cornish Review, Spring 1950, and the New Cornwall Volume 2, No. 5, in July and Sep 1963.
A line attributed to Cargeeg helps explain the few works he produced: "I deliberately limit my output to a small range of styles and sizes in order that I can master my art." Additionally, some of the complicated items took a year or more to make.
The last few years of his life were non-productive due to the onset of age related degeneration. He died on the 25 March 1981 and is buried in St Erth
, Cornwall.
Early life
Francis (Frank) Cargeeg was born on the 14 Sept 1893 in Carnsew, HayleHayle
Hayle is a small town, civil parish and cargo port in west Cornwall, United Kingdom. It is situated at the mouth of the Hayle River and is approximately seven miles northeast of Penzance...
, Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
, South West England. He was the second youngest of 8 children registered as being born to William and Emma Cargeeg over the period 1878-1897.
Frank's father was originally a miner seeking tin and copper in the hard rocks of the County. Subsequently he moved up to the position of engine man (driver), initially at a mine and later at Harvey's of Hayle. Harvey's was an internationally known pumping engine and other mine goods manufacturer in the 19th Century.
After his initial schooling Frank became an apprentice at Holman's of Camborne
Camborne
Camborne is a town and civil parish in west Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is at the western edge of a conurbation comprising Camborne, Pool and Redruth....
, another internationally recognized company. He finished his 6 year apprenticeship in engineering on December 2, 1914. World War I changed the face of employment in UK at that time and Frank went to sea in the merchant marine as 4th engineer on the SS Trevalgan, one of the Hain line ships.
After just one voyage he left the vessel on medical grounds. Thereafter he became employed in HM Dockyard, Devonport
HMNB Devonport
Her Majesty's Naval Base Devonport , is one of three operating bases in the United Kingdom for the Royal Navy . HMNB Devonport is located in Devonport, in the west of the city of Plymouth in Devon, England...
. In 1939 he decided to leave his safe employment at this large facility and become self employed as an artist in hand beaten copper ware. Unfortunately, World War II intervened preventing him from carrying out his dream, instead he found himself employed in a new factory in Hayle producing dibromoethane
1,2-Dibromoethane
1,2-Dibromoethane, also known as ethylene dibromide , is the chemical compound with the formula BrCH2CH2Br. Although trace amounts occur naturally in the ocean, where it is formed probably by algae and kelp, it is mainly a synthetic...
, an additive used in petrol allowing higher compression ratios to be used in the most modern aircraft engines of the time - such as the Merlin.
After the War he worked in Pool's of Hayle for a few years finally realizing his dream of full time employment in copperware in the late 1940s. At this time Cornwall had a history of copperware, beginning with Newlyn Copper
Newlyn Copper
Newlyn Copper was a class of arts and crafts copperware originating in Newlyn in Cornwall.- History :Late in the 19th century the fishing industry in Cornwall was becoming unreliable as a source of income: bad weather and seasonal fluctuations brought enforced periods of inactivity...
in the late 19th Century.
At this time he lived with his wife, Winifred, who he married in September 1919 and his unmarried sister Holly in her cottage, Trevean, at Mellanear Road, Hayle.
Career
For the next 30 years or so he worked from his small workshop here producing bowls, plates, mirror surrounds and vases in copper using only hand tools and other simple equipment. All of his designs followed images based on the products of the ancient Celts - particularly those of the La Tène CultureLa Tène culture
The La Tène culture was a European Iron Age culture named after the archaeological site of La Tène on the north side of Lake Neuchâtel in Switzerland, where a rich cache of artifacts was discovered by Hansli Kopp in 1857....
.
Between 1939 and 1970, Cargeeg was asked by the Gorseth Kernow
Gorseth Kernow
Gorseth Kernow is a non-political Cornish organisation, which exists to maintain the national Celtic spirit of Cornwall in the United Kingdom.-History:...
to create most of the copper regalia they use, including the Grand Bard's Crown. The Grand Bards Crown was photographed and written about in the Western Morning News
Western Morning News
The Western Morning News is a politically independent daily regional newspaper founded in 1860 and covering Devon and Cornwall and parts of Somerset and Dorset.-Organisation:...
, 9 Sep 1940. Francis had been a member of the group since 1934. He became the Group's Deputy Grand Bard in 1962, and held the position until 1967.
He exhibited pieces at the Red Rose Guild in Manchester in 1950 and 1951. At St Ives
St Ives, Cornwall
St Ives is a seaside town, civil parish and port in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The town lies north of Penzance and west of Camborne on the coast of the Celtic Sea. In former times it was commercially dependent on fishing. The decline in fishing, however, caused a shift in commercial...
in 1948, along with Barbara Hepworth
Barbara Hepworth
Dame Barbara Hepworth DBE was an English sculptor. Her work exemplifies Modernism, and with such contemporaries as Ivon Hitchens, Henry Moore, Ben Nicholson, Naum Gabo she helped to develop modern art in Britain.-Life and work:Jocelyn Barbara Hepworth was born on 10 January 1903 in Wakefield,...
, David Leach
David Leach (potter)
David Andrew Leach was an English studio potter and the eldest son of Bernard Leach and Muriel Hoyle Leach, Bernard's first wife....
and Ben Nicholson
Ben Nicholson
Benjamin Lauder "Ben" Nicholson, OM was a British painter of abstract compositions , landscape and still-life.-Background and Training:...
. In the Newlyn Art Gallery
Newlyn Art Gallery
Newlyn Art Gallery is a contemporary art gallery located in Newlyn, Cornwall, UK. Opened in 1895, designed by James Hicks of Redruth and financed by John Passmore Edwards the gallery was conceived as a home and exhibition venue for the Newlyn School of Art the works of which are now largely located...
in the late 1940s. Penlee House Museum (Penzance, Cornwall) in early 2003, in a display arranged by J Laity, covered in the Western Morning News on 4 Mar 2003. Additionally, the sale of one of his works was detailed in D Lays catalogue on October 14, 2003. Finally, A few articles were published by him including in the Cornish Review, Spring 1950, and the New Cornwall Volume 2, No. 5, in July and Sep 1963.
A line attributed to Cargeeg helps explain the few works he produced: "I deliberately limit my output to a small range of styles and sizes in order that I can master my art." Additionally, some of the complicated items took a year or more to make.
The last few years of his life were non-productive due to the onset of age related degeneration. He died on the 25 March 1981 and is buried in St Erth
St Erth
St Erth is a civil parish and village in Cornwall, United Kingdom.The village is situated four miles southeast of St Ives and six miles northeast of Penzance....
, Cornwall.