Charles Henry Truman, FSA (5 April 1949 – 10 February 2017), was an art historian and a leading authority on gold boxes.

Biography

Early years

Born at

Stratton Audley Stratton Audley is a village and Civil parishes in England, civil parish about northeast of Bicester in Oxfordshire, England. Manor The Domesday Book of 1086 records that Robert D'Oyly held five Hide (unit), hides of land at Stratton. Like man ...

in Oxfordshire, "Charlie", as he was widely known in the art world, was the son of Edward Kenneth Truman and Dorothy Mary Truman (''née'' Harris). His father was a solicitor as was his father before him. He attended

Marlborough College Marlborough College is a Public school (United Kingdom), public school (English Independent school (United Kingdom), independent boarding school) for pupils aged 13 to 18 in Marlborough, Wiltshire, England. Founded in 1843 for the sons of Church ...

and then after a summer course at

Indiana University Indiana University (IU) is a system of public universities in the U.S. state of Indiana. Campuses Indiana University has two core campuses, five regional campuses, and two regional centers under the administration of IUPUI. *Indiana Universit ...

embarked upon a degree in law at the

University of Kent , motto_lang = , mottoeng = Literal translation: 'Whom to serve is to reign'(Book of Common Prayer translation: 'whose service is perfect freedom')Graham Martin, ''From Vision to Reality: the Making of the University of Kent at Canterbury'' ...

Career

Although expected to follow in his father's footsteps, Truman chose to forge a very different career in the art world. He soon abandoned his studies at Kent and thanks to an inheritance from his maternal grandfather, was able to enrol for an internship in the Department of Furniture and Woodwork at the

Victoria and Albert Museum The Victoria and Albert Museum (often abbreviated as the V&A) in London is the world's largest museum of applied arts, decorative arts and design, housing a permanent collection of over 2.27 million objects. It was founded in 1852 and nam ...

in 1969. In 1971, he transferred to the Department of Metalwork. He was subsequently appointed Assistant Keeper in the Department of Ceramics in 1977. In 1984, he was headhunted by

Christie's Christie's is a British auction house founded in 1766 by James Christie (auctioneer), James Christie. Its main premises are on King Street, St James's in London, at Rockefeller Center in New York City and at Alexandra House in Hong Kong. It is ...

to run the firm's London Silver Department, together with the Russian Department and the Department of Objects of Vertu. He was appointed a director of Christie's, and of Christie's Education the following year. Amongst the great pieces which passed through his hands was the Portland Gold Font, 1797–8, from the workshop of

Paul Storr Paul Storr (baptised 28 October 1770 in London – 18 March 1844 in London) was an English goldsmith and silversmith working in the Neoclassical and other styles during the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. His works range from ...

, now in the British Museum. In 1991 he moved to run the Antiques Department at

Asprey Asprey International Limited, formerly Asprey & Garrard Limited, is a United Kingdom-based designer, manufacturer and retailer of jewellery, silverware, home goods, leather goods, timepieces and a retailer of books. Asprey's flagship re ...

before establishing himself as an independent dealer. One very pivotal moment in his career while at Asprey's was his negotiating the sale of the silver frames of three crowns once worn by British sovereigns. They are now on display at the Tower of London. With the antique dealer Lucy Burniston he set up the firm of C. & L. Burman (Works of Art) Ltd in 2000 as an antique dealership and art consultancy. Until its dissolution in 2010, the firm exhibited at the Grosvenor House, Olympia and BADA fairs in London, and at antiques fairs in New York and Palm Beach. At the time of his death Truman was working as an independent dealer and consultant for works of art, particularly in silver and gold, advising private collectors, museums and heritage groups. His special areas of expertise were gold boxes, Renaissance jewellery, French porcelain and also glass, Truman was formerly chairman of the

British Antique Dealers' Association The British Antique Dealers' Association (BADA) was founded in London, 1918. It is Britain's leading trade association for art and antique dealers and its members are carefully vetted and selected for their experience and professional integrity, ...

, a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, a Liveryman of the Goldsmiths’ Company, a former member of the Antique Plate Committee of the Goldsmiths' Company, a past chairman of the Silver Society, and a member of the French Porcelain Society, the Glass Circle, the Furniture History Society and the Society of Jewellery Historians.

Private life

He married Laura Green in 1984.

Honours

Charles Truman was appointed a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries and a Liveryman of the

Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths The Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths, commonly known as the Goldsmiths' Company and formally titled The Wardens and Commonalty of the Mystery of Goldsmiths of the City of London, is one of the Great Twelve Livery Companies of the City of Londo ...

Writings

His contribution to the literature of decorative art history was substantial. He published on precious metalwork from early on in his career, acknowledging his debt of gratitude to the pioneering works of Kenneth Snowman on Fabergé and on gold boxes. By the age of twenty-six Truman himself was already becoming an authority on gold boxes, contributing significantly to the book ''The James A. de Rothschild Collection: Gold Boxes and Miniatures'' (1975). His article " Reinhold Vasters, The Last of the Goldsmiths", published in ''

Connoisseur A connoisseur ( French traditional, pre-1835, spelling of , from Middle-French , then meaning 'to be acquainted with' or 'to know somebody/something') is a person who has a great deal of knowledge about the fine arts; who is a keen appreciator ...

'' in March 1979, dealing with fake Renaissance jewellery and works of art by the Aachen maker, reflected an important area of concern in his work as scholar and later as dealer."It was Truman's 1978 revelations about Reinhold Vasters goldsmith from 1853-1890 that shattered the quiet world of antique jewelry 'sic''" wrote Diana Scarisbrick in ''The Times'', 10 November 1984. With Anna Somers Cocks, he co-authored ''The Thyssen-Bornemisza Collection: Renaissance Jewellery, Gold Boxes and Objets de Vertu'' (London, 1984). The first volume of his book ''The

Gilbert Collection The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Collection is a collection of ''objets d'art'' formed by the English-born businessman Sir Arthur Gilbert, who made most of his fortune in the property business in California. After initially becoming interested i ...

of Gold Boxes'', was published in 1991 by the

Los Angeles County Museum of Art The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) is an art museum located on Wilshire Boulevard in the Miracle Mile, Los Angeles, California, Miracle Mile vicinity of Los Angeles. LACMA is on Museum Row, adjacent to the La Brea Tar Pits (George C. Pa ...

(LACMA). His edition of ''The Sotheby's Concise Encyclopaedia of Silver'' came out soon after in 1993. The second volume of ''The

of Gold Boxes'' was published in London in 1999, the year before the Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Collection as a whole went on display at

Somerset House Somerset House is a large Neoclassical complex situated on the south side of the Strand in central London, overlooking the River Thames, just east of Waterloo Bridge. The Georgian era quadrangle was built on the site of a Tudor palace ("O ...

in London. His catalogue of the Renaissance jewellery in the

Robert Lehman Robert Owen Lehman, Sr. (September 29, 1891 – August 9, 1969) was an American banker, longtime head of the Lehman Brothers investment bank, and a racehorse owner, art collector, and philanthropist. Life and career Lehman was born to a Jewish ...

Collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, was published in 2012, and his catalogue raisonné of the gold boxes at the

Wallace Collection The Wallace Collection is a museum in London occupying Hertford House in Manchester Square, the former townhouse of the Seymour family, Marquesses of Hertford. It is named after Sir Richard Wallace, who built the extensive collection, along w ...

, London, in 2013.

Bibliography

Works of art history

Books by Charles Truman, or works to which he contributed:
1972-3 * ''

Encyclopædia Britannica The (Latin for "British Encyclopædia") is a general knowledge English-language encyclopaedia. It is published by Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.; the company has existed since the 18th century, although it has changed ownership various time ...

'': several micro entries 1975 * With Serge Grandjean, Kirsten Aschengreen Piacenti and Anthony Blunt, ''The James A. de Rothschild Collection at Waddesdon Manor: Gold Boxes and Miniatures of the Eighteenth Century''. Fribourg: Office du Livre (for the National Trust), 1975 1977 * ''French Gold Boxes''. London: Victoria and Albert Museum, Small Colour Book 16, 1977 1981 * ''Princely Magnificence: Court Jewels of the Renaissance, 1500–1630'', exh. cat. Victoria and Albert Museum: 14 entries. London:

Debrett's Peerage Debrett's () is a British professional coaching company, publisher and authority on etiquette and behaviour, founded in 1769 with the publication of the first edition of ''The New Peerage''. The company takes its name from its founder, John Deb ...

, 1981 (main) 1982 * "Vivant Denon and the Sèvres Egyptian Service" in ''The Sèvres Egyptian Service 1810–12''. Catalogue compiled by Charles Truman. Book published to accompany an exhibition held at the Wellington Museum,

Apsley House Apsley House is the London townhouse of the Dukes of Wellington. It stands alone at Hyde Park Corner, on the south-east corner of Hyde Park, facing south towards the busy traffic roundabout in the centre of which stands the Wellington Arch. It i ...

, of the Sèvres Egyptian Service, commissioned by Napoleon and in 1818 donated (after Napoleon's downfall) by the King of France to the Duke of Wellington. London: H.M.S.O. ( V & A Album, No. 1), 1982 1984 * Snodin, Michael (ed.) ''Rococo: Art and Design in Hogarth’s England'', exh. cat., 18 entries. London: Trefoil, 1984 * With Anna Somers Cocks (gen. ed. Simon de Pury), ''The Thyssen-Bornemisza Collection: Renaissance Jewels, Gold Boxes and Objets de Vertu''. London: Sotheby Publications, 1984 * ''An Introduction to English Glassware to 1900''. London: H.M.S.O. (V & A Introductions to the Decorative Arts), 1984 1989 * With preface by

Philippa Glanville Philippa Jane Glanville, OBE, FSA (born 16 August 1943), formerly chief curator of the metal, silver and jewellery department of the Victoria and Albert Museum, is an English art historian who is an authority on silver and the history of dining. ...

, ''The Glory of the Goldsmith: Magnificent Gold and Silver from the Al-Tajir Collection''. London: Christie, Manson & Woods, 1989 1991 * ''The Gilbert Collection of Gold Boxes''. Los Angeles: Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 1991 * "Silver" in Battie, David (ed.) ''The Encyclopaedia of Antiques: An Illustrated Guide to the World of Collecting''. Leicestershire: Acropolis Books, 1991 1992 * "The Company’s Plate" in Archer, Ian W., ''A History of the Haberdashers' Company''. Chichester: Phillimore & Co Ltd, 1992 * ''Meissen through Three Centuries'' exh. cat., London: Asprey, 1992 1993 * Ed. ''Sotheby's Concise Encyclopaedia of Silver''. London: Conran Octopus Books, 1993 ; paperback, 1996 ) 1999 * With Melissa Larner, ''The Gilbert Collection of Gold Boxes'' (vol. 2). London: Philip Wilson Publishing, 1999 2005 * "Rundell's and Their Gold Box Suppliers" in Hartop, Christopher (ed.), ''Royal Goldsmiths, The Art of

Rundell and Bridge Rundell & Bridge were a London firm of jewellers and goldsmiths formed by Philip Rundell (1746–1827) and John Bridge (baptized 1755–1834). History When Edmond Walter Rundell, nephew of Philip Rundell, was admitted as a partner in 1804, th ...

, 1797-1843''. Cambridge: John Adamson, 2005 2009 *"Some German Gold Boxes in the Wallace Collection" in ''Annual Handbook''. London: British Antique Dealers' Association, 2009/10 2012 * "Jewelry and Precious Objects" in ''Decorative Arts in the

Collection'' (vol. XV), New York: Metropolitan Museum, 2012 (main); Princeton University Press, 2012 , pp. 95–152 2013 * With contributions from Seoyoung Kim and Rebecca Wallis, ''The Wallace Collection Catalogue of Gold Boxes''. London:

, 2013

Essays and reviews

* "Three Centuries of Continental Silver" ''

Apollo Apollo, grc, Ἀπόλλωνος, Apóllōnos, label=genitive , ; , grc-dor, Ἀπέλλων, Apéllōn, ; grc, Ἀπείλων, Apeílōn, label=Arcadocypriot Greek, ; grc-aeo, Ἄπλουν, Áploun, la, Apollō, la, Apollinis, label= ...

'', no. 187, June 1977, pp. 428–32 * "The Master of the Easter Egg -

Carl Fabergé Carl may refer to: *Carl, Georgia, city in USA *Carl, West Virginia, an unincorporated community *Carl (name), includes info about the name, variations of the name, and a list of people with the name *Carl², a TV series * "Carl", an episode of tel ...

" ''Apollo'', July 1977 * " Reinhold Vasters — 'the last of the goldsmiths'?" ''

'', vol. 200, no. 805, March 1979, pp. 154-61 * "Emperor, King and Duke - The Sèvres Egyptian Service acquired for the Nation" ''Connoisseur'', vol. 202, no. 813, November 1979, pp. 148–55 * "A St. Cloud Nécessaire de voyage circa 1750" ''Connoisseur'', vol. 203, no. 818, April 1980: pp. 253–5 * "Some elegant gold boxes" '' Antique Collector'', November 1983 * "Elias Russel’s Gold Snuff Box" ''Goldsmiths' Company Review'', 1984 * "Les Boîtes à Prix d’Or" ''

Connaissance des Arts ''Connaissance des arts'' is a monthly French art magazine devoted to the arts and their current events, published since March 1952 by the French Society for the Promotion of Art. Its headquarters are on the rue du Quatre-Septembre in Paris. In 20 ...

'', February 1985 * "Ships on Board" '' Country Life'', 21 December 1989 * "The Glory of the Goldsmith" ''Christie's Review of the Season'', 1990 * "Hilmar Recksten Collection" ''Antique Collector'', January 1991 * "Royal Goldsmiths: The Garrard Heritage" ''Antique Collector'', May 1991 * "New Glass for Old" ''Country Life'', 28 April 1994 * "Silver Predictions: a survey of the silver market" '' Antique International'', June 1994 * "Silver Service; a survey of 18th and 19th century silver for the table" ''Antique International'', March 1995 * "A Saint Cloud price list in the Victoria and Albert Museum" ''Journal of the French Porcelain Society'', (2004) * Review of Deborah Dependahl Waters, ''A Handsome Cupboard of Plate'' ( John Adamson, 2012), ''Silver Studies'', 2013

Notes and references

External links

Obituary in the ''Daily Telegraph''
Saturday, 29 April 2017
Obituary in the ''Guardian''
Saturday, 10 June 2017
Portland Font
at the British Museum {{DEFAULTSORT:Truman, Charles 1949 births 2017 deaths People educated at Marlborough College People from Oxfordshire English art historians English curators People associated with the Victoria and Albert Museum Fellows of the Society of Antiquaries of London