Louis Osman: The Jenkins Family Collection

Foreword

In 1968 Louis and his wife Dilys moved to Canons Ashby, in Northamptonshire, where they lived and worked for nearly 10 years, and it was during this time that they made the acquaintance of Mr and Mrs Maurice Jenkins. Over the next two decades Dorothy and Maurice would become firm friends of the Osmans, and they jointly commissioned Louis to produce several stunning suites of jewellery for Mrs Jenkins and further jewellery and silver for their children Victoria, Claire and Toby, to celebrate milestone birthdays and other special occasions.

Louis referred to the Jenkins family as his “special thirteen piece clients” and in return, the Jenkins’ understood the important place Louis held in the pantheon of 20th century British silversmiths and jewellers, taking in their stride the long delays that were often part-and-parcel of an Osman commission. Over the years the Jenkins’ very generously loaned many of their pieces to exhibitions of Louis’ work, both in the UK and abroad.

Early on in their relationship, Louis expressed his regard for Mr & Mrs Jenkins when dedicating a copy of a catalogue from one of the exhibitions to which the Jenkins had loaned pieces: “What matters are good patrons and this is what Dorothy and Maurice Jenkins have been With affection Louis Osman November 1977”.

The family also retained much of their correspondence with Louis relating to the individual commissions. Graham Hughes noted that Louis “always undertook meticulous research to ensure his commissions were appropriate for the individuals or institutions commissioning them” and this is amply demonstrated in the highly differing and individual styles of each piece in this collection, and is reflected within the related correspondence, providing a fascinating insight into Louis’ character and work practices.

In 2018 Noonans (formerly Dix Noonan Webb) were privileged to offer for sale The Personal Archive of Louis Osman, on behalf of his daughter Marie-Louise. Noonans are delighted to now present for sale The Jenkins Family Collection, a highly personal and significant collection of jewellery and silver, by one of the 20th century’s most outstanding goldsmiths and designers.