Basic Biographical Details Name: | James Cromar Watt | Designation: | | Born: | 4 July 1862 | Died: | 19 November 1940 | Bio Notes: | James Cromar Watt was born in Aberdeen on 14 July 1862, the only son of Alexander, an advocate's clerk and his wife Ann Hardy, a schoolteacher and the daughter of a watch and clockmaker. He was educated at Aberdeen Grammar School from 1875 until he was articled in October 1879 to city architect William Smith and his son John, who were then in partnership as W & J Smith, in whose office he embarked on a programme of measured drawings and rubbings at Dunblane Cathedral and King's College Chapel. These brought an award which enabled him to make a study tour of Belgium and Germany in May-June 1886. He remained with William Smith until April 1887 when he moved to London as assistant to Professor George Aitchison. In March 1888 he left to spend four months in northern Italy, returning in July to enter the RA Schools and assist in the office of Roumieu & Aitchison, the practice of George Aitchison's younger brother, Alfred. He won the Tite Prize in January 1890, enabling him to set off on another extended study tour that April, this time spending fourteen months in Italy and Sicily. On his return he rejoined the firm of W & J Smith in Aberdeen as assistant. He passed the qualifying exam in March 1892 and was admitted ARIBA on 13 June of that year, his proposers being his studio master Richard Phene Spiers, Aitchison and John Macvicar Anderson.
In 1893 Watt embarked on a study tour of Athens and other Greek cities, his studies being published as 'Examples of Greek and Pompeian Decorative Work' in 1897. In the course of his travels he appears to have begun dealing in works of art and taking a particular interest in ancient precious metalwork, which probably had its origin in his early experience in his grandfather's workshop. By 1896 he had resigned his associateship to concentrate exclusively on work in precious metals, developing particular skills in the ancient techniques of gold granulation and translucent foiled enamelling. His work was exhibited at Turin in 1902 and was extensively illustrated in the 'Art Journal' from that year. Some of his pieces were strongly influenced by the metalwork of Phoebe Traquair and some of it was designed in association with the painter and stained glass artist, Douglas Strachan.
Watt was engaged on secret government work during the First World War, the nature of which was never disclosed. He did not return to jewellery-making after the War apparently because of failing eyesight, devoting most of his energies to the completion of the tomb of Bishop Elphinstone by Harry Wilson, a friend since at least 1905, the University conferring on him the degree of LLD in 1931.
Watt never married, living alone in a house in Dee Street, Aberdeen. Although never a rich man, he was throughout his adult life an important collector of ancient ceramics and precious metal artefacts, particularly from China and the Far East. He died as a result of a street accident on 19 November 1940, his collections being divided between Aberdeen Art Gallery and the Royal Scottish Museum. | Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | | 21, Victoria Street, Aberdeen, Scotland | Private | 1892 * | | | | 9, Cowley Street, Dean's Yard, Westminster, London, England | Private | 1892 * | | |
* earliest date known from documented sources.
Employment and TrainingEmployersThe following individuals or organisations employed or trained this (click on an item to view details): | | Name | Date from | Date to | Position | Notes | | W & J Smith | October 1879 | c. 1885 | Apprentice | | | W & J Smith | c. 1885 | April 1887 | Assistant | | | George Aitchison | April 1887 | March 1888 | Assistant | | | Roumieu & Aitchison | July 1888 | April 1890 | Assistant | | | W & J Smith | June 1891(?) | 1893(?) | Assistant | |
RIBARIBA Proposers
Buildings and DesignsThis was involved with the following buildings or structures from the date specified (click on an item to view details): | | Date started | Building name | Town, district or village | Island | City or county | Country | Notes | | After 1918 | King's College Chapel, Elphinstone tomb | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | |
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this : | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | | Rew, Christine | 2000 | James Cromar Watt, Aberdeen Architect and Designer | v5 | Journal of the Scottish Society for Art History, pp29-36 | | | Scottish Biographies | 1938 | | | E J Thurston (pub.) | |
Periodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this : | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | | Aberdeen University Review | 1940 | | | | | Aberdeen University Review | 1992 | | | | | Builder | 6 December 1940 | | | Obituary - p556 |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this : | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes | | RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert Museum | RIBA Nomination Papers | | A v11 p143 (microfiche 51/B6) |
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