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Dictionary of Scottish Architects (1660 - 1980)
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Basic Biographic Details
Name:
Arthur Joseph Davis
Designation :
Architect
Date of Birth:
Exact Date
Exact DOB:
21/05/1878
Year of Birth :
Circa Year of Birth :
Date of Birth Before (Year):
Date of Birth After (Year):
DOB (1st 'Or' Year):
DOB (2nd 'Or' Year):
Date of Death:
Year Only
Exact DOD:
24/04/1926
Year of Death:
1951
Circa Year of Death:
Date of Death Before (Year):
Date of Death After (Year):
DOD (1st 'Or' Year):
DOD (2nd 'Or' Year):
Town of Birth :
Bio Notes :
Arthur Joseph Davis was born in Bayswater, London on 21 May 1878, but his parents moved to Brussels for business reasons circa 1890. The family was Jewish, but not practising. In 1894 he entered the atelier of Godefroy in Paris and came fourth in the Ecole des Beaux-Arts entrance examinations, and subsequently transferred to the atelier of Jean-Louis Pascal. In 1898, while still a student, Davis was invited to assist Charles Mewes (1860-1914) with his competition designs for Grand Palais and the Petit Palais (they came fourth). When Davis completed the course, Mewes made him his junior partner to handle the English side of his practice, the firm making its name in England with the Palm Court of the Carlton Hotel (1901) and the Ritz, Piccadilly (1903-06).
Mewes died in 1914. The Paris-London partnership came to an end, and Davis was admitted FRIBA in preparation for independent British practice. On the outbreak of the First World War, Davis was commissioned in the British Army and served behind the lines in France but was invalidated out in 1915, suffering from shell shock and a nervous breakdown. The practice reopened in London after the war, retaining the title of Mewes and Davies.
Davis married in 1923 but the marriage was not a happy one and a separation and the death of Paul Richter whose wife Eva had nursed him back to health during the First World war brought about a second breakdown in 1935, at which point his ju8nior partner, Charles Henry Gage (d.1958), largely took over. Davies was elected ARA in 1933 and RA in 1942, although by that date he had almost certainly retired and was living in Wimbledon, spending much of his time in a wheelchair. He died in 1951; his wife Rhona had pre-deceased him in 1940.
Bio Notes continued...
Additional Notes
Addresses
The following private or business addresses are associated with this person:
Private Addresses
Private Addresses2 classic
Address
Class
Date From Char
Date From Type
Date To Char
Date To Type
Notes
Wimbledon London England
Private
row(s) 1 - 1 of 1
Business Addresses
Business Addresses2 classic
Address
Class
Date From
Date From Type
Date To
Date To Type
Notes
London England
Business
row(s) 1 - 1 of 1
Employment and Training
The following individuals or organisations employed or trained this person (click on an item to view details):
Employers2 classic
Name
Name Link
Date From
Date To
Position
Notes
Mewes & Davis
200992
c. 1900
Partner
row(s) 1 - 1 of 1
RIBA Proposals
This person proposed the following individuals for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
RIBA PROPOSALS2 classic
Person
Date Proposed
Notes
Burnett Napier Henderson Orphoot
1927/03/28
for Fellowship
row(s) 1 - 1 of 1
Buildings and Designs
This person was involved with the following buildings or structures from the date specified (click on an item to view details):
Buildings and Designs2 classic
Building Name
Date Started
Town, District or Village
Island
City or County
Country
Notes
Luton Hoo
In year 1903
Bedfordshire
England
Interior remodelling
Automobile Club
In year 1908
St James's
London
England
Cavalry Club
In year 1908
Piccadilly
London
England
House, no 20 St James Square
In year 1936
London
England
Extended house to incorporate no 21 which was given an identical facade.
National Bank of Scotland Head Office
1936 or 1937
Edinburgh
Scotland
Engaged as consultant and facades redesigned
row(s) 1 - 5 of 5
References
Archive References
The following archives hold material relating to this person:
Arc ref classic
Archive Name
Source
Source Cat No
Building Id
Item Name
Notes
RIBA Nomination Papers
RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert Museum
100005
F v22 no1534 (mostly missing)
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