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Basic Biographic Details

James Cromar Watt
Architect
Exact Date
Exact Date
19/11/1940
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.

Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this person:

Private Addresses

Private Addresses2 classic

AddressClassDate From CharDate From TypeDate To CharDate To TypeNotes
21 Victoria Street Aberdeen ScotlandPrivate
9 Cowley Street, Dean's Yard Westminster London EnglandPrivate

Employment and Training

The following individuals or organisations employed or trained this person (click on an item to view details):

Employers2 classic

NameName LinkDate FromDate ToPositionNotes
W & J Smith2023011879/10c. 1885Apprentice
George Aitchison1001731887/041888/03Assistant
Roumieu & Aitchison2039431888/071890/04Assistant
W & J Smith2023011891/06In year 1893Assistant
W & J Smith202301c. 18851887/04Assistant

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this person for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):

RIBA PROPOSERS2 classic

ProposerProposer LinkDate ProposedNotes
George Aitchison1001731892/06/13for Associateship
John Macvicar Anderson2000351892/06/13for Associateship
Richard Phené Spiers2036021892/06/13for Associateship

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 NameDate StartedTown, District or VillageIslandCity or CountyCountryNotes
King's College Chapel, Elphinstone tombAfter 1918AberdeenScotland

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this person:

Bib ref classic

AuthorTitleDatePublisherPartNotes
Scottish Biographies1938E J Thurston (pub.)
Rew, ChristineJames Cromar Watt, Aberdeen Architect and Designer2000Journal of the Scottish Society for Art History, pp29-36v5

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this person:

Period ref classic

Periodical NamePublisherDate CircEditionNotes
Builder1940/12/06*Obituary - p556
Aberdeen University Review1940*
Aberdeen University Review1992*

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this person:

Arc ref classic

Archive NameSourceSource Cat NoBuilding IdItem NameNotes
RIBA Nomination PapersRIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert Museum100005A v11 p143 (microfiche 51/B6)