- Also known as
-
Christopher Towes
-
primary name: Towes, Christopher
- Details
- individual; publisher/printer; printmaker; British; Male
- Life dates
- c.1750-
- Other dates
- 1763-1801 (fl. c.)
- Address
- 6 St Anne's Lane, Foster Lane (1784-1785)
119 Cheapside, London (1790-1798)
Bridgewater Square, Barbican (c.1801)
- Biography
- Publisher, produced plates for 'The cabinet maker's London book of prices (1788). Two trade cards in Heal Collection. Heal,59.170 advertises "Christopher Towes Engraver, No.6, St. Ann's Lane, Aldersgate Street, London." Heal's annotations on mount: "Compare another trade-card of Christopher Towes (L/G), engraver to His Majesty's General Post Office, No.119 Cheapside. And another card (L/G) where he is described as Engraver & Jeweller, 199 Cheapside dated 1795. Fincham's 'Artists & Engravers of Bookplates' gives him at Cheapside in 1793. Imprints of this engraver are found as trade-cards circa 1780-1790." Heal,67.404 advertises "Christopher Towes, Engraver & Jeweller, No.119, Cheapside, London. Arms, Crests & Cyphers, on Stone, Steel & Silver. Steel Dies & Punches. A large choice of Gold Seals, Fancy work & Motto Rings; with immediate dispatch. Strong Likenesses in miniature & elegantly mounted in Gold. English & Foreign Bills of Exchange, Bills of Parcels, Cards, Book Plates &c. Engraved; And Copper & Letter Press Printing in general." Heal's annotations on mount: "See bill on back dated 1795. Compare another very similar card of Christopher Towes in A.H. collection at same address but with a description of 'Engraver' only. This is filed under 'Engravers'. Imprints of this engraver are found on trade-cards dated 1780-1790. Fincham's 'Dictionary' gives him at 119 Cheapside in 1793." Bankrupted 1797. Trade cards in Banks Collection. Banks,59.212 advertises "Towes, Herald Engraver. No.6, St. Ann's Lane, near Goldsmiths' Hall, Aldersgate. Bright Engraving with elegance." Banks,59.211 advertises "Towes. Seal Engraver. Strong likenesses in Miniature elegantly mounted. Mourning & Fancy Rings. 119, Cheapside."
Nigel Tattersfield (email June 2021): Christopher Towes was an accomplished engraver in many fields, including seals, bookplates, trade cards, and bright engraving on precious metals. The website londonroll.org indicates Towes was apprenticed in 1763 to Charles Sherborn, a well-known engraver, suggesting he was born c.1750. Towes was bankrupted in November 1793, but appears to have continued in business, declaring dividends in April 1795 and July 1797; William Smith, List of Bankrupts (1806). He ran into further financial difficulties in 1801 when he was listed as being in the Compter in Giltspur Street, but not actually in custody. At that time he was described as ‘late of Cheapside, since of Bridgewater Square, Barbican'; London Gazette, 15382, 4 July 1801.
- Bibliography
- Thieme Becker
David Alexander, via email
