Chickfield, Mrs

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Introduction:

Though Mrs. Chickfield is described in Jackson's DICTIONARY OF SILHOUETTE (1938) as a silhouette cutter working in Norwich's Market Place ca. 1833, both attribution and date are in error, as research ascertained the name should read MR CRITCHFIELD.

SAMUEL CRITCHFIELD (1794-1852) was a Norwich-born Cutler and Toyman. Two cutworks bearing his name and his Market Place address have been recorded. However, from several 1823 newspaper advertisements, it appears probable that works bearing his name were in fact produced by freehand cutter "Master Hubard".

Baptised William James Hubbard in September 1807, as "Master Hubard" in September 1822, aged 15, he undertook a tour of England, Scotland and Ireland. By late 1824 he had emigrated to the United States. Billed by his manager as the "celebrated little artist" with his "...talismanic scissors...", his output and success touring the British Isles was prodigious.

According to the NORWICH CHRONICLE, Hubard arrived at Critchfield's Market Place address in the second week of January 1823, before moving on at the end of March.

Three NORWICH CHRONICLE advertisements pertinent to Hubard and Critchfield are recorded in McKechnie's entry on William James Hubard. However, an editorial from the same newspaper of 25th January 1823, unrecorded by McKechnie, is worth reproducing. "...Young Hubard seems to draw en masse rank, talent and beauty. MR. CRITCHFIELD'S has become the grand emporium of amusement and is thronged from morning till night...".

Doubtless Critchfield's business profited by the patronage bestowed on Master Hubard and his "talismanic" scissors. However, as no advertisements by Critchfield offering profile likenesses have been traced, it seems unlikely he ever produced silhouettes himself.

Revised 27 October 2022 (Brian Wellings)

 

 

 

Additional research about Mrs Chickfield:

Source: McKechnie (Author of, British Silhouette Artists and their Work 1760-1860)

Chickfield, Mrs (McKechnie Section 1)