Metford, Samuel

Introduction:

Somerset-born Quaker SAMUEL METFORD (1810-1896) produced cut-work profiles from ca.1837 to the mid-1850s. The quality of his output was markedly variable. For 10 years from 1834, he resided in the United States, and though profile-taking may not have been a principal source of income, a sizable body of work is recorded, taken in towns and cities along the country's Eastern seaboard. Producing silhouettes in Britain from 1845, he is last recorded a profile artist in Irish newsprint in 1855.

There is no evidence Metford worked as a commercial profilist before or immediately after arriving in New York as a 23-year-old 'Gent' from Bristol in July 1834. His obituary in the 1897 edition of 'THE ANNUAL MONITOR', a list of British Quaker deaths, recorded that in America, he first worked on the farm of a 'Friend (Quaker)', aided a cousin clearing land in Canada, and spent 2 years in New York working for a wholesale china importer.

While McKechnie's BRITISH SILHOUETTE ARTISTS and their WORKS 1760-1860 makes no mention of it, some commentators state Metford as being tutored by gifted freehand cutter Augustin Edouart (1789-1861), who himself undertook a successful tour of the United States 1839-1849. However, no primary records were cited or found confirming the supposition.

Though offered in extremely rare newspaper advertisements, no signed bust-sized profiles have surfaced and no printed trade labels have come to light. Metford today is known solely for full-length and conversation pieces. Using plain black paper, the quality of his gold and Chinese white detailing is curiously uneven, though profiles embellished with yellow ochre evidence a hand more consistently skilful.

Occasionally, lithographed backgrounds enhanced the cut figures, as did loosely sketched interiors, simple wash backgrounds, or merely an indication of a shadow at sitters' feet. Works were typically signed 'S. Metford fecit' or 'Sam'l Metford fecit', sometimes supplemented with a date, and more rarely the place name of where the silhouette was cut.

Only two newspaper advertisements have been discovered, one in the United States in 1843, one in Ireland in 1855. "Artists in the life of Charleston" by A.W. Routledge notes Metford appeared in Charleston, South Carolina from New York in January 1843. The COURIER 19th January 1843 recorded his terms as "Full-Length Sitting $1.75, ditto Standing $1.25, Children 87 cents, Busts 50 cents...". Duplicates were offered half-price.

On 19th September 1844, Metford listed a 'Gentleman' became a naturalised American citizen. Shortly thereafter, for reasons unknown, he returned to Britain and his ANNUAL MONITOR (1897) obituary stated he then travelled as a profilist "...mainly among Friends...[Quakers]...until photography superseded his art".

Profiles dated and signed with place names record Metford initially cutting silhouettes in his home county Somerset in 1845, then moving on to Gloucestershire and Lancashire. By decade's end he was in Cornwall. A correspondent in the ROYAL CORNWALL GAZETTE 11th October 1850 located Metford in Fairmantle Street, Truro, assessing his full-length and family groups "...very superior, spirited...and particularly well-finished". The 1851 Census records Metford an 'Artist, Profilist" lodging in Madron, Cornwall.

Depending in the main on Quaker clients may account for his sole advertisement outside of the United States as the 'Society of Friends' network was arguably sufficient to bring in an income of sorts on both sides of the Atlantic. Appearing in Clonmel, Ireland, in the TIPPERARY FREE PRESS 6th January 1855, Metford's terms for "PROFILE LIKENESSES à la silhouette...[were]...Full-Length 3s 6d, Children 3s, Busts 2s. Family Groups by appointment". That he lacked a studio was evident when he explained that he '...only takes likenesses at persons' residences" which, for a commercial silhouettist, was an unusual,  probably unique stipulation.

Soon after his Irish sojourn, Metford abandoned profile-taking, returning to Somerset to care for his widowed father, whose rapidly deteriorating sight would render him totally blind before he died aged 86 in 1863.

Regarding his personal circumstances, Metford was the 5th of 10 offspring, 8 sons and 2 daughters, born between 1802-1820 to Quakers Elizabeth née Rawes (1780-1853) and Joseph Metford (1776-1863). A Hosier by trade until mechanisation rendered the business profitless, by 1817 Joseph Metford relocated his family to New Bond Street, Bath and set up as a Wine and Spirit Merchant until his bankruptcy aged 70, in 1846.

Though all reached adulthood none of Samuel Metford's brothers thrived. In 1832, aged 29, Metford's oldest brother William died at New Bond Street. Between 1835-1843, four of his brothers, 2 of them bankrupts, followed Samuel Metford to New York. All 4 were dead by 1848. Two, 28-year-old Thomas Bevan and 24-year-old Seymer, were drowned 4th July 1844. Bathing off of Staten Island, New York, according to the OXFORD JOURNAL 10th August 1844, both were carried away by the undercurrent. Metford's elder brother Joseph Jnr.(1805-1874), a Southampton manufacturing ironmonger, was declared bankrupt in 1846. However, Metford's 2 sisters married and both reached old age.

Surviving all his siblings, Samuel Metford himself never married. Between 1865-1867, he again visited America this time to work on his widowed sister-in-law's New York fruit farm. Returning to England, the ANNUAL MONITOR (1897) stated that with his ever present natural aimiability he "...moved among Friends chiefly in Somerset, preferring lodging where he could be of use to the householder". Aged 85, Metford died at Hibernia House, Weston-Super-Mare, 31st May 1896. His place of interment is unknown.

Revised 6 April 2025 (Brian Wellings)

Gallery Silhouettes