Jack, George Washington Henry 1855 - 1931

George Washington Henry Jack [commonly known as George Jack] was born the son of British parents in Long Island, New York, on 8 August 1855. Following the death of his father, who was an engraver, his mother moved with her remaining family to Glasgow, Scotland.  Jack was articled to the Glasgow architect Horatio Kelson Bromhead (1839-1934) in the early 1870s.  In c.1875 he moved to London, and from 1880-1900 worked as an assistant to Philip Webb (1831-1915). On Webb's retirement in 1900, Jack took over his practice. Between 1902-07 he was in partnership with the artist-engraver Thomas Hamilton Crawford.  Through his association with Webb, Jack met William Morris and began designing furniture for Morris & Co. In 1890 he was appointed the company's chief furniture designer and subsequently designed numerous pieces for the firm. During this period he also started developing his skills as an applied artist, particularly in the fields of woodcarving, stained glass and mosaics.  

Examples of Jack's work as a woodcarver can be found at All Saints' Church in Brockhampton, Hertfordshire, St. Margaret's Church in Barking, Essex. and Westminster Abbey in London. A panel carved by Jack is illustrated in 'The Studio Yearbook of Decorative Art' 1909 (p.104). Jack was the author of 'Wood Carving: Design and Workmanship' (London: John Hogg, 1903) and, from 1900, taught carving at the Royal College of Art in London. He also taught at Central School of Arts and Crafts and at Regent's Street Polytechnic in London. Jack's work as a stained glass designer included windows for the church of St. James and St. Basil, a suburb of Newcastle-upon-Tyne (designed by architect Edward Lofting and built 1928-32) and for St. Margaret's in Barking (c.1929-31). He designed mosaics for St. Margaret's in Barking and for Westminster Abbey in London and for the Anglican Cathedral in Seoul, Korea. From about 1890 Jack designed decorative plasterwork in conjunction with Laurence Turner. A plaster panel designed by Jack in 1893 and made in Turner's workshop in London is illustrated in 'Simplicity or Splendour. Arts and Crafts Living: Objects from the Cheltenham Collection' (Cheltenham, England: Cheltenham Art Gallery and Museum/Lund Humphies Publishers, 1999 p.89). An article on modern British plasterwork written by Jack appeared in 'Architectural Review' vol.23, 1908 (pp.277-278).  

Jack is also known to have designed embroidery and cast iron fireplaces.  In addition to completing projects by Philip Webb, Jack's work as an architect included Four Winds in Ewhurst, Surrey; Shortenils Gorse in Chalfont St. Giles, Buckinghamshire; cottages and a village hall at East Rounton, Yorkshire; a house in Compton, Winchester; and additions to Great Tangley Manor near Guildford in Surrey.  

Jack was a founder member of the Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society in 1889 and joined the Art Workers Guild in 1906.  He exhibited at the Royal Academy in London between 1902-10. His address during these years was given as 24 Station Road, Church End, Finchley, London. Jack died in Finchley, London on 15 December 1931 [or 16 December 1932 - sources differ].