Albert Toft

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Albert Toft
Born(1862-06-03)3 June 1862
Handsworth, Staffordshire, England
Died18 December 1949(1949-12-18) (aged 87)
Worthing, Sussex, England
NationalityEnglish
Alma materSouth Kensington Schools
Occupationsculptor

Albert Toft (3 June 1862 – 18 December 1949)[1] was an English sculptor.[2]

Toft's career was dominated by public commemorative commissions in bronze, mostly single statues of military or royal figures. The Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria in 1897, Boer War to 1902, and then World War I to 1918, provided plentiful commissions. The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography describes Toft as one of the major figures of the "New Sculpture" following on from William Hamo Thornycroft and George Frampton. Toft described his work as 'Idealist' but he also said of himself that "to become an idealist you must necessarily first be a realist."

His father was a notable modeller in ceramics, and his brother was the landscape artist Joseph Alfonso Toft.

Biography[]

Toft was born in Handsworth, then in Staffordshire, and now a suburb of Birmingham. His parents were (1832–1909) and Rosanna Reeves. His father was a senior modeller at Mintons, and then the chief modeller at Wedgwood pottery. He had also taught modelling at Birmingham School of Art for some years to 1873.[3]

Pedestal relief below Queen Victoria, Nottingham Memorial Park

Toft trained at Wedgwood, and attended art schools in Hanley, Staffordshire and Newcastle upon Tyne. In 1881 he won a scholarship to study sculpture at the South Kensington Schools under Professor Édouard Lantéri.[4] He received silver medals in his second and third years.

From 1885 onwards Toft exhibited at the Royal Academy and some of his most notable works exhibited at the Royal Academy included Fate-Led (1890, now at Walker Art Gallery), The Sere and Yellow Leaf (1892), Spring (1897, now at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery), The Spirit of Contemplation (1901; Laing Art Gallery, Newcastle) and The Metal Pourer (1915). In 1915 his sculpture The Bather was purchased using the Royal Academy's Chantrey Fund. His 1888 bust of William Ewart Gladstone for the National Liberal Club was modelled from life and acclaimed as one of the best. In 1900 Toft received a bronze medal at the Universal Exhibition in Paris.

He created monuments to Queen Victoria for Leamington Spa, Nottingham, and South Shields, and to Edward VII in Birmingham and Warwick. He designed the coronation medal of George V and Queen Mary (1911) and a statuette of W. S. Penley playing Charley's Aunt for Royal Doulton (1913). He also published a book, Modelling and Sculpture in 1911, which was reprinted in 1949.

He made a series of war memorials, starting with the South African War Memorial in Cardiff (1910), and then many after the First World War, including the Royal Fusiliers War Memorial in London (1922), and four statues for the Birmingham Hall of Memory (1923–24).

In 1891 Toft was elected to the Art Workers Guild and in 1938 he was elected a fellow to the Royal Society of British Sculptors.[5]

He died in Worthing.

Public monuments and memorials[]

Image Title / subject Location and
coordinates 		Date Type Material Dimensions Designation Wikidata Notes
Major Jonathen White Nottingham Castle 1891 Bust on pedestal Bronze and granite Major White (1804–1889) served in the Robin Hood Rifles.[6][7][8]
Statue of Henry Richard, Tregaron, Ceredigion - geograph.org.uk - 1435990.jpg
More images 		Henry Richard Tregaron, Ceredigion 1893 Statue on pedestal Bronze and granite 5.5m high Grade II Q29495968 [8][9]
Philip James Bailey Nottingham Castle 1901 Bust and panel Bronze [6][7][8]
Queen Victoria's Statue - geograph.org.uk - 107476.jpg
More images 		Queen Victoria Town Hall, Royal Leamington Spa 1901 Statue on pedestal Sicilian marble and Aberdeen granite 3 metres high statue on a 4 metres high pedestal Grade II Q26661547 [10]
Jarrow, Sir Charles Mark Palmer statue - geograph.org.uk - 595987.jpg
More images 		Charles Mark Palmer Jarrow, Tyneside 1903 Statue on pedestal with panels Bronze and Portland stone Grade II Q26637979 [11]
Nottingham Memorial Park Victoria 0391s.JPG
More images 		Queen Victoria Memorial Park, Nottingham 1905 Statue on pedestal Marble and granite Grade II Q26560473 [8][12][13][14]
Monument to Suffolk soldiers, Christchurch park - geograph.org.uk - 1223180.jpg
More images 		Boer War memorial Christchurch Park, Ipswich 1906 Statue on pedestal with plaques Bronze and stone Grade II Q26530640 [15][16]
South African War Memorial Statue - Cannon Hill Park - geograph.org.uk - 807866.jpg
More images 		Boer War memorial Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham 1906 Sculpture group on tapered pedestal with reliefs and plaques Bronze and granite 6M tall Grade II* Q26162445 [17][18]
The South African (Boer War) Memorial 2012.jpg
More images 		South African War Memorial, Cardiff Cathays Park, Cardiff 1909 Sculptures on pedestal & base Bronze and Portland stone Grade II* Q17741148 [19][20][21]
Memorial to Alistair Mackenzie St James's Church, Abinger Common, Abinger 1910 Wall tablet Grade II* [22]
King Edward VII statue Birmingham.JPG
More images 		King Edward VII Memorial Centenary Square, Birmingham 1913 Statue on pedestal Stone Grade II Q6411498 [23]
Statue Reine Victoria Hôtel ville South Shields South Tyneside 3.jpg
More images 		Queen Victoria South Shields c. 1913 Statue on pedestal Bronze and granite Grade II Q26525766 [8][24]
London Joint City and Midland Bank war memorial 4.jpg
More images 		City and Midland Bank War Memorial Upper Bank Street, Canary Wharf, London 1921 2 sculptures, 14 inscribed panels and pediment Bronze and marble Sculptures represent St George and the Recording Angel.[25]
Stone 22.jpg
More images 		War memorial Granville Square, Stone, Staffordshire 1921 Statue on pedestal with plaques Bronze and stone Grade II Q26513651 [26][27]
Sandon 3.jpg
More images 		War memorial Sandon Estate, Sandon, Staffordshire 1921 Statue on pedestal with plaques Bronze and stone Q104245206 [28]
Chadderton War Memorial.jpg
More images 		War memorial Chadderton Town Hall, Greater Manchester 1921 Statue on obelisk and base Bronze and granite Grade II Q26320858 [29][30]
Royal Fusiliers memorial.JPG
More images 		Royal Fusiliers War Memorial Holborn, London 1922 Statue on pedestal Bronze and Portland stone Grade II* Q7374415 [31][32]
Leamington Spa War Memorial.jpg
More images 		War memorial Euston Place, Royal Leamington Spa, Warwickshire 1922 Statue on inscribed pedestal Bronze and Cornish granite Grade II Q26661550 [33][34]
War Memorial, Streatham - geograph.org.uk - 26524.jpg
More images 		Streatham War Memorial Streatham, London 1922 Statue on pedestal Bronze and stone Grade II Q32946115 [35][36][37]
Savage Club war memorial National Liberal Club, London 1922 Plaque Stone [38]
Benenden Monument - geograph.org.uk - 46330.jpg
More images 		War memorial Benenden, Kent 1923 Sculpture on pedestal Bronze and stone Grade II Q26371278 [39][40]
War memorial Thornton Cleveleys, Lancashire 1923 Statue on pedestal Bronze and granite [41]
Oldham War Memorial.jpg
More images 		Oldham War Memorial Grounds of St Mary's Church, Oldham, Lancashire 1923 Sculpture group on pedestal and base Bronze and granite Grade II* Q22115519 Architect, Thomas Taylor[42][43][44]
GKN War Memorial, Smethwick (geograph 6190503).jpg GKN War memorial Thimblemill Recreation Ground, Smethwick 1924 Statue on pedestal and steps Bronze and stone Grade II [45][46]
Hall of Memory 2.jpg
More images 		The Armed Forces and Nursing Services Hall of Memory, Birmingham 1923 4 Sculptures Bronze Grade I Q5642705 [47][48]
Midland Bank staff memorial for World War 2.jpg
More images 		World War II Midland Bank Staff Memorial Canary Wharf, London Unveiled 1950 Reliefs and panels Stone and marble Originally located in Poultry in the City of London[49]

Exhibition pieces[]

Name Location Comments
The Bather Victoria and Albert Museum London This 1915 work is held in the Victoria & Albert Museum, London to whom it was lent by the Tate Gallery.[50]
Study of the actress Ellaline Terriss Held in a private collection This bronze by Toft dates to 1901.[51]
The Spirit of Contemplation Laing Art Gallery, Newcastle-upon-Tyne This work dates to 1906.[52]
Children of the Sculptor Held in a private collection This study by Toft of three of his children was executed in 1904.[53]
Frank Brangwyn Cardiff This study by Toft is held in the Amgueddfa Cymru Caerdydd National Museum of Wales, Cardiff Accession number: NMW A 2988.[54]
Maternity Held in a private collection This is one of Toft's works said to show the influence of the Lantéri-Dalou tradition[55]
Fate-led Liverpool This work by Toft is held at the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool.[56]
Memorial to Charles Swinnerton Heap Walsall This panel by Toft was unveiled in 1901. It was moved to Walsall Town Hall in 1905.

Gallery[]

  • Bust of Sir Frank Brangwyn

  • Toft sculpture in Holborn

  • The Nursing Service represented on the Birmingham Hall of Memory.

  • The Air Force represented on the Birmingham Hall of Memory.

  • The Navy represented on the Birmingham Hall of Memory.

  • The Army represented on the Birmingham Hall of Memory.

  • Statue of Antigone.[57]

  • The Spirit of Contemplation

  • Saint George statue for London Joint City and Midland Bank war memorial

  • Recording Angel statue for London Joint City and Midland Bank war memorial

References[]

  1. ^ "Albert Toft". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  2. ^ Albert Toft Archived 15 August 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ 'Charles Toft', Mapping the Practice and Profession of Sculpture in Britain and Ireland 1851-1951, University of Glasgow History of Art and HATII, online database 2011 accessed 10 Nov 2018
  4. ^ Remembrance and British war memorials Archived 27 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine. Sourced 1 September 2007
  5. ^ Toft's biography at the Henry Moore Institute website
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b A User's Guide to Public Sculpture. English Heritage / PMSA. 2000. ISBN 185074776-8.
  7. ^ Jump up to: a b "Nottingham Castle" (PDF). English Heritage. Retrieved 13 November 2012.
  8. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e Jo Darke (1991). The Monument Guide to England and Wales. Macdonald Illustrated. ISBN 0-356-17609-6.
  9. ^ Cadw. "Henry Richard Memorial (18476)". National Historic Assets of Wales. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  10. ^ Historic England. "Statue of Queen Victoria (Grade II) (1381440)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 9 October 2015.
  11. ^ Historic England. "Statue to Sir Charles Mark Palmer (1355095)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  12. ^ "Panels from a Memorial to the Late Queen in Nottingham, by Albert Toft". Victorianweb.org. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  13. ^ Historic England. "Statue of Queen Victoria in Memorial Gardens (1270415)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  14. ^ "Statue of Queen Victoria". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 13 November 2012.
  15. ^ "War Memorials Register: Suffolk Soldiers". Imperial War Museum. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  16. ^ Historic England. "Boer War Memorial Christchurch Park (1237499)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  17. ^ "War Memorials Register: Cannon Hill Park Boer War Composite". Imperial War Museum. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  18. ^ Historic England. "Boer War Memorial, Cannon Hill Park (1392586)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  19. ^ John Newman (1995). The Buildings of Wales: Glamorgan. Penguin Group. p. 107. ISBN 0-14-071056-6.
  20. ^ James Gildea (1911). For Remembrance and in Honour of Those Who Lost Their Lives in the South African War 1899-1902. p. 251.
  21. ^ "War Memorials Register: Welsh National South African War". Imperial War Museum. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  22. ^ Historic England. "Church of St James (1378082)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  23. ^ Historic England. "Edward VII Memorial Statue (Grade II) (1289623)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
  24. ^ Historic England. "Statue of Queen Victoria (Grade II) (1232222)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  25. ^ "War Memorials Register: Joint City and Midland Bank - WW1". Imperial War Museum. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  26. ^ "War Memorials Register: Stone Serviceman". Imperial War Museum. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  27. ^ Historic England. "War Memorial (1219085)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  28. ^ "War Memorials Register: Sandon Estate". Imperial War Museum. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  29. ^ "War Memorials Register: Chadderton". Imperial War Museum. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  30. ^ Historic England. "Chadderton War Memorial (1068095)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  31. ^ "War Memorials Register: Royal Fusiliers City of London Regiment". Imperial War Museum. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  32. ^ Historic England. "Royal Fusiliers War Memorial (1064638)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  33. ^ "War Memorials Register: Leamington Spa". Imperial War Museum. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  34. ^ Historic England. "War Memorial (1381443)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 9 October 2015.
  35. ^ Derek Boorman (1988). At the going down of the sun: British First World War Memorials. p. 131.
  36. ^ "War Memorials Register: Streatham". Imperial War Museum. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  37. ^ Historic England. "Streatham War Memorial (Grade II) (1440589)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 9 October 2015.
  38. ^ "War Memorials Register: Savage Club". Imperial War Museum. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
  39. ^ "War Memorials Register: Men of Benenden - WW1 and WW2". Imperial War Museum. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  40. ^ Historic England. "War Memorial (1085201)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  41. ^ "War Memorials Register: Thornton Cleveleys". Imperial War Museum. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  42. ^ "War Memorials Register: Oldham". Imperial War Museum. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  43. ^ Historic England. "Oldham War Memorial, including memorial wall, piers, gates and steps to St Mary's churchyard and forecourt walls, steps and bulstrade (south side) and railings to St Mary's Churchyard (west side) (1210137)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  44. ^ Anthony McIntosh (7 November 2018). "Remembrance in bronze and stone: memorials of the First World War". Art UK. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  45. ^ "War Memorials Register: Guest, Keen and Nettlefords Works Serviceman". Imperial War Museum. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  46. ^ Historic England. "Guest, Keen and Nettlefords (GKN) War Memorial (1461776)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  47. ^ "War Memorials Register: Birmingham Hall of Memory". Imperial War Museum. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  48. ^ Historic England. "Birmingham Hall of Memory (1244943)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  49. ^ "War Memorials Register: Midland Bank Staff WW2". Imperial War Museum. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  50. ^ "The Bather". Victorian Web. Retrieved 13 November 2012.
  51. ^ "Ellaline Terriss". Victorian Web. Retrieved 13 November 2012.
  52. ^ "The Spirit of Contemplation". Victorian Web. Retrieved 13 November 2012.
  53. ^ "Children of the Sculptor". Victorian Web. Retrieved 13 November 2012.
  54. ^ "Frank Brangwyn". Victorian Web. Retrieved 13 November 2012.
  55. ^ "Maternity". Victorian Web. Retrieved 13 November 2012.
  56. ^ "Fate-led". Victorian Web. Retrieved 13 November 2012.
  57. ^ Encyclopædia Britannica, ed. 1911, vol. 24, pg. 505, Plate IV.
  • Modelling And Sculpture by Albert Toft, Seeley, Service & Co. Limited London, 1949—A Full Account of the Various Methods and Processes Employed in These Arts

External links[]

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