(1933-)
Jeff Mewies is not only a versatile coppersmith but, in an earlier incarnation, was a builder of magnificent high-end miniature houses. Hailing from Canley in Coventry, Jeff started his career working for the Standard Motor Company, but his heart always lay with model-making. In collaboration with the (now closed) London dolls house shop The Singing Tree, he became a celebrated maker of miniature houses, many of which sold for thousands of pounds. Apparently his list of clients included the Sultan of Brunei and Princess Caroline of Monaco, which is no mean feat.
After The Singing Tree closed, he continued to make miniatures in his home workshop, and these were the kitchen items for which he’s now best known: indeed, the only items I’ve seen on the secondary market are these wonderful copper pieces – sinks, boilers, coal buckets and geysers. Given Jeff’s birth date, I presume he has passed away, but can’t find any evidence of this online. At any rate, we feel enormously lucky to have purchased some of his pieces for our collection and hope to add more as and when we’re lucky enough to find them.
Here are the works by Jeff in the Quartermaine Hall collection so far:
Tea Urn
This tea urn by Jeff Mewies allows the servants a brief tea break as they go about their duties (2022.053)
Triple Copper Boiler
A triumph of functionality and elegance by the coppersmith Jeff Mewies (2022.011)
Brass Coal Bucket
A brass bucket of coal complete with removable tongs by Jeff Mewies (2022.010)
Copper Boiler
A copper boiler to offer a plentiful supply of hot water in the kitchen, by Jeff Mewies (2022.013)
Copper Milk Pail with Ladle
A beautifully made milk pail with handle and milk-ladle by Jeff Mewies (2022.014)
Quartermaine Hall 