Christopher Ironside

Started by Spyke63, September 25, 2021, 05:30:44 PM

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Spyke63

'Christopher Ironside, Designing Britannia' - Following 10-years of research, I have finally published the comprehensive (and only) portfolio of Christopher's work covering his numerous coin designs, stamps, memorials, and medallions (85,000 words; 316pg; Hardcover; ISBN 978-1-914584-08-4; Peter Dijkhuis, 2021).

This book was written to celebrate Christopher Ironside, a designer whose portfolio of work is part of the very fabric of our society, yet whose name is not well known outside numismatic circles.  This book is a reflection of his life and design achievements - an individual, a modest, classically-educated designer - and his life-long discourse with governments, institutions, monarchy, and the bureaucratic establishment, arguing for the dignity of design of the celebratory.  Recognition for his quiet contribution is long overdue.

Should you be interested in purchase, please contact peter.dijkhuis@btinternet.com
Purchase price £35 + postage.

<k>

Excellent news and well done! I will send you an email very shortly.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

eurocoin

Congratulations on completing the book about Christopher Ironside, a great achievement!

agoodall

I received my copy of this book today (thanks Peter!). I have only had time to flick through so far but it is a beautiful book, profusely illustrated and seems to be a very comprehensive account of Christopher Ironside's work. I'd recommend it to anyone interested in Ironside's life and work or the designing of the first decimal currency.

<k>

#4
I collected the book from the Post Office today, having been out when it was first delivered. It is a high quality hardback book and is lavishly illustrated. I have spent about 10 minutes leafing through it, and I am astonished at both the artistic range of Mr. Ironside's work, and also the contents of this book. Peter Dijkhuis has truly excelled himself with this work. Add to that the fact that Peter is the son-in-law of the late Mr. Ironside, which has undoubtedly given Mr. Dijkhuis greater access to various documents, and you will see that this is THE book for anybody interested in Mr. Ironside's work.

The cover of the book highlights Mr. Ironside's work with the UK's decimal currency designs. As important as they were, that is the aspect of his work that interests me least. As you will see from the book, that was just a tiny aspect of his numismatic and other work, which was international in scope. The book cover may mislead you into thinking the book is mainly about the decimal designs. That could not be further from the truth. Among my favourite illustrations here are Mr. Ironside's sketches for Peruvian art medals of the 1960s, which feature some intriguing pre-Columbian designs. Also highly attractive are Mr. Ironside's unadopted stamp essays of 1964 for a UK Shakespeare issue.

Included also are a ballet set and costumes, paintings, an astrolabe clock, sculptures, a bird cloche (!), and sketches and models of coins and medals, amongst other works. Even if you dislike the UK's first decimal designs, buy this book and be astonished at the scope of Mr. Ironside's work.

Peter Dijkhuis kindly also includes my name in the acknowledgements, so I am pleased to see it associated, along with World of Coins, with a book of such high quality in terms of both form and content. Just a few of the illustrations would not have been complete without the prior efforts of World of Coin members. Our forum member eurocoin noticed that the Royal Mint had never shown an illustration of the 1963 trial strike of the proposed decimal quarter penny with Mr. Ironside's design, so he persuaded them to produce a photograph of it.

Finally, one of my favourite facts from the book, which I noticed while glancing quickly through it. The design on the reverse of the heptagonal trial Australian 50 cents was the work of Christopher Ironside.




Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

Figleaf

Congratulations to Peter Dijkhuis. Happy to hear that WoC members have played a role in the creation of this book. The awesome power of the internet used for good.

Peter
An unidentified coin is a piece of metal. An identified coin is a piece of history.

Spyke63

Thank you World of Coins for your valued contributions and the very kind words regarding my book; all much appreciated.

Mister T

Quote from: <k> on October 04, 2021, 07:54:05 PM
Finally, one of my favourite facts from the book, which I noticed while glancing quickly through it. The design on the reverse of the heptagonal trial Australian 50 cents was the work of Christopher Ironside.





Oh interesting - did he do anything else Australia-related?