Augustus Wollaston Franks facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sir
Augustus W. Franks
KCB
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Sir Augustus Wollaston Franks
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| Born | 20 March 1826 |
| Died | 21 May 1897 (aged 71) |
| Alma mater | Trinity College, Cambridge; Eton College |
| Occupation | Museum administrator |
| Known for | British antiquities; Royal Gold Cup acquisition Franks Casket |
Sir Augustus Wollaston Franks KCB FRS FSA (born March 20, 1826 – died May 21, 1897) was a very important British expert on old things (an antiquarian) and a leader at museums. He was known as one of the greatest collectors of his time. Many people say he was the most important collector in the history of the British Museum.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Augustus Franks was born in Geneva, a city in Switzerland. His father was Captain Frederick Franks, who was in the Royal Navy. Augustus spent his early years living mostly in Rome, Italy, and Geneva.
When he was 13, he went to Eton College, a famous school in England. After Eton, he studied at Trinity College, Cambridge, which is part of the University of Cambridge.
While at Cambridge, he started collecting "brass rubbings." These are copies made by rubbing paper over old brass plaques, often found in churches. He also helped start the Cambridge Architectural Society and was an early member of the Cambridge Antiquarian Society. These groups studied old buildings and objects. After finishing university in 1849, Franks focused on learning about ancient and medieval art.
Working at the British Museum
In 1851, Augustus Franks got a job at the British Museum in London. His job was to help build a collection of "British antiquities," which are old objects from Britain. He worked at the museum for 45 years. During this time, he helped create five different departments! Some people even say he was like a "second founder" of the British Museum because of his huge impact.
Leading the Museum's Collections
Franks became a top expert in England on many things. He knew a lot about medieval (Middle Ages) objects, old pottery, glass, and items from different cultures around the world.
In 1866, the British and medieval objects, along with collections from other cultures, were put into their own department. Franks became the "Keeper" (or head) of this new department. He also led the Society of Antiquaries of London, a group that studies old things. In 1878, he was even offered the top job at the British Museum, but he turned it down.
Franks retired from the museum in 1896, when he turned 70 years old.
Amazing Acquisitions for the Museum
Augustus Franks was brilliant at getting important objects for the British Museum.
- In 1855, he helped the museum buy some of the best items from the collection of a politician named Ralph Bernal. One of these was the amazing Lothair Crystal, a beautiful carved rock crystal.
- In 1892, he managed to raise £8,000 to buy the Royal Gold Cup. This was a huge amount of money back then! Franks was so proud of this purchase that he even used £5,000 of his own money to help buy it temporarily. He considered it his greatest achievement.
Franks once wrote that he had "created" the department he led. He explained that when he started in 1851, the collections were small. But by the time he retired, they filled many more display cases and rooms!
He also used his personal connections to help the museum get other collections. He worked with many important collectors, like Felix Slade and John Henderson, to bring their treasures to the museum.
Franks' Own Collections
Augustus Franks was a wealthy man, and he used his own money to build up amazing personal collections. Even though these were his own, they often ended up benefiting the British Museum later. He collected many beautiful ceramics (like pottery and porcelain) and valuable medieval art. He also collected items from the Oxus Treasure, which are ancient gold and silver objects.
Franks was also interested in bookplates (small printed designs put inside books) and playing-cards. He built up very important collections of both. He even helped finish a book about playing cards.
He believed that collecting was "a hereditary disease" (meaning it ran in his family) and that it was "incurable." This shows how passionate he was about finding and owning historical objects.
Death and Legacy
Augustus Franks passed away on May 21, 1897. He was buried at Kensal Green Cemetery in London. Most of the items he collected during his lifetime, and those he still owned when he died, were given to the nation. This means they became part of the British Museum's collections for everyone to see. Franks bought over 20,000 important objects for the museum!
One of his most famous gifts was the Franks Casket. This is a special ivory box from the 800s with ancient carvings and runic writing. The museum had actually turned it down in 1858 because they didn't think it was important enough. But in 1867, Franks bought it himself and then gave it to the British Museum as a gift.
Works and Writings
Augustus Franks wrote many articles and books about archaeology. Some of his main publications include:
- Book of Ornamental Glazing Quarries (1849)
- Examples of Ornamental Art in Glass and Enamel (1858)
- Catalogue of Oriental Porcelain and Pottery (1876 and 1878)
- Japanese Pottery (1880)
- Catalogue of a Collection of Continental Porcelain (1896)
He also helped edit other important books about history and art. He introduced the term "Late Celtic period" when writing about British Celtic art.
See Also
In Spanish: Augustus Wollaston Franks para niños
