Mabel Cawthra facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mabel Cawthra Adamson
Born	Mabel Cawthra 1871 Lucerne, Switzerland
Died	1943 (aged 71–72) Port Credit, Ontario, Canada
Nationality	Canadian
Occupation	Painter and decorator
Known for	Arts & crafts decoration

Mabel Cawthra Adamson (1871–1943) was a talented Canadian artist. She was a painter and decorator who played a big part in the Arts and Crafts movement in Toronto. This movement focused on making beautiful, handmade items and art.

Early Life and Family

Mabel Cawthra was born in Lucerne, Switzerland, in 1871. Her family, the Cawthras, were very wealthy Canadian merchants. Her son, Anthony Adamson, even called them the "Astors of Upper Canada" because they were so rich and owned a lot of land in western Toronto.

In December 1897, Mabel attended a special Victorian Era Ball. This event celebrated Queen Victoria's 60th year on the throne. The money raised went to help the Victorian Order of Nurses. Mabel dressed up as Madame Recamier, a famous person from an old painting.

Mabel married Agar Adamson on November 15, 1899. He also came from a well-known family in Upper Canada.

Married Life and Art Career

Soon after they married, Agar Adamson joined the military. He wanted to fight in the Second Boer War (1899–1902) in South Africa. He eventually got there in June 1900. After getting sick, he returned to Canada. He tried to go back to the war in 1902, but it ended before he arrived.

While Agar was away, Mabel got involved with the Arts and Crafts movement in England. From 1902 to 1903, she studied at Charles Robert Ashbee's Guild of Handicrafts. This school in England was famous for teaching skills like metalworking and enameling. Mabel likely focused on making jewelry and enamel art.

Leading the Arts and Crafts Movement

When Mabel returned from England in 1903, she became the first president of the Society of Arts and Crafts of Canada. More than half of the members were women. The group wanted to encourage new designs and individual artistic expression. They held exhibitions of Canadian artwork and shared information about handicrafts.

The first exhibition of the Society of Arts and Crafts of Canada took place in 1904. Mabel Adamson showed fifteen of her own pieces, including a necklace, a pendant, and a brooch.

In 1905, Mabel started the Canadian branch of the Thornton-Smith Company. This was a British company that designed interiors for homes and buildings. Their main office was in The Thornton-Smith Building on Yonge Street in Toronto. This building was known for its beautiful design. The company decorated many theaters and churches in Toronto.

Mabel was a skilled artist and craftswoman. She also collected art. She used her family's money and the income from her design company to support other artists. She was a founding member of the Heliconian Club, a group for women in arts and letters in Toronto, started in 1909.

World War I and Challenges

During World War I, Agar Adamson became a captain and later commanded a regiment. Mabel helped with the war effort in London. She also worked with people who had to leave their homes in Belgium. She became ill, and Agar resigned from his command to be with her.

Mabel soon got better. However, Agar faced serious stress and difficulties after the war. This caused challenges in their marriage, though they did not divorce.

Later Contributions and Legacy

Mabel Cawthra Adamson served on the board of the Ontario College of Art (OCA) from 1912 to about 1920. She even donated a special oven, called a kiln, to the OCA for pottery.

In 1930, her pottery was shown at the Canadian National Exhibition. In 1934, she became a director of the Handcrafts Association of Canada. This group held a successful exhibition at the Ridpath Galleries. A large department store, Eaton's, offered the group space in its store. Mabel Adamson and other wealthy women helped by donating money to support the association. The Handcrafts Association worked with the Canadian Handicrafts Guild.

Mabel Cawthra Adamson passed away in Port Credit, Ontario, in 1943. Her sons also made important contributions:

• Her son, Agar Rodney Adamson (1901–1954), was a Member of Parliament from 1940 to 1954.
• Her second son, Anthony Patrick Cawthra Adamson (1906–2002), was an architect and a professor. He helped design Upper Canada Village and was a member of the Order of Canada, a high honor in Canada.