TitleLithographic print of a crayon drawing "Barb"
ReferenceYA2007.57/4
CreatorKey, Geoffrey George Bamford Geoffrey Key was born in Rusholme, Manchester in 1941. His father worked as a warehouseman for the Co-Operative Wholesale Society and his mother was a secretary at Dunlop's, where she illustrated the in-house magazine for the company.
His early education began at Manchester’s High School of Art before going on to study art at Manchester Regional College of Art. After being awarded a National Diploma of Design and the Diploma of Associateship of Manchester he continued his postgraduate scholarship in sculpture at Manchester.
The main themes in Key’s work were the human figure, landscape and horses. He was a member of the Manchester Academy, gaining first prize there in 1971. Key's art was exhibited at Salford Art Gallery from 1966, Sheffield University and abroad in 1974. Other exhibitions included the Harris Museum and Art Gallery, Preston in 1983, Blackheath Gallery from 1989 and Barn Gallery, Cheshire, in 1991.
Public galleries holding his work include Salford, Manchester and Bolton hold his work. Key lives in Pendleton, Salford, Lancashire.
Scope and ContentLimited edition lithographic print taken from an original crayon drawing of production at the Richard Johnson & Nephew Ltd works in Manchester by Geoffrey Key, 1974, showing men operating a barbed wire machine.
Physical descriptionThe condition of the material is good.
Archival historyThe lithographs were donated by the artist as a result of his oral history interview. These items have been held in the artist's studio since their production and have never been exhibited. Only sixty sets were produced, to mark the 200th anniversary of
the company, and were given to the main international clients of Richard Johnson & Nephew as a thank you gift for their custom.
LevelItem
Repository nameScience and Industry Museum
Associated people and organisationsRichard Johnson & Nephew Ltd Richard Johnson and Nephew were a firm of ironmasters and wire drawers based in Bradford, Manchester, with a heritage dating back to 1773. They revolutionised the wire industry with the introduction of the first continuous galvanising plant in 1860 and later with the world's first successful continuous rod rolling mill in 1862. These machines sped up the wire-making process at a time when demand was rising rapidly.
The company supplied wire for a range of uses, including galvanised armouring wire for submarine cables, and for use in suspension bridges including one at Niagara. In 1877, the company bought the sole licence to manufacture barbed wire under patent across Britain. The company later supplied over 60% of the steel-cored aluminium conductors for the National Grid.
In 1973, Richard Johnson & Nephew merged with Thomas Firth & John Brown Ltd, becoming Johnson & Firth Brown. The Bradford Works closed in 1986.
Conditions governing accessOpen access.
Conditions governing ReproductionCopies may be supplied in accordance with current copyright legislation and Science Museum Group terms and conditions.
