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ANTIQUES / DECORATIVE ARTS / METALWARE
PRODUCED BY: BORREGO PUBLISHING / VINTAGE EBOOKS
(Vintage eBooks is an imprint of Borrego Publishing)
The Gold Chaser
Book Cover
Edmund With Mace
Rose Bowl for President and Mrs. Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1967. Photograph by Herbert de Gray, London.
PRESSROOM
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THE GOLD CHASER: The Life and Legacy of Master Craftsman Edmund Kavanagh
By Joyce Sidey Brogdon
About the Book
This is the story of a remarkably talented Irishman whose works are so distinctive they need no signature. Master craftsman, "repoussé" chaser Edmund Kavanagh's art carries his inimitable style in every piece, a style he has been painstakingly and lovingly developing over the last fifty years. The skill of repoussé, which began in antiquity and flourished from medieval times to the middle of the twentieth century, is a metalworking technique in which soft precious metal is shaped by hammering from the underside. Chasing is done on the front of the piece to finish or refine the raised repoussé. It is tedious, laborious work that in the twenty-first century is considered a dying art. Edmund is among the handful of chasers around the world who continue to ply this ancient craft.
His name is well known among the United States military bandmasters, both academies and the active duty services. He has designed and crafted numerous Maces, Baldrices and Tabards for the Marines, the Coast Guard, the Army, the Air Force, the Merchant Marine and other military bands.
Of the hundreds of chalices, tea services, maces, and trophies that have passed through his competent hands, his flagship piece is the 18-carat gold rose bowl for the 50th wedding anniversary for President and Mrs. Dwight D. Eisenhower. The sheer volume and variety of his work is incredible, as the photographs in this book show. His custom crafted chalices, menorahs, band maces, sports trophies and specialized jewelry are prized as collectors' items by their owners. His legendary reproductions of museum pieces are numerous.
This biographic account combines a cameo of the artist, Edmund Kavanagh, with magnificent illustrations and descriptions of his famous art works. It is the story of a remarkably talented Irishman whose early years were fraught with frustrations and life-threatening illness. His unique artistic gift of design earned him entry at age fifteen to apprenticeship under Dublin's finest silver craftsman. His well-developed inimitable style is now known in many countries of the world.
What is Repoussé?
Repoussé is bas-relief ornamentation in precious metal. It is a hand-crafted skill that flourished from medieval times to the middle of the twentieth century, and is now considered a dying art. Edmund is among the handful of Master repoussé chasers in the world who produce this fine art work. Over the past half century he has fashioned hundreds of the world's most priceless pieces. His work is so distinctive it needs no signature.
Photos to the left: Gold Chaser Book Cover, Edmund with Mace, Rose Bowl for President and Mrs. Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1967
FREE SAMPLES AVAILABLE!
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REVIEWS:
Really great book! Edmund is a world master of his craft. The Academy still proudly uses the magnificent sterling silver drum major's mace he created.
-Captain Kenneth R. Force, USMMS
Director of Music, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy
King's Point, New York
Like the precious metals in which he worked his art, Edmund Kavanagh's life story is a rare and precious gift to those who value the lessons of faith, determination, hard work, good humor, and the willingness to take great risks to pursue great dreams.
-James P. Gannon, Publisher of Blackwater Publications
Former writer and editor for The Wall Street Journal, The Des Moines Register, and the Detroit News
All items on this web page, including the index below are Copyright © Joyce Sidey Brogdon. The information presented here may not under any circumstances be resold or redistributed without the expressed written permission from the author.
BELOW IS A TEXT VERSION OF THE TABLE OF CONTENTS:
INTRODUCTION vi
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS xv
PART I: 1933-1950, 1
The Tuberculosis Nightmare, 3
Mother's Little "Girl", 6
Theresa Kavanagh, 8
Aungier Street, 10
A Great Neighborhood, 13
"Boss" Kavanagh, 15
The Brothers Four, 18
Plentiful Aunts, 20
World War II, 23
John Smith and Son, 25
Desmond's Wedding, 29
PART II: 1950-1968, 31
Phoenix Park, 33
Gunning and Sons, 40
Bridie, 41
England, 46
William Comyns of Soho, 48
Rented Rooms and Museum Pieces, 50
Anthon Rubesch, 53
Marriage, 1957, 57
Mr. Copping's Revenge, 59
Business Boom, 59
The Mace of London, 62
Rubesch to America, 64
Venturing Out, 72
PART III: 1968-1995, 75
America: David Webb Company, 77
Quicksand, Death and Prayer, 78
Tiffany's, 82
California, 92
Gold, Silver, and Burglary, 93
Maces, 95
The White House, 99
The Salvador Dali Heart, 101
The Hold Up, 102
Ed's Boxing Friends, 104
PART IV: 1995-2005, 109
Recasting a Full Life: Dublin, 111
Semiretirement and Anthon, 114
Washington, Virginia, 115
Bing Crosby's Birthday Bash, 118
Glancing Back: God Bless America, 121
INDEX, 123
ORDER FORM, 127
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
Family Photo 1937, 7
Nephew Eddie Outside Aungier Street Shop, 11
Boxers Benny Carabini and Maxie McCullaugh, 15
Edmund's Confirmation, 22
Edmund at Age Fifteen, 25
Candelabra, 27
Grape Leaf Design, 27
Edmund With Ward Mates, St. Mary's Hospital at Phoenix Park (1950), 35
Edmund In Hospital with Mother, 36
Ed With Jock the Scot on Hospital Grounds, 38
Bridie's Family Photo, 43
Bridie, 44
Bridie with Edmund's Brothers, 45
Picture of Wedding, 57
Fake Marks, 60
Mace Of London Replica, 62
Replica Mace Construction, 63
Sterling Fossil Housing, 64
Eisteddfod Caerwys Award, 66
King Saud Dagger, 66
King Baudom Decorated Sterling Box, 67
Shah of Iran Green Gold Palm Tree, 67
Champion Steeplechase Award, 68
Halle Selassie Plaques, 69
The Prince Phillip Henley Regatta Trophy, 69
The Eisenhower Rose Bowl, 70
The Eisenhower Rose Bowl Letter, 71
National Dance Trophy of Zambia, 73
Ed Working on Super Bowl Trophy, 82
Interior Westbury Store, 83
Al Pacino, 84
Exclusive Logo to the Inn at Little Washington, VA, 86
Gold Sand Dollar Pendant/Pin, 87
Ed at his Bench, 87
State of Virginia Seal, Schooner Medallion, 87
Indianhead Plaque, 88
USCG Cutter Citrus Tie Pin, 88
Four Tie Pins: Governor's Island, NY, Golfer, Falcon, Fisherman, 89
Two Brooches: Bluebird and Fawn, 89
Sagittarius Cuff Links, 89
Pheasant Letter Opener, 89
Three Custom Gold Rings, 89
Baldric Sterling Regalia, 90
U.S. Amateur Golf Trophy, 91
Coast Guard Windjammer Mace Replica, 95
U.S. Marine Headquarters Drum & Bugle Corps., 95
Merchant Marine Academy Mace, 95
8th Army Division Band Mace, 96
Coast Guard Mace, 96
Air National Guard, California Mace, 96
U.S. Air Force Mace, 97
Coast Guard Seal Plaque, 98
British Coat of Arms, 98
Invitation to the White House, 100
Salvidor Dali Heart Pendant, 101
Jake Rodrigas, 105
Jake Lamotta, 105
Floyd Patterson, 105
Gerry Cooney, 106
Rocky Graziano, 106
Mark Breland, 107
Tim Witherspoon, 107
Mike Tyson, 107
Eamonn, Phyllis w/Edmund 1995, 112
Albert With Pope John Paul II Chalice, 113
Bridie, Lenke, Anthon and Edmund, 115
Grand Prix Racing Trophy, 116
Senator McCarthy, Ed, Bridie and Friends, 117
Retired Colonel John R. Bourgeois, 25th Director of
"The President's Own" United States Marine Band, 117
Kathryn Crosby, 119
Jack Nicklaus, 120
All items on this web page, including the index below are Copyright © Joyce Sidey Brogdon. The information presented here may not under any circumstances be resold or redistributed without the expressed written permission from the author.
BELOW IS A TEXT VERSION OF THE INDEX:
Numbers
8th Army Division Band Mace, 96
A
Air National Guard, California Mace, 96
Air Raid Precaution (ARP), 24
American Embassy, 73
Immigration, 73
American Museum, 51
Caudle Cup (Porringer), 51
Arundel Castle and the Pavilion, 57
Arundel, Arthur 115-116
Ashton, Dr. Sylvia, 60-61
Ascot Gold Cup, 51
Aspreys of Bond Street, 60
Atlantic College, 45
Kavanagh, Desmond, 45
Aungier Street, 4, 8-11, 13-14, 19, 112
Kavanagh Sweet Shop, 112
Move to Aungier Street, 13-14
Shop on Aungier Street, 8-11
Aunts, Plentiful, 20
Aunt Annie, 20
Aunt Babs, 20
Gert, Aunt, 20
Maggie, Aunt, 20
Aunt Margaret, 20
Aunt Nora, 20
Mrs. Dunne, 20-22
B
Baldric Sterling Regalia, 90
Barclay, Jack, 40
Bella Rubin, 72
Belmont Stakes Trophy, 85
Bing Crosby, 92, 116
Birthday Bash, 116, 118
Bluebird and Fawn, Brooches, 89
Breland, Mark, 107
Brennen, Eamonn, 38
Brenner, Mr., 13
Boxing Friends
Breyland, Mark, 104
Brodsky, Pete, 104
Carabini, Benny, 15
Cooney, Gerry, 106
Foreman, George, 104
Graziano, Rocky, 106
Holyfield, Evander, 104
Hyde, Tim, 41
Lamotta, Jake, 105
Leonard, Sugar Ray, 15, 104
McCullaugh, Maxie, 15
Patterson, Floyd, 104
Rodrigas, Jake, 104-105
Tyson, Mike, 107
Breyland, Mark, 104
Bridie, 41, 43-45, 115
And Friends, 117
Ballerina Ballroom, 41
England with Bridie, 113
Family Photo, 43
Lenke, Anthon and Edmund, 115
With Edmund's Brothers, 45
Bridie's Family Photo, 43
Brisco, Bob, Lord Mayor of London, 17
British Coat of Arms, 98
Brock, Mr., James, 26
Brodsky, Pete, 104
Business Boom, 59
C
C.J. Vander of Hutton Garden, 60
California, 92
Candelabra, 27
Carabini, Benny, 15
Caudle Cup (Porringer), 51
CBS Television, 116
Kuhn, Mary Ann, 116
Cellini, Benvenuto, xiii
Italian Renaissance, xiii
Champion Steeplechase Award, 68
Charles Gold and Company, 85
Gold, Irving, 85
Cleef, Van, 85
Coast Guard, xii, xv, 95-96, 98
Coast Guard Mace, 96
Coast Guard Seal Plaque, 98
Coast Guard Windjammer Mace Replica, 95
Coleman, Sammy, 13-14
Connick, Jr., Harry, 100
Cooney, Gerry, 106
Copping's, Mr., Revenge, 57-59
Barnards of Hatton Garden, 59
Crighton Bros. of London, 118
Crosby, Bing, 12, 22, 35, 92, 116, 118
Birthday Bash, 118
Easter Parade, 12
Gonzaga University, 118
Crosby, Kathryn, 119
Custom Gold Rings, 89
D
Dalton, Charlie, 52
David Webb Company, 77
Hess, Jose, 79
Khynl, Frantisek, 78
Reiter, Rudy, 78
DeLarentis, Dino 85
Pacino, Al, 84
DeMaitre, Luke, 118
DeValera, Eamonn, 17
Domingon's on the Keyes, 19
Drum and Bugle Corps of the Headquarters Marine Band, 99
Dupont Circle, 100
Durham Silver Company, 85
Halpern, Sam, 85
E
Eagans' of Cork City, 41
Ecclesiastical Metal Manufacturers, 45
Kavanagh, Albert, 45
Eisenhower Rose Bowl, 70
Eisenhower Rose Bowl Letter, 71
Eisteddfod Caerwys, 65
Eisteddfod Caerwys Award, 66
F
Fake Marks, 60
Family Photo 1937, 7
Fina Brothers,
Fina, Charles, 91
Fina, George, 91
First Australian Armored Division Band, 73
Sterling Drums, 73
First Battalion, Zambian Army, 73
National Dance Trophy of Zambia, 73
Sterling Drums, 73
Fisherman Brooches, 89
Fonda, Jane, 85
Oscar Trophy, 85
Force, Kenneth, 77, 95, 99
Ford Motor Company, 51
Foreman, George, 104
Freeman, Dr. Thomas Edward, 4
G
Ganter, Otto, 13
Gibson, Debbie, 85
Opal Ring, 85
Gold & Diamond Chain with Sovereign Pendant, 86
Gold, Irving, 85
Gold Sand Dollar Pendant/Pin, 87
Goldsmith Jewelers, 14
Grace, Matthew, 104
Grace Shipping Lines, 104
Grand Prix Racing Trophy, 116
Grape Leaf Design, 27
Gray's Inn Road, 48
Graziano, Rocky, 106
Great Meadow Grand Prix Trophy, 115
Green Rooster, The, 16
Grenville Guest House, The, 48
Greyhound Association Trophy, 51
Greyhound Derby Cup, xii
Gunning and Sons, xii, 40, 44, 53, 113
Barclay, Jack, 40
Gunning, Mr., 45, 53
H
Halle Selassie, 50, 52, 55, 65, 69
Plaques, 69
Halpern, Sam, 85
Hambletonian Trophy, 91
Hanlan, Neddy, 16
Harman, Alderman C. James, 62
Wakley and Wheeler, 62
Harrods of Knightsbridge, 60
Herbert James, Mr., xii, 4, 25
Hess, Jose, 79
Hoagland, Mr., 51
Hold-Up, The,
Kaufman, Detective Richard, 103
Holyfield, Evander, 104
Humphrey, Hubert, 116
Hyde, Tim, 41
I
Indianhead Plaque, 88
Inn at Little Washington, VA, 86
Exclusive Logo, 86
Institute of Heraldry at Fort Belvoir in Virginia, 99
Government Contracts, 99
Interior Westbury Store, 83
Invitation to the White House, 100
J
Jacob's Biscuit Factory, 19
James, Mr. Herbert, xii
Japanese Prime Minister, 99
Obuchi's, Keizo, 99
Jewelry
Bluebird and Fawn, Brooches, 89
Custom Gold Rings, 89
Fisherman, Brooches, 89
Gold & Diamond Chain with Sovereign Pendant, 86
Gold Sand Dollar Pendant/Pin, 87
Leprauchan Brooch, 86
Medusa Head Pendant, 86
Sagittarius Cuff Links, 89
Salvidor Dali Heart Pendant, 89
Tie Pins: Governor's Island, NY, Golfer, Falcon, Fisherman, 89
Jock the Scot on Hospital Grounds, with Ed, 38
John Smith and Sons, xi, 4, 25-26, 28, 40, 45, 112-113
Herbert James, Mr., xii, 4, 25
K
Kavanagh, Albert, 45
Kavanagh, Desmond, 45
Desmond's Wedding, 29
Irish News Agency, 45
Kavanagh, Edmund,
At Age Fifteen, 25
Confirmation, 22
England, xi, 46
Granthem Street National School, 6
In Hospital with Mother, 36
Recasting a Full Life: Dublin, 111
With Ward Mates, St. Mary's Hospital at Phoenix Park (1950), 35
Edmund & Bridie Marriage, 1957, 57
Agar Grove, 57
Arundel Castle and the Pavilion, 57
Bridie, 57
England with Bridie, 113
International Hotel, 42
St. John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church, 57
Kavanagh, Joseph, 9
Kavanagh Sweet Shop, 112
Kavanagh, "Boss," 6, 7-9, 15-20, 23, 25, 112
And Theresa, 6
Kavanagh, Mr., 39
Kavanagh, Theresa, 8
Kennedy, John F., 114
Kennedy Family, 115
Kennedy, Senator Robert, 116
Kerridge, Mr. 48
Khrushchev, Nikita, 53-54
Khynl, Frantisek, 78
King Baudouin's Visit, 65
Decorated Sterling Box, 67
Royal Belgian Coat of Arms, 65
King Saud, 65
Dagger, 66
King, Martin Luther, 116
Kirk Silver, 72
Kuhn, Mary Ann, 116
L
Lamotta, Jake, 105
Lemass, Sean, 17
Lemon's Sweet Factory, 19
Leonard, Sugar Ray, 15, 104
Leprauchan Brooch, 86
Lindsay, John, 85
Mayor of New York, 85
Linford, Major Roger, 95
CEO of Henry Potter and Son in London, 95
Lord Mayor of Dublin, 17
Brisco, Bob, 17
Louie O'Brian, 12
Choir Director, 12
M
Mace of London Replica, 62
Maces, xi-xii, 78-80, 95, 99
8th Army Division Band Mace, 96
Air National Guard, California Mace, 96
Coast Guard Mace, 96
Coast Guard Windjammer Mace Replica, 95
Drum and Bugle Corps of the Headquarters Marine Band, 99
Mace of London Replica, 62
Merchant Marine Academy Mace, 95, 99
Marx, Karl, 52
Mayor of New York, 85
John Lindsay, 85
McArdle and Lawlors, 19
McCarthy, Peter, 36
McCarthy, Senator Eugene, 116
McCullaugh, Maxie, 15
McDonagh, Jack, 16
Medusa Head Pendant, 86
Merchant Marine Academy, 77, 95, 99
Merchant Marine Academy Mace, 95, 99
Monmouth Park Trophy, 91
Museum Pieces, xii, 50
N
National Band Association's Hall of Fame, 116
National College of Art, 45
National Dance Trophy of Zambia, 73
National Football League's Vince Lombardi Super Bowl Trophy, 82
Naylor Brothers, 60
Nephew Eddie, 11
New York World's Fair, 101
Nicklaus, Jack, xii, 118, 120
O
O'Connor, Maisie, 29
O'Keiff, Chubby, 16
O'Kelly, Sean T., 17
President of the Republic of Ireland, 17
O'Neill, Ed, 102
Obuchi, Keizo, 99
Order Form, 127
P
Pacino, Al, 84
Serpico, 85
Padgett and Bragham, 60
Parnell's Barbershop, 14
Patterson, Floyd, 104
Pheasant Letter Opener, 89
Pope John Paul II Chalice with Albert, 113
Port Chester High School, 77, 95, 99
Prince Phillip Henley Regatta Trophy, xii, 65, 69
Q
Queen Elizabeth II, Majesty, 60, 65
Quo Vadis Restaurant, 52
R
Recasting a Full Life: Dublin, 104, 111
Red Cross, 53, 60-61
Reiter, Rudy, 78
Replica Mace Construction, 63
Retired Colonel John R. Bourgeois, 25th Director of, 117
Rodeo Drive, 92
Rodrigas, Jake, 104-105
Royal Belgian Coat of Arms, 70
Rubesch, Anthon, v, xi-xiii, 52-54, 72, 82, 114
Berwick Street, 56
to America, 62-64
S
Sacusio, Terri, 85
Sagittarius Cuff Links, 89
Salvador Dali, 101
Salvador Dali Heart, xii, 89, 101
Serpico, 85
Al Pacino, 84
Semiretirement and Anthon, 114
Shah of Iran, 65, 67
Green Gold Palm Tree, 67
Shouldice, Reverend Fr. Sean, 36-37
Sir Bernard Waley-Cohen, 62
Sir Francis Rose, 62-63
Smith, Mr. George, 28
Sousa, John Philip, 116
South America, 118
Soviet Union, 53, 114
Spellman, Cardinal, 11
Spencer, Dan, 50
St. Andrews Boxing Club, 41
St. Mary's Hospital At Phoenix Park, 35
State of Virginia Seal, Schooner Medallion, 87
Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor, xiii
Super Bowl Trophy, 82
T
Teletky, Drum Major, Ed, 100
The Hold Up, 102
Tie Pins: Governor's Island, NY, Golfer, Falcon, Fisherman, 89
Tiffany's, 50-51, 72, 78-82
Hoagland, Mr., 51
Trafalgar Square, 52
Tuberculosis Nightmare, 3
Tyson, Mike, 107
U
U.S. Air Force, xi
Band, 99
Mace, 97
U.S. Amateur Golf Trophy, xii, 91
U.S. Marine Headquarters Drum & Bugle Corps., 95
U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, 95, 99
U.S. P.G.A, 118-119
United States Air Force Band, 99
United States Golf Association, xii
United States Marine Band, "The President's Own," 116-117
United States Merchant Marine Academy, 77
Force, Kenneth R., 77
United States Military Bandmasters, xii
Maces, xii
Baldrices, xii
Tabards, xii
USCG Cutter Citrus Tie Pin, 88
V
Victoria and Albert Museum, 51
Virginia's Governor, 113
W
Wakley and Wheeler, 62
Warner, Mark, 113
Virginia's Governor, 113
Welsh Television, 65
White House, xiii, 70, 99-100, 116
William Comyns Company, 48-53, 55-56
Dalton, Charlie, 52
Ford Motor Company, 51
Kerridge, Mr. 48
William Joyce, 24
Witherspoon, Tim, 107
Wolpert, Ludwig, 85
Mayor of Woodford, 61
Anthon, 61
Ashton, Dr. Sylvia, 61
Sir Winston Churchhill, 61
World War II, 23, 99, 114
Z
Zambian Army, 72-73
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