FRANCES LOYEN
FRANCES LOYEN
In the 1990s an opportunity arose for her to teach at Berkshire College, Maidenhead. For around six years she taught on a BTech course in jewellery and fashion. The College was affiliated to London’s Central St Martins College of Art and Design. Through her client Lady Gibberd, wife of the architect Sir Frederick Gibberd,12 she was introduced to the Irish architect Richard Hurley13 who was undertaking work at the Saint Francis Roman Catholic Church in Maidstone, Kent. Frances designed and made the four-foot high bronze and enamel Paschal candlesticks for the church. Later, the Order of St Benedict at Elmore Abbey14 decided it wanted a tabernacle, so telephoned the Victoria and Albert Museum to ask for a suggestion about who to approach. Frances took up the story, ‘I was the only person the Museum knew who had recently made a tabernacle, so, they passed on my contact details. When the Abbey telephoned and explained what they wanted they said, “We have to have a Loyen”. Frances duly designed and made the piece. As well as being in the Company’s collection, her pieces have also been commissioned by the Worshipful Company of Mercers and St John’s College, Cambridge, as well as many private individuals. In 2000 she married Hector Miller, a fellow silversmith. As well as her own collections, she and
Left: Paschal Candlestick Courtesy Frances Loyen, photographer Rosalind Miller Over the years the Vatican has made changes to the way in which Catholic churches are arranged. When the interior of St Francis Roman Catholic Church at Maidstone was re-ordered in the 1990s, Frances was commissioned to make a paschal candlestick as well as a tabernacle. A new paschal candle is blessed and lit every Easter. Its flame symbolises the risen Christ as the light of the world. As well as being lit over Easter, it is used on special occasions such as baptisms and funerals. The candlestick is made of bronze which is champlevé enameled. With this technique the enamel is placed in etched or engraved depressions on the metal’s surface. With a height of 1.25m, it is the largest of Frances’ creations. It was made in 1994. Opposite: Tabernacle for Elmore Abbey Courtesy Frances Loyen, photographer Rosalind Miller Although the tabernacle which Frances made for the St Francis Roman Catholic Church at Maidstone was a debut, it was not her last. When the Order of St Benedict at Elmore Abbey wanted one, it approached the Victoria and Albert Museum to ask for suggestions as to who to approach. As the Museum only knew of the one made for Maidstone, it recommended Frances. Under the impression that she was the only person in the UK who could make a tabernacle, in which the consecrated cup is stored when not in use, it telephoned the Hector/Loyen studio and advised Hector that it ‘needed a Loyen’. Hector commented following such a call, that Frances could not possibly turn down the commission. Again made in bronze that is champlevé enamelled, it has a diameter of 60cm. It was made in 1999.
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Hector have worked together on joint pieces including items for ‘ARTMATTERS 9’ an exhibition at McNay Art Museum at San Antonio, Texas and for the the Armory Show in New York City and, more recently, the Company’s exhibition ‘Silver with a Pinch of Salt’.15 Frances is currently developing a series of plique-à-jour pieces and a jewellery collection.
AVAILABILITY Frances Loyen’s work is beginning to trickle on to the secondary market. She may also be commissioned direct. Her contact details are the same as for Hector Miller – see Miller, p.355.
12. 1908-1984, his notable projects were Harlow New Town, London Central Mosque, Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral and Didcot Power Station. 13. Of Richard Hurley & Associates, Dublin who co-authored Contemporary Irish Church Architecture with Wilfrid Cantwell. 14. An Anglican Religious Community then located at Speen, Berkshire in a beautiful Grade II Listed country house, the main part of which was built in the early 18th century. There were additions in the 19th and 20th centuries. The house was converted for use as an abbey in 1987. It was sold in September 2010, the new owners converting it back to a country house. However, they wished to retain the oratory and private chapel, so purchased the tabernacle from the Order. The Order moved to St Benedict’s Priory in The Close at Salisbury. 15. At Goldsmiths’ Hall, 30 March to 25 April 2009. Other notable joint pieces include the ‘Snail’ cake/pie slice in the Benton Seymour Rabinovitch Collection (now at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London) made in 1995/1998; the Salamander Chocolate Pot of 2005; and Frances’s favourite, the Octopus Bowl which is believed to be in a private collection in Louisiana, USA, that was also made in 2005.
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