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WILLIAM ARTHUR SMITH BENSON

Country	England
Lived	1854 - 1924

Biography

Educated at Winchester and Oxford, Benson served his articles in the office of Basil Champneys and remained in the practice until 1880. He had met with Morris through his friendship with Edward Burne-Jones, and was inspired to set up a metalworking workshop in that year. He expanded into a well-equipped factory in Hammersmith and from 1887 had a retail shop in Bond Street. In 1896 he became chairman of Morris & Co., for which he designed furniture. He also worked for J.S.Henry and the Coalbrookdale and Falkirk iron foundries. Benson's simple well designed and utilitarian copper and brass tablewares, jugs and lighting equipment were praised by H. Muthesius. Bing chose his work for exhibition and sale at his Paris gallery, Maison de L'Art Nouveau. Benson was an active member of the Art Workers' Guild and in 1914 founder of the Design and Industries Association. He retired and the firm was bought by Allen-Liversedge Ltd, a lighting company, in 1920.

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