Cecil Thomas

Cecil Walter Thomas, FRBS, (3 March 1885 – 16 September 1976) was a British sculptor and medallist. As a sculptor, he created many private memorials for display in churches and cemeteries and as a medallist was regularly commissioned by the Royal Mint.

Early career Thomas was born in the Shepherd's Bush area of London to John Thomas, a seal engraver, and Alice Sophia Thomas (née Ings). As a teenager, Cecil became an apprentice in his father's practice and continued working for his father while studying at the Slade School of Fine Art, Heatherley School of Fine Art, and the Central School of Arts and Crafts. In his early career, he specialised in gem engraving, receiving commissions from all over the world, including several from the House of Fabergé. Nonetheless, his work in creating cameo portraits inspired his interest in medals and coins; he was one of the few artists to engrave directly into the die. Among his earliest works were a small medal in 1899 for Sesame house (now held by the British Museum), and a carnelian intaglio seal for London County Council and an intaglio portrait of Sir Henry Irving, both dating from 1905. He began accepting commissions on his own account by the time he was in his mid-twenties, and created several cast-bronze medals. His medal for the Surrey Rose Club (1909) attracted particular acclaim, which he followed with the Oxford millenary medal (1912), which exemplifies Thomas' interpretation of the Arts and Crafts Movement. and several large bronzes destined for New Zealand, one of which was received by King's College in Auckland. The other two were near-identical sculptures of Peter Pan. The earlier of these was commissioned for the Dunedin Botanic Garden (unveiled in 1965). This inspired the commissioning of a second one to stand at Rotokawau Virginia Lake in Whanganui (unveiled in 1967). The Dunedin sculpture is accompanied by a second Thomas sculpture nearby showing other characters from the Peter Pan story.

Personal life and death Thomas moved into Kensington House, 108 Old Brompton Road in Kensington in 1919, initially renting the property and later buying it. He lived there and used the building as his studio until his death. In 1930 he married Dora Margaret (née Pearson), the daughter of an alderman. The couple had one son, Anthony. Thomas was a freemason and a devout follower of the Church of England. He regularly attended St Bride's Church in the City of London and later St Mary The Boltons near his home. Dora died in 1967, after which, with the help of the Royal Society of British Sculptors (which changed its name in 2003 to the Royal British Society of Sculptors), Thomas set up the Dora Trust in her name, dedicated to the advancement of British sculpture. From the 1970s, he provided a room in his home for the use of the RBS as an office, for which he was awarded the society's gold medal.

Thomas died at home on 16 September 1976. His son gifted Kensington House (by then renamed Dora House) to the Society to use as their headquarters and an exhibition space. His collection of proofs is now held by the British Museum whilst his archive is with the Royal Society of Sculptors.