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De Saulles, George William
De Saulles, George William
Life
Birth date
1862
Death date
1903
Biography
Born in Birmingham in 1862, he studied at the Birmingham School of Art, where his work won prizes and a scholarship. A gifted painter, he was ultimately drawn to the subject of engraving. He served as an apprenticeship with John Wilcox, a Birmingham die sinker, before coming to London in 1884 where he worked for the medallist John Pinches. In 1888 he returned to Birmingham to work for another famous medallist Joseph Moore. His association with the Royal Mint began in 1892, when the Mint required the skills of engraver to work on the recently approved new coinage designs. De Saulles was approached on the advice of the artist Thomas Brock. In January 1893 De Saulles was appointed as a Mint engraver for a probation of one year, at a salary of £200 a year with a separate fee for each commission. He remained at the Royal Mint as the Engraver until his death in 1903 from peritonitis.
During the period employed by the Mint, he was responsible for most of the official dies required for coins and medals, as well as the design of these on several occasions. He designed and engraved the last Great Seal of Queen Victoria. With accession of Edward VII in 1901, De Saulles engraved and designed the crowned and uncrowned portraits of the king, the official coronation medal and the reverses of the halfcrown, florin and shilling. He regularly engaged in private work, outside of his Mint responsibilities, and during the last five years of his life was a regular exhibitor at the Royal Academy.
During the period employed by the Mint, he was responsible for most of the official dies required for coins and medals, as well as the design of these on several occasions. He designed and engraved the last Great Seal of Queen Victoria. With accession of Edward VII in 1901, De Saulles engraved and designed the crowned and uncrowned portraits of the king, the official coronation medal and the reverses of the halfcrown, florin and shilling. He regularly engaged in private work, outside of his Mint responsibilities, and during the last five years of his life was a regular exhibitor at the Royal Academy.
