A Well Deserved Tribute
Bill Robertson seemed surprised that he was just named the 2015 Metalworking Craftsman of the Year by The Joe Martin Foundation for Exceptional Craftsmanship. In a note to me he said “Wow! I am honored to be in the same group with these artists, some, whose work I remember reading about when I was just a kid!” I think it’s safe to say none of us in the miniatures world are surprised. The foundation awards “a craftsman who has produced a large body of work that is recognized as being head and shoulders above all others in that field” and Wm. R. Robertson epitomizes that. The award also takes into consideration the artisan’s “willingness to share the lessons of craftsmanship.” Bill epitomizes that as well.
I first met Bill at the International Guild of Miniature Artisans School in Castine, Maine, in 1998. At the time, that aspect of the miniatures world was new to me and I was thoroughly amazed by it. I was in one of the most beautiful locales in the state with some of the best artisans in the world teaching students their specific art in miniature. I’ll never forget the exhilaration I felt and I know that it was that experience that gave me the momentum I needed to move forward with my passion. I had been thinking about showing my collection on a small scale, so I approached Bill for advice. It was the beginning of a beautiful friendship and a journey that would come to fruition as the KSB Miniatures Collection at the Kentucky Gateway Museum Center.
Throughout the years I’ve bought several outstanding pieces of Bill’s 1/12th-scale work which are proudly displayed in the gallery. There is a lovely country cupboard, an 18th century lowboy, one of his incredible drafting tables with working drafting tools, roller skates with a key that makes them widen and lengthen, and a Turkish coffee grinder. I adore them all, but the one purchase that will be forever emblazoned in my memory is a desk that is exhibited in the Massachusetts Kitchen (by William Bowen 1980) that I acquired at auction in 2004. Bill happened to be in Maysville working on the gallery design and I innocently asked him, “Who is WRR?” He turned white and questioned where I had seen the marking. I told him it was a on a piece in the room box from the auction. “That’s me!” he said astoundingly. After examining it, he explained that the miniature was the #3 desk of the very first ones he had ever made. It was a joyous moment for both of us.
Perhaps my biggest and most monumental collaboration with Bill was when he helped design the KSB Miniatures Collection gallery. The fine arts rotunda which houses the work of legends such as Barry Hipwell, Pierre Mourey, and Lee-Ann Chellis Wessel is named in his honor as an artisan, an inspiration to the miniatures world, and as a friend.
Our newest partnership, A Tribute to Browning Mfg. Co. is an exhibit that will incorporate a view of my husband’s family business as it appeared in the 1930s. Browning Manufacturing was an important industry in Maysville that was established in the late 1800s. The corporation made pulleys, belts, gears and other power transmission products throughout the 20th century until it was sold in 1969. The miniature exhibit will feature the engineering and drafting office, as well as show a portion of the old plant where wood pulleys were manufactured. We are honored that Bill is creating this work which represents a significant part of Maysville’s history, as well a memorial to Lou’s family. We plan to unveil the installation this summer and I hope you can make it to Kentucky to see firsthand the new exhibit and all the other remarkable miniatures created by Wm. R. Robertson. His work and the work of other masters of the art is the reason the collection exists—to share this extraordinary art form.
Congratulations, Bill!
