W. J. Coffee
William John Coffee (1774–1846) was an internationally renowned English artist and sculptor who worked in
porcelain, plaster, and
terra cotta. He also worked in oil paint, although this was not the medium for which he became famous. His early career was as a modeller for Duesbury at the china factory on Nottingham Road in
Derby,
England. The latter part of his life was spent in America.
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Stone-cast bust of Erasmus Darwin, made by Coffee c 1795 |
During his time in Derby, Coffee made busts of some of the local dignitaries and historic figures including a life size bust of
Erasmus Darwin. This bust is a fine example of Coffee's modelling skills and is now on display at Derby Museum. Coffee also produced a terra cotta copy of the Florentine Boar (1806) and a number of terra cotta statues of Greek figures representing medicine and healing for the garden of
Joseph Strutt. The garden was given to the town as
Derby Arboretum in
1840 complete with statues, but those of the Greek figures are now missing or lost. Coffee also made a ten foot tall terra cotta statue of
Asclepius for William Strutt's Derbyshire Infirmary, opened 1810.
Coffee emigrated from England to
New York City in 1816, where he became famous as a sculptor for American historical figures such as
James Madison and
Thomas Jefferson. He also made the ornamental plaster mouldings for Jefferson's house and for the
University of Virginia.
The directory of Derby Artists quotes: Coffee, "William John - 1774 - 1846. Modeller for
Crown Derby, emigrated to
New York 1816".
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Derby Museum and Art Gallery
