Stan Shaw (December 2, 1926 - February 2021) was a cutler, or "little mester", from Sheffield, England.
Early life
Shaw was born in Worrall, Sheffield to Walter Shaw and Amelia Shaw (nee Coldwell).[1] He was one of eight children. His family later moved to Oughtibridge. His father was a ganister miner and died from silicosis at the age of 45. At the age of four, Shaw fell from a roof and landed on his hip. He subsequently also became ill with tuberculosis and spent ten years in hospital.[2]
Career
Following discharge from hospital, Shaw began working for George Ibberson & Co, where he worked on hafting and finishing items of cutlery. Shaw subsequently worked for George Wostenholm, John Watts, and John Clarke. In 1983, Shaw set up his own business in Garden Street.[3] In 2009, he moved to a workshop within the Kelham Island Museum.[4] Towards the end of his career, he had a four-year waiting list for orders.[5][6]
Retirement and death
Shaw stopped producing knives in 2019 due to ill health but continued to demonstrate his craftmanship to the public at the Kelham Island Museum. He died on 26 February 2021, at the age of 94.[7]
References
- ^ Tweedale, Geoffrey (7 March 2021). "Stan Shaw obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
- ^ "Around Town Meets... Aroundtown Meets… Stan Shaw". Around Town. 8 March 2017. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
- ^ "Stanley's knife cuts £1500 dash". Antique Trade Gazette. 28 November 2001. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
- ^ "Stan Shaw". The Sheffield Cutlery Map. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
- ^ "Life is still at the sharp end for expert Sheffield craftsman in his 90th year". Sheffield Telegraph. 24 March 2016. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
- ^ "New Year Honours for Yorkshire's great and good". Yorkshire Post. 30 December 2016. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
- ^ "Sheffield's 'last little mester' Stan Shaw dies at 94". BBC News. 1 March 2021. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
This page was last edited on 27 September 2023, at 04:32