A rare carved Portland stone and wrought iron roller attributed to Eric Gill

The inscription and stylised foliate carving on the sides of this roller would strongly suggest a close connection with the studio established in Ditchling Common by Eric Gill in 1913.  

Arthur Eric Rowton Gill ARA RDI, 22 February 1882 – 17 November 1940 was an English sculptor, typeface designer, and printmaker, who was associated with the Arts and Crafts movement.  

He was born in Brighton and grew up in Chichester. In 1900 he began his career as a draughtsman in an architect’s office in London. In the evenings he studied lettering classes taught by Edward Johnston and masonry. In 1905 Gill and Johnston moved with their families to the Arts & Crafts community in Hammersmith and Gill set up as an ‘inscription carver and calligrapher’. 

Gill moved to Ditchling in 1907. Initially he and his family lived in Sopers in the High Street until 1913. They then moved to Ditchling Common to be more self-sufficient. 

The same year, he and Hilary Pepler converted to Roman Catholicism. In 1914 Gill was commissioned to carve the Stations of the Cross at Westminster Cathedral, a job considered important enough to exempt him from war service until its completion in 1918. He was a founder member of The Guild of St Joseph & St Dominic which was formally constituted in 1921. Gill was named a Royal Designer for Industry. He was also an Associate of the Royal Academy of Arts. 

Other stone rollers by Eric Gill are known, including one carved with similar foliage to this one and inscribed with typical Gill calligraphy and another carved in relief with an embracing Adam and Eve, literally taking a roll in the garden. The wrought iron frame is also typical of the Arts and crafts blacksmith made examples of the time.  By family repute this piece was purchased at an Eric Gill exhibition about 30 years ago. 

Garden Ornament