(1878-1963)
American
Roycroft Printing Shop
Founded by Harry P. Taber, who published The Philistine June 1895 in an edition of 2,500 copies; also started setting up the first book of the Roycroft Printing Shop and chose the name based on promotional material on the new “Roycroft type face” from American Type Founders. The Roycroft trademark was first printed in September 3, 1895 by Taber. Elbert Hubbard bought the Roycroft Shop from Taber on November 29, 1895. People associated with the Roycroft Printing Shop include: Walter Jennings as a bookbinder.
Roycroft Copper Shop
Karl Kipp was one of the finest designers for the Roycroft Copper Shop, which developed from the original Blacksmith Shop around 1902. Walter Jennings joined “Fra Baldy,” as Elbert Hubbard called him, around 1909. As the foreman, Kipp was influential in creating distinctive metalwork designs before turning the manufacturing over to one of many craftspeople. He and Dard Hunter designed the lanterns for the Roycroft Chapel. His more geometric designs were influenced by the artists of the Viennese Sezession and the Glasgow School. Kipp left the Roycroft community in 1912 to begin his own metalwork studio called the Tookay, the clever name being a play on the two k's from his initials.
Roycroft Copper Online Price Guide, Roycrofter Walter U. Jennings Gallery http://www.roycroftcopper.com/jennings.htm