Elizabeth Copeland
Elizabeth Ethel Copeland trained in Massachusetts as well and England to be an enameller. Elizabeth was a staple in the Arts and crafts period for her work in jewelry and boxes. At 34 she was running her family’s dairy farm with art and design classes at the Cowles Art School in Boston, Massachusetts. From 1896 to 1900, Copeland pored over her school notes, studying while also running the farm. Copeland persisted in traveling a few times a week to Boston, studying design with Amy Sacker as well as enameller Laurin Martin who was a silversmith as well. In 1901 she met Sarah Choate Sears who was a wealthy and accomplished philanthropist, collector, photographer, and watercolorist as well as a leader of the Arts & Crafts movement. In 1903 her enamelwork was featured in a magazine, and in 1906 was featured in an essay on enameling which lead to Sears offering to financially support her. Recognizing her talents she sent her to London in 1908 to apprentice in metalsmithing, and to study under Alexander Fisher who specialized in high end enamel. Copeland returned to Boston where Sears gave her bench space in her own studio, until Copeland moved to Boston's Handicrafts shop before opening her own shop. Originally she began as a jeweler, working in silver, precious stones, and enamel. She developed her style with silver boxes which were designed in the style of medieval era covered jewel caskets. Between 1915 and 1922, Copeland broadened her repertoire and added new forms of her art as well as increased the scale of her work, expanding from jewelry and small boxes; to candlesticks, chalices, and other decorative arts.
