Gorer v Lever - National Museums Liverpool

Fig. 3. ‘A Study’. Watercolour of a proposed room design by Gorer. Illustrated in the Burlington Magazine. April, 1906.Edgar clearly recognised the importance of this and while Duveen promoted the‘Dutch and Flemish Renaissance styles’ that included heavy panelling that suitedthe Old Master paintings they predominantly sold, Gorer sought to engage with,as he saw it, a style more appropriate to the objects he sold. 22 Gorer boastedmany satisfied customers, which included the governments of Australia,Southern Nigeria, the Gold Coast and the British government, ‘on the occasion oftheir exhibit at the great Glasgow Exhibition.’ 23 In the early years Gorer promotedthis aspect of their service on their letter­head where they were described as‘Cabinet Maker & Decorator’. 24The offer of a complete service was a gambit used on William Lever, when Gorerapproached him in 1909. This was not the first time that Gorer had approachedLever. In 1906, Lever was offered a piece from the former Lelong Collection in22231901.24Duveen, The Rise, p 88; ‘Eastern and Far Eastern Curios’, p.24.Eastern and Far Eastern Curios, p.24. The Glasgow International Exhibition took place inLetter from Edgar Gorer to William Lever, 19 May, 1909, Gorer Papers, Lady Lever ArtGallery (LLAG) Archives, 17.2/H. Gorer 4691, hereafter cited as Gorer Papers.8