Gorer v Lever - National Museums Liverpool

Paris, which he firmly rejected. 25 Gorer maintained an infrequent correspondencethereafter, suggesting pieces and sending a copy of J. F. Blacker’s Chats onOriental Porcelain, which had just been published (and which Edgar reveals hehas edited), all without success. Then in 1909 he tried another approach bysuggesting the importance of display for any collector. This letter provides theclearest description of Gorer’s interior decorating service: ‘For some years past’,he wrote, ‘I have done a great deal of high­class decorative and cabinet work formy various clients, but I have not made a prominent feature of this as I originallystarted the workshops as a hobby and because I found it was absolutelyimpossible to get effective show cabinets made properly in this country… Thework entrusted to me has increased so much that I have found it necessary to fitup show­rooms on these premises, and I have engaged Mr. Albert Van derVelde, who was for many years with Messrs. Hampton and Messrs. Roumy, totake charge of this department’. He continues: ‘Mr. Van der Velde is a mostcompetent decorator, having thorough knowledge of all the styles of the differentperiods, and for artistic draperies and hangings he could not be equalled. Ishould be gratified if at any time you may have any decorative or cabinet work ifyou will allow him to call upon you with the object of taking particulars so as tosubmit designs and estimates for what you may require done. I may say that inno instance will charges be made for these drawings or estimates.’ 26 Later thatyear Gorer sent Lever some samples of his work, a portfolio of illustrations,25Edgar Gorer to William Lever, 19 Feb, 1906; rejection letter from Lever to Gorer, 21February, 1906, Gorer Papers.26Edgar Gorer to William Lever, 19 May, 1909, Gorer Papers.9