Wood carver, potter, embroiderer, tapestry worker, and metalworker. Richardson was born in Bendigo, Victoria and brought up on a farm where she taught herself various handcrafts. She married and moved to Western Australia about 1910 where she nursed an invalid husband and brought up a son who became Sub-Dean of Medicine at London University.
In 1935 Richardson, with her friends Alma Pericles and Mrs W. E. Stephenson formed the West Australian Women Painters and Applied Arts Society and invited Margaret Saunders to be part of it. She took up metalwork at seventy-six studying in London at what is now Sir John Cass College. Of Richardson’s work in the 1939 exhibition of the Western Australian Women Painters and Applied Arts Society the critic Charles Hamilton wrote, “Beaten metal is a strong section. A wood box in beaten brass by Mrs L. F. Richardson is outstanding; its design and construction are alike excellent. The same craftsman gives us some trays, vases, and pewter work of distinct merit in which the designs of birds and fishes please the eye. She also displays good leather work.”
When Richardson exhibited with the society in 1941 the reviewer wrote “Most Prolific and outstanding exhibitor, Mrs L. F. Richardson has had her 70th birthday recently but her hand-beated brass, copper and pewter, her hand-built pottery and leatherwork are still modern and exquisite craftsmanship.”
- Writers:
- Dr Dorothy Erickson
- Date written:
- 2010
- Last updated:
- 2011
