Architectural practice formed in 1886, between John Thomson (1859-1933)
and Robert Douglas Sandilands (1855-1913), at 241 West George Street.
Thomson was born at 3 Darnley Terrace, Shawlands, and was the eldest
son of
Alexander 'Greek' Thomson
and a great-grandson of Peter
Nicholson.
Sandilands trained with Alexander Petrie in Glasgow, 1875-80, and at
the École des Beaux Arts in Paris, under Gaudet, 1880-5, before joining
Thomson.
The firm's work includes hospitals, churches, schools, villas and
commercial buildings, many of them reflecting Sandiland's Parisian
training.
Their most important buildings in Glasgow are Govan Town Hall, 401 Govan Road (1897-1904),
which features sculpture and carver work by
Archibald Macfarlane Shannan
and
James C Young
, and the former Parish Council Offices, 266 George Street 1900-2), which features reliefs of reclining female figures reminiscent of the spandrel figures at Govan Town Hall.
The firm's other work in Glasgow includes Gartloch Hospital (1890-7); the Royal Insurance Building, 106-10 Buchanan Street (1895-7); Stobhill Hospital (1900-04); and the colossal City Council Offices, 20-46 Trongate and 18-58 Albion Street, which features figurative and emblematic sculpture by
Holmes & Jackson
(1901-5).
After Sandiland's death, Alexander H MacLeod became a partner and
the firm's work after World War I became Art Deco in style.
Sandilands died on 10th December 1913, and was buried in Cathcart Cemetery. His monument, probably designed by his former partner, is in
the style of 'Greek' Thomson and features a carving of a set square and compass to identify him as an architect and Freemason.
A bust of Thomson, by
Archibald Macfarlane Shannan
, 1902, is
in the RCAHMS
Library, Edinburgh, together with photographs of the bust
(RCAHMS C23748/9).
Sources: |
Works in our Database: | | 1: Albion Street (Merchant City), 18-58 Albion Street / 20-46 Trongate Pediment group, 'Justice' and 'Law', and Associated Decorative Carving (c.1901-5) Sculptors: Holmes & Jackson; Architects: Thomson & Sandilands; Builders: McKissock & Gardner (Albion Street), Ebenezar McMorran (Trongate) | 2: Buchanan Street (City Centre), Former Royal Insurance Company, 106-12 Buchanan Street Male and Female Masks, Cherub Friezes and Heraldic Devices (1894-8) Sculptor: unknown; Architects: Thomson & Sandilands | 3: George Street (City Centre), Glasgow Parish Council Chambers, 266 George Street Spandrel Figures (1900-02) Sculptor: JC Young; Architects: Thomson & Sandilands; Mason: Shaw & Son | 4: Govan Road (Govan), Former Govan Town Hall, 401 Govan Road Portrait Roundels, Portrait Keystone and Procession of Putti (1897-1904) Sculptor: AM Shannan; Architect: Thomson & Sandilands | 5: Govan Road (Govan), Former Govan Town Hall, 401 Govan Road Allegorical Spandrel Figures and Related Decorative Carving (1897-1904) Sculptor: JC Young; Architect: Thomson & Sandilands | Open Full Sculpture Database |
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