Curator
Henry Denny
1803–1871 · United Kingdom
Sub-curator of the Leeds Philosophical and Literary Society museum, who handled the Leeds end of the 1870-71 sales of Cypriot antiquities sent by the Sandwith family.
Biography
Henry Denny did the daily work of the Leeds Philosophical and Literary Society museum when Cypriot antiquities were sold there in 1870 and 1871. Born in 1803, he became sub-curator in 1826. The three honorary curatorships were social posts, so the work fell to him, and he was also the Society's secretary1. He built the museum mainly in natural history, filling gaps, soliciting donations and pursuing notable collections, and was remembered as an insatiable collector1.
Anna Reeve writes that the sales of Cypriot objects sent by the brother of the Rev. Henry Sandwith appear to have been managed in Leeds by Denny, John Holmes and Sandwith himself1. On 9 February 1871 Samuel Savage Lewis wrote to Denny about the Cypriot vases of the last consignment, which had been "sent to your charge"1. Reeve suggests that Denny may also have had a hand in William Aldam's donation of £5 in September 1870 for Cypriot pottery1.
Denny died suddenly in 1871, and Louis Compton Miall was appointed curator1.
Life and work
- 1826Became sub-curator of the Leeds Philosophical and Literary Society museum, the role that carried most day-to-day development and management of the collections.
LeedsReeve 2021
- 1870With John Holmes and Henry Sandwith formed the nexus managing the Leeds sales of the Cypriot antiquities sent by Henry Sandwith's brother, 'the Consul for Crete' (per Lewis's letter); object prices set case by case, Sandwith writing about reductions with Holmes. A Sandwith letter of 8 Oct 1870 is in the Leeds archive, recipient unknown (H. Denny?).
LeedsReeve 2021
- 1870Possibly involved in W. Aldam's GBP 5 donation (28 Sept 1870 meeting) to buy Cypriot pottery for the Leeds museum, given his role as Secretary of the Geological and Polytechnic Society; Reeve says this is a likelihood, not documented. The Aldam amphora entered the museum.
DoncasterReeve 2021
- 1871Died suddenly, leaving his wife and large family needing financial help from the Society's members; succeeded as curator by Louis Compton Miall.
LeedsReeve 2021
Connections
5 peopleScholarship
- Corresponded with Samuel Savage Lewis1870–1871
Colleagues & contacts
- Worked with Henry Sandwith1870–1871
- Worked with John Holmes1870–1871
- Worked with William Aldampossibly1870
- Preceded Louis Compton Miall1871
- Succeeded by Louis Compton Miall1871
Sources
- 1.Anna Holly Reeve (2021). “Ancient Cyprus in Leeds: Objects, Networks and Museums from 1870 to 1947”. PhD thesis, University of Leeds.