Richard Rathbone was a British metalworker and designer associated with the Arts and Crafts movement, active during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Based in Liverpool, he came from a prominent Quaker family and was known for producing finely crafted domestic metalwork in copper and brass. Rathbone collaborated with influential designers such as Charles Robert Ashbee and was closely linked with the Guild of Handicraft, contributing to a shared ethos of honest construction, handcraftsmanship, and social reform through the decorative arts. His work typically featured simple, well-proportioned forms with subtle decorative elements, often using repoussé or riveted details to enhance both structure and surface. Rathbone's pieces included trays, candlesticks, and bowls, many of which were marked with his name or initials, and are now sought after for their refined execution and clarity of design. His contributions helped to elevate domestic metalwork to an art form and reflect the core principles of the Arts and Crafts movement.
