I am still trying on and off to find out if there are any examples of
Frederick's leather work in existence, as from the descriptions in various
editions of 'The Cambrian' it was of exeptional quality and beauty, with
mentions of embroidered harness decoration, gold, and other leather articles he
had made, such as caskets and picture frames, some based on casts taken
from slabs 'discovered at Nineveh by Dr. Lanyard'., which he had studied.
Among his customers were said to be the then Prince of Wales, Emperor Napoleon
[presumably one of the later ones], the Viceroy of Egypt, local gentry
etc. , but I don't know if all these claims are correct, though he is recorded
as having sent a wedding gift of his own making to the prince and his
bride.
In 1863 he made a frame for a portrait of the Mayor of Neath [Evan Evans]
by W. E. Jones, perhaps this still exists.
A kind lister photographed his headstone for me, which has an inset roundel
on it, and looking at the photo, I think it may have been something he
designed and made himself, and plan to visit and take a rubbing or clean it up
to be able to examine it closely.
Frederick was a great grandson of John Deer/e Jnr. and his wife Mary
Thomas of Penmark, Glamorgan, ancestors of my grandmother.
Any help or advice on how to proceed would be gratefully received - I did
enquire with the Royal Mews but got no reply.
Wendy