Georges Mailly (1893-1968)
Blacksmith
exhibition on Aarschot local history, 1937
Die
“Now our Joris was in his element. During the midday hours and in the evening he practised blacksmithing and made all kinds of objects, such as a crucifix, an inkwell, little ashtrays, a chiselled head of Christ, iron candlesticks, shoe lasts, etc. etc.
The reader will surely remember that we admired these pieces at the 1937 exhibition.”
— From: De Klok no. 45, 11 November 1939
by: J. Dille
Ashtray
Salamander
25 cm
Beetles
Teacher at the Sint-Pietersambachtschool in Leuven.
Born in Aarschot on 12 January 1893. Husband of Gabriela De Leender
Very young he already attended the lessons of the local drawing school and went through all the classes: after linear drawing he learned perspective and finished with architecture: in 1910 he won the 1st prize in the class of the architect L. Van Criekinghe.
The Maillys are born craftsmen. At the vocational school in Leuven Joris’s hand was trained during the years 1908-1911 and he left the school with a final diploma of the 1st degree as a fitter. He worked in various industries as a mechanic. On 15 September 1913 he began his military service and took part in the whole war. On 15 September 1916 he was severely wounded by a poisoned dumdum bullet, eleven wounds pierced his body. Thank God, he recovered nonetheless and after a few months in hospital he rejoined his old comrades-in-arms.
He received nine different decorations, eloquent proof that he faithfully fulfilled his duties as a soldier.
In his free hours – during the war – he already made a few small commemorative pieces in copper and bronze. After the armistice he devoted himself more to copper repoussé, worked copper shell casings and knew how to use these instruments of war as handsome ornaments in the home.
At the home crafts exhibitions of 1924, organised by the Christian Middle Classes Union of Aarschot, Joris Mailly won the city prize among 25 competitors: his exhibited pieces, both wrought and repoussé work, drawings and paintings, were strongly noticed and commanded general admiration. This confirmed his courage and zeal and with tenacious diligence he set to work to produce even finer things. The reward crowned his work, attention was drawn to him and his creations. As a teacher of ironwork at the vocational school of the Rev. Leirs he was praised by the Rev. Director and by the pupils. The Very Rev. Canon Lemaire, director of the Sint-Pietersambachtschool, had noticed him and took him on as a pupil in his vocational school in Leuven.
Now our Joris was in his element. During the midday hours and in the evening he practised blacksmithing and made all kinds of objects, such as a crucifix, an inkwell, little ashtrays, a chiselled head of Christ, iron candlesticks, shoe lasts, etc. etc.. The reader will surely remember that we admired these pieces at the 1937 exhibition.
But our sturdy fellow was not yet satisfied, his passion, the desire to paint, awoke in him again, he took up the brush once more and made a few small paintings. On winter evenings he preferred pen drawings and tried his hand at a portrait in black chalk now and then. He had a preference for the latter and so he dared to make the portrait of the Very Rev. Canon Lemaire, Honorary Director of the school. In this he succeeded wonderfully, this portrait is one of his best works.
In these last years he has not done much more home crafts, since his time and effort were demanded by the vocational school, as a result of the changes to the programme, and he had his hands full with the renewal of the lessons. We hear that he has set to work again, so that we shall soon hear something special from him once more.
Joris also recently received the Civil Cross 1st Class for 25 years of faithful State service.
Heartfelt congratulations!
Let us also mention that the following pieces, besides the wrought and repoussé work of our sturdy Joris Mailly, were on display at the exhibition on Aarschot local history 1937:
Paintings:
Large portrait of the Very Rev. Canon K. Lemaire.
Blacksmith at his anvil.
Winter landscape in the Kempen.
Landing place for fishermen.
View from Bruges.
Pen drawings:
A man condemned to death.
A nobleman in prison.
An armourer.
A nurse.
A Christian in prison.
Counterfeiters.
— from “De Klok” no. 45
11 November 1939 by J. Dille