Apprentice to Harry St. John Dixon
Byard Lamar Tully was born March 1, 1886 in Nevada City, California. His father, Nathan Tully had been a gold miner, bank clerk, and bookkeeper during Byard’s childhood. By 1900 the Tully family was living in Oakland, and his father, Nathan Tully was a goldsmith.
By 1906, Byard Tully was an automotive “machinist.” He was also listed as an “auto mechanic” in the Oakland City Directories. His wife, Constance, whom he married in the 1920’s had immigrated from England in 1910. She was a public school teacher. In 1933 their daughter Judy was born.
According to a 1962 interview with Harry St John Dixon, Byard Tully worked as his apprentice from 1926 until about 1932. By 1930, Byard was listed in the San Francisco City Directory as “Foreman Harry Dixon” and was living in San Leandro. In 1932, Harry Dixon lost his lease on the Tillman Place workshop in San Francisco and had to let Byard Tully go.
Today, we occasionally see pieces signed “Tully” or simply with a capital “T.” These pieces were probably made by Tully after he left Harry Dixon’s workshop. Figure 189 shows a picture of a harry Dixon “puzzle box” made by Tully. The central portion of the Harry Dixon Mark has been removed and is signed with the impressed “T” for Tully.
Fig. 191 Byard Tully bookends. The Pair of bookends on the right are an incredible example of his work and show why he became the foreman of Harry Dixon’s workshop. The Monterey cypress tiles are made by California Faience Pottery, Berkeley, California 6.25″ H
We don’t know how long Byard Tully continued to make pieces of hammered copper. By 1943 he was listed as an electrical in the San Leandro City Directory, however he continued to be listed in the voter registration records a either “art metal worker” or “metal worker” until at least 1944.
Byard Tully died April 19, 1961.
Fig. 189 Byard Tully puzzle box circa 1926-1932 made when he worked for Harry Dixon 5.75″ W
