Australia

Cottier’s role in his Australian business was as a supplier of designs for stained glass and decoration together with sending the men who had the skills to execute these designs. Cottier visited Australia on at least one occasion but his partner there, John Lamb Lyon, was the main figure.

The firm they formed in 1873 was Lyon, Cottier & Co. It rapidly became the leading provider of fine decoration and glass in Sydney with a branch in Melbourne. Both cities were developing fast with good quality architecture and had the wealth to commission elaborate interior schemes especially when these were reflective of the latest styles from London.

Important schemes like the one illustrated survive to this day including those executed by Cottier’s principal assistant Andrew Wells who became a partner in the firm between 1886 and 1897 when he returned to Glasgow.

On returning to Glasgow Andrew Wells formed his own partnership with J & W Guthrie. Guthrie and Wells became one of the most prominent firms employing and being employed by leading designers of the Glasgow Style including Charles Rennie Mackintosh.