Welcome to Forest Gate!

Of all the emails we have received over the past year or so, the most common request has been for information about an artist who once lived and worked in Forest Gate, L Kersh.

Mr Kersh specialized in what he called "horological collages" - pictures made up from bits of clocks and watches, like the example on the left.

These works have now travelled far and wide and their owners are keen to know more about the artist and his work.*

As a result of these requests, Mr. Kersh's family have been in touch. They are proud to know how much pleasure people continue to get from his work.

If you have any information about L Kersh and his time in Forest Gate, please write to us at kershfiles@forestgate.com

Interesting

Hi, I have been reading the kersh files and find it very interesting.

I too have have come into a couple of Mr. Kersh's collages. They are entitled "Queens Guard" and "Beefeater".

They are very interesting pieces of art and would love to know more about them. They are signed and have a certification on the back and in the upper left hand corner of the certification they are numbered.

I would love to hear more about these. These were mailed to me from a friend in England and the only damage was the glass on one was broken. Please let me hear from someone on this lovely art. Thank you

Evelyn Dobbs (sheba0802@earthlink.net)

Kersh Family Connections

I found your website on a link from Ebay while i was trying to find work done by Len Kersh.

I am proud to say he was my Uncle, he was married to my Aunty Marion (my Mums Sister). I remember as a child going over to over to see them regularly at their house in Station Road, Epping, Essex, UK.

I have fond memories of him and remember him being a lovely Uncle. His Wife now lives in Spain but stays in touch with My Mum on the phone & sometimes pops over to the UK to visit her. I would love to hear from you & I would love to try to answer any questions you want to know about him. Thank you to all the people who have an interest in this lovely man & his great works of art.

Keith Mitchell

L Kersh was my Uncle!

Just want to let you know that Len Kersh was my uncle and he passed away a few years ago. He had three daughters and I would love to have contact with them.

My name is Naomi Turner (nee Kersh) and I live in Sydney, Australia.Thanks to the internet I was able to find cousin Nigel and would love to find these other cousins. I actually met one of them at the factory in 1977.

I hope someone can help.

Naomi, Sydney, NSW (nturner241@optusnet.com.au)

L Kersh was my cousin!

L (Len) Kersh of London was my grandfather's nephew. Len's father, Jack Kersh and my grandfather, Michael Kersh were brothers. They were born in Riga in Latvia, and emigrated to the United Kingdom (Sunderland in Jack's case, and Glasgow, in my grandfather's case), where they lived out the rest of their days.

The story goes that Len was a "bit of a lad" in his youth, and got into all sorts of trouble. He eventually left home in Sunderland, and made his way to London. There he lost touch with his family, but made good by developing an idea with which he had helped a family member do a school project - the making of collages from old odds and ends. Ultimately this developed into his "horological collages" with which so many people are now familiar the world over.

I only recently made contact with Jack Kersh's side of the family as he and my grandfather apparently fell out over some matter, and never saw one another again. It was only by chance that the daughter of one of Len's brothers, Bennie Kersh contacted me from Australia. I now have the missing pieces of our family tree, and it's quite something. If anyone is interested in seeing this, then let me know and I'll email them the current version which is on Excel.

I don't know what happened to Len, but I do know that his brother Charles is still alive and well and living in South Africa, where I am in contact with him through his son, also named Jack. I've asked him for further information about Len, but I'm not sure if he will have any further information beyond what I have described above. I do know that Len, Bennie and Charles had four sisters - Ethel, Elsie, Eva and Rose, and I'd love to know what became of them and of Len's children, if he had any.

I hope that fills in some of the missing information on my distant cousin.

Nigel Kersh, Ra'anana, Israel (nckersh@barak-online.net)

Big Ben in Orlando

I purchased this Kersh collage at a sale in Orlando Florida.

It is entitled London Scene and shows Big Ben and a London Bus. It is very prettily framed and I do hope that someone in England can try to locate this very talented artist. He obviously was very dedicated to his work, and many of us who are fortunate enough to have come across these original pieces are truly enjoying the fruits of his labors.

Rita Richardson, Orlando (formerly Edmonton, London) (rrichardson30@cfl.rr.com)

Mercedes 280

I also have just aquired a collage of a mercedes 280 ce by L.Kersh.

I have been reading the questions page and also wonder what kind of value or if there are any collectors looking for these items. Mine has a clock in the middle. Any comments would be appreciated.

D.Allen. Wigan, Lancashire. (david@allen1624.fsnet.co.uk)

HELLO!

I have in my possession two pieces of L. Kersh's. I would like to know their value if at all possible to someone who collects. They are from 1976. One is a Torah and Jewish Star made from clock parts and the other a large clock. They are beautiful. But to the right individual they might be very valuable.

Hope to hear from you very soon.

Penne, New Jersey, USA (onsiteeyecare@aol.com)

A Kersh in Perth

I have just been to your web site after searching for some information regarding L Kersh. My sister found one of his works of art, a collage of a penny farthing bike made from clock peices, in a second hand store in Melbourne and bought it to me in Perth. I would be interested in any further information regarding the artist.

Regards,

Sue Dartnell, Perth, Western Australia (Susan.Dartnell@health.wa.gov.au)

The Search for Kersh . . .

I found your web site while trying to find out about a picture that was given to me by a friend. It is titled "American Dakota" By "L Kersh". These names are on small metal tags in side the frame.

It is a picture of a train made out of clock parts. On the back is a certificate that says it certifies it as a "Genuine Original Horological Collage by L Kersh of London". And there is a hand written signature on it. There is also stamps that read: hand made in England, and worldwide copyright 1978. On the certificate the copyright date is 1976. I would like any information that you could find for me on this piece of art work and on the artist.

Thank you for your time and effort that you put into this web site and for any information that you could find for me.

Sincerely, Jody Wampler (cty31456@centurytel.net)

. . . Goes On!

I have a beautiful collage of an offshore drilling rig made out of watch parts given to me by a dear friend that has since passed on. The artist is L.Kersh of London, The Studio Gallery, 332 Romford Rd. London. I know she bought this there in the 1970's. I would like information of the artist and possible value of this picture.

Sincerely, Patricia Farrell (trishf@intercorp.com)

The Editor writes: Works by L Kersh are regularly featured on the internet auction site Ebay and they appear to attract prices in the range of $25 - $35. However, it appears that there are Kersh collectors in the States who will pay up to $80 for a piece in excellent condition.

Another Horological Collage

Hi there, my name is Angel Maker. I would like to know if this item has any value. It says on the front "Big Ben, London", and has L. Kersh on the front. It is in a gilded frame, white linen with watch parts forming the London clock. On the back it says "Guaranteed genuine original -- Horological Collage by L. Kersh". Then it has a hand-written signature "Artist's signature - L. Kersh. Made in England ,1970." A little folder with his picture inside. Then it tells a story of him.

I found it in an old used shop. Could you tell me if it is worth anything?

Angel Maker, Panama City, California USA (ANGELAMKR123@AOL.COM)

Looking for an Artist

What a lovely web site!! Very nicely done and easy to navigate. Looks like a wonderful area.

I am in the United States and would like to know if you will check your telephone book to see if someone still lives there. Perhaps he is a watchmaker or repairer. I have got a framed "picture" of a Rolls Royce Phantom that is made entirely from watch parts. It is called a Horological collage and is marvelous. I am wondering if this has any value other than to me as the owner and maybe to the maker of it.

If this person is still around, I would love to write and tell him how much we've admired this beautiful piece of artwork.

I sincerely appreciate any information you can find and I thank you in advance for your consideration and time.

Warm regards from the Deep South in Alabama,

Cindy Boudreaux (StewartG1@aol.com)

A Longshot?

Hi, this is a longshot, but here goes:

A piece of artwork called a "horological collage" has come into my possession. It's basically a picture of a Mercedes Benz created from pieces of watches, clocks and such. Anyway, it was made in 1976 by "LKersh of London," and his studio address at the time was 332 Romford Road, Forest Gate, London. Can anyone there tell me of the significance of this artist, and whether what I have is of any historical value? I would greatly appreciate any help in this matter, even just to know whether the artist is still alive, whether the studio is still there, etc.

Very best,

Phillip Milano, Orange Park, Florida (yforum@yforum.com)

The Editor writes: 332 Romford Road is now the St. Andrew’s Hotel, a bed and breakfast establishment. I spoke to the duty manager last year and he told me the place had been a hotel since about 1980. It’s not a very prepossessing sort of place, sandwiched between a drive-thru McDonalds and a petrol (gas) station.

There is nothing about the building that provides any clue as to what happened to L Kersh

Please note that while we love to hear from people who have Kersh collages, we are unable to provide any information relating to the current market value of these items. Sorry.

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