Katharine Emma MaltwoodDaryn WrightCanada's Early Women WritersCanadian Writing Research CollaboratoryBorn digitalEnglishBorn digitalLife writingBiographyBibliographyKatharine Emma Maltwood (1878-1961)This image is in the public domain; photo held in the University of Victoria Special Collections, Victoria, BC.
English-born artist Katharine Emma Maltwood settled in Victoria, BC, where she published several of her works on Buddhism, theosophy, philosophy, and mythology.
17 April 1878, Woodford Green, London, England29 July 1961, Victoria, BCName at birth: Katharine EmmaSapsworthAlternate names: K.E. MaltwoodKatharine MaltwoodMrs. John Maltwood
Entry written by Daryn Wright
Katharine Emma Maltwood (1878-1961)
Katharine Emma Sapsworth was born in Woodford Green, London, England, on 17 April 1878. Her parents, George Saunders Sapsworth (1841-1929) and Elizabeth Duer (b. 1842), encouraged her artistic pursuits from an early age. She attended the Slade School of Fine Art at University College, London, from which she graduated in 1897 before continuing to study art in Italy and France. Her artistic interests turned from poetry to visual arts, primarily sculpture. From the years 1911 to 1930, Katharine’s sculptures were exhibited at the London Salon and the Royal Academy, as well as other galleries in London.
On 2 April 1901, Katharine married John Maltwood (1866-1967), whose wealth allowed her to continue her artistic pursuits. They had one daughter together, Emma Charlotte Maltwood (1896-1997).
After John’s retirement in 1921, the couple travelled extensively throughout Asia, North and South America, collecting various objets d’art and antiques along the way. Upon their deaths, this collection, along with Katharine’s sculptures and drawings, were bequeathed to the University of Victoria. In 1938, they settled in Victoria, BC, where they acquired a house that Katharine called “The Thatch;” this would become her studio and their country home.
In addition to her work in sculpture, Katharine was interested in Buddhism, theosophy, philosophy, and mythology. Her research eventually became focused on Arthurian legends, especially those concerning the Holy Grail. These studies led her to the discovery of the Glastonbury Zodiac, a circular formation of naturally constructed effigies on the fields of Somerset. She termed the discovery the “Temple of the Stars.” These findings led to several books, and a report entitled
The Discovery of a Prehistoric Zodiac in England was published in the Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada and reissued as a chapbook in 1943. Her research was also published in various publications, including the Canadian Theosophist and London’s Speculative Mason.
Katharine died in Victoria on 29 July 1961.
Published TextsNon-fictionA Guide to Glastonbury’s Temple of the Stars; Its Giant Effigies Described from Air View Maps and from ‘The High History of the Holy Graal”: Part One (London: Women’s Printing Society, 1934)Air View Supplement to A Guide to Glastonbury’s Temple of the Stars (London: Watkins, 1937)The Discovery of a Prehistoric Zodiac in England (1943)—chapbook reprinted from the Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (September 1943)The Enchantments of Britain; or, King Arthur’s Round Table of the Stars (Victoria, BC: Victoria, 1944)King Arthur’s Round Table of the Zodiac (Victoria, BC: Victoria, 1946)Periodical ContributionsCanadian Theosophist (Toronto)Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (Toronto)Speculative Mason (London)Other Artistic ProductionsVisual arts
Magna Mater (sculpture, 1911)
Primeval Canada Awakening to Her Destiny (sculpture)
Mills of God (sculpture, 1919)
The Priest of Buddha (sculpture, 1920)
The Holy Grail; or Samadhi (sculpture, 1922)
Font for the New Church of the Good Shepherd (sculpture, 1923)
Aspiration (sculpture, 1924)
Mirage (sculpture, 1927)
Buddha’s Path of Enlightenment (sculpture, 1929)
Trees Over Water (drawing, 1939)
Family and RelationshipsFather: George Saunders Sapsworth(January 1841 – 9 November 1929)
George Saunders Sapsworth was born in January 1841 in London, England. He married Elizabeth Duer (b. 1842) in July 1868 and they had four children together. George, a wealthy leather merchant who sometimes served as the local mayor, died on 9 November 1929.
Mother: Elizabeth Duer(b. 1842)
Elizabeth Duer was born in 1842 in Middlesex, England. She married George Saunders Sapsworth (1841-1929) in July 1868 and they had four children together.
SiblingsMary Elizabeth Sapsworth(1871 – 11 October 1962): m. Howard Gull Stormont (1859-1935)Arnold Duer Sapsworth(September 1872 – 15 August 1963)Ellen Amy Sapsworth(b. 1876)Spouse: John Maltwood(July 1866 – 18 June 1967)Marriage: 2 April 1901, London, England
John Maltwood was born in July 1866 in London, England. He was a successful businessman working in advertising when he married Katharine Emma Sapsworth (1878-1961) on 2 April 1901. They had one daughter together, Emma Charlotte Maltwood (1896-1997).
After John retired from his business in 1921, he and Katharine set off on a world tour, travelling through Korea, Japan, the Middle East, and other Asian countries in addition to much of North and South America. During their travels they collected art pieces and antiques, slowly building an impressive collection that they later bequeathed to the University of Victoria.
In 1938, they settled in Victoria, BC, in 1938, where John died on 18 June 1967.
ChildrenEmma Charlotte Maltwood (daughter) (January 1896 – 1997)ReligionResidences
Victoria, BC(1938-1961)
Woodford Green, London, England
Education
Moira House, Eastbourne, Sussex
Slade School of Fine Art, University College, London (1897)
Awards
Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (Royal Society of Canada, 1940))
Employment and Volunteer ActivitiesMemberships
Somersetshire Archaeological and Natural History Society
Tangential Information
Katharine and John bequeathed “The Thatch” to the University of Victoria upon their deaths. The Thatch, located at 4509 West Saanich Road in the Royal Oak neighbourhood of Victoira, was run as a museum for some time. Due to the high costs of retrofitting the cottage to conform to environmental requirements, the University of Victoria was obliged to sell the building; museum contents were moved to the university.
The Katherine Maltwood Society, a group of individuals ("The Maltwood Moot") interested in Katharine's findings on the Glastonbury Zodiac, was formed in 2015 in order to promote and celebrate Katharine's work through exhibitions, further research, and the publication of the twice yearly
Maltwood Journal.
Archival HoldingsKatharine Maltwood fonds, University of Victoria Libraries Special Collections, Victoria, BC Published Resources1851 England Census.British Columbia, Canada, Death Index, 1872-1990.Brown, Rosemary Alicia. Katharine Emma Maltwood: Artist, 1878-1961. The Maltwood Art Museum and Gallery, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC. 30 January 2006. Web. 19 June 2015.England, Select Marriages, 1538–1973.England & Wales, FreeBMD Birth Index, 1837-1915.England & Wales, FreeBMD Marriage Index, 1837-1915.England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1966.London, England, Marriages and Banns, 1754-1921.Mary Elizabeth Stormont.Find a Grave. Web. 19 June 2015.The Katharine Maltwood Society. Web. 22 June 2015.