Puzzle
ca. 1766 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This dissected map is one of two in Lady Charlotte Finch's puzzle cabinet created by engraver John Spilsbury. Spilsbury had established his own business selling maps after he finished his apprenticeship in 1760, but did not begin printing his own until 1766, when this puzzle dates from, and a sufficient market had built up for them. They were smaller and simpler than regular commercial maps, meaning they were cheaper to engrave, print and colour. They were intended for a juvenile audience and were purposefully designed for dissections such as these.
It was held in Lady Charlotte Finch's puzzle cabinet, in which she kept the dissected map puzzles she had commissioned for the children of George III, in her role as Royal Governess.
It was held in Lady Charlotte Finch's puzzle cabinet, in which she kept the dissected map puzzles she had commissioned for the children of George III, in her role as Royal Governess.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Engraving mounted on thin mahogany, cut to shape. |
| Brief description | Dissection puzzle of Ireland, ca.1766, engraving mounted on mahogany, from Lady Charlotte Finch's puzzle cabinet. |
| Physical description | Engraved map of Ireland ca. 1766, mounted on thin mahogany and cut to shape in 32 pieces. |
| Dimensions |
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| Production type | Mass produced |
| Credit line | Presented by Art Fund jointly to the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Historic Royal Palaces |
| Historical context | Lady Charlotte Finch (1725-1813) was governess to the children of King George III for 30 years from 1762-1792. In this time, she oversaw 14 of the king and queen's 15 children. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Place depicted | |
| Association | |
| Summary | This dissected map is one of two in Lady Charlotte Finch's puzzle cabinet created by engraver John Spilsbury. Spilsbury had established his own business selling maps after he finished his apprenticeship in 1760, but did not begin printing his own until 1766, when this puzzle dates from, and a sufficient market had built up for them. They were smaller and simpler than regular commercial maps, meaning they were cheaper to engrave, print and colour. They were intended for a juvenile audience and were purposefully designed for dissections such as these. It was held in Lady Charlotte Finch's puzzle cabinet, in which she kept the dissected map puzzles she had commissioned for the children of George III, in her role as Royal Governess. |
| Bibliographic reference | Shefrin, Jill. Such Constant Affectionate Care: Lady Charlotte Finch - Royal Governess & the Children of George III . Los Angeles: The Cotsen Occasional Press, 2003 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | B.10-2011 |
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| Record created | December 7, 2011 |
| Record URL |
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