Panel thumbnail 1
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Medieval & Renaissance, Room 64b, The Simon Sainsbury Gallery

Panel

1500-1600 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

The term ‘linenfold’ refers to ornament of parallel mouldings on wood panels. The ends are carved in such a way that they suggest the edge of folded cloth, in some examples even imitating the hooks and edgings of textile hangings. When used on wainscot (panelling in a wooden framework), regular linenfold panels provide a relatively small scale pattern animated by light and shade.

Linenfold was usually produced on thin sheets of quarter-sawn oak using moulding planes, then finished with a chisel. The pattern was common in Northern Europe from about the mid 15th-century with frequent variations, and remained in use in Britain into the early 17th century. During the 19th century linenfold became popular again as an element of the Gothic Revival style.


Object details

Category
Object type
Materials and techniques
Carved oak
Brief description
Linenfold panel
Physical description
Oak panel carved with linenfold pattern; with a central deep fold, and two lateral folds reversed, and the ends carved without additional ornament
Dimensions
  • Height: 38.7cm
  • Width: 16.2cm
  • Depth: 1.3cm
  • Weight: 0.34kg
Measured for the Medieval and Renaissance Galleries
Style
Object history
Bought, one of two (Circ.155-1928) for £3.5s from Mr S.W.Wolsey, 71 and 72 Buckingham Gate, London SW1; they were presumably items from stock, and no further information about them is recorded in the correspondence.
See RF 28/1966
Historical context
The term ‘linenfold’ refers to ornament of parallel mouldings on wood panels, with the ends carved in such a way to give the appearance of the edge of folded cloth; in some examples even imitating the hooks and edgings of textile hangings. Sometimes the design is a highly stylised series of mouldings giving the illusion of vertical folds. Linenfold was common in Northern Europe from about the mid 15th century with frequent variations, and remained in use in Britain into the early 17th century. During the 19th century linenfold became popular again as an element of the Gothic Revival style. When used on wainscot regular linenfold panels provide a relatively small scale pattern animated by light and shade. Linenfold was usually produced on thin sheets of quarter-sawn oak using moulding planes, then finished with a chisel.
Summary
The term ‘linenfold’ refers to ornament of parallel mouldings on wood panels. The ends are carved in such a way that they suggest the edge of folded cloth, in some examples even imitating the hooks and edgings of textile hangings. When used on wainscot (panelling in a wooden framework), regular linenfold panels provide a relatively small scale pattern animated by light and shade.

Linenfold was usually produced on thin sheets of quarter-sawn oak using moulding planes, then finished with a chisel. The pattern was common in Northern Europe from about the mid 15th-century with frequent variations, and remained in use in Britain into the early 17th century. During the 19th century linenfold became popular again as an element of the Gothic Revival style.
Bibliographic reference
Charles Tracy, English Medieval Furniture and Woodwork (London, The Victoria and Albert Museum, 1988), cat. no. 293 'Portion of linenfold Panelling. Oak, 15th century 38.8 x 1.2 cm Mus. No. Circ.156 -1928'
Collection
Accession number
CIRC.156-1928

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Record createdNovember 9, 2006
Record URL
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