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Design

1998 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This design relates to a bench in the V&A’s collection (M.23-1998). The bench was commissioned from the Rural Development Commission and designed by their then forgework advisor, Paul Allen. It was made over several months during 1998 by a team of blacksmithing apprentices, many of whom signed the piece.

The bench was designed to display a variety of forgeworking techniques, both constructive and decorative, such as the double heeled tenon joints which form the end frames and the fire-welded flower motifs. The mild steel seat is decorated with repoussé and chased ornament features the arms of the Ironmongers’ Company, including two salamanders, animals reputedly able to withstand fire unscathed.

This drawing, one of four designs, depicts the final design for the bench end, featuring tenon joints and flower motifs.

Together with the other three designs relating to this project (E.809-2014, E.810-2014 and E.807-2014), these drawings show the design process for an object in the V&A’s collection and demonstrate the continuation of hand-drawn design.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Pencil drawing on paper
Brief description
Design for an iron bench end, by Paul Allen, pencil on paper, Britain, 1998
Physical description
Design drawing for a bench end, pencil on paper. Design depicts tenon joinery and flower motifs. The artist's initials 'PCA' are visible on the shaded flower motif on the left of the design. The drawing is signed 'P.C Allen 1998' in the bottom right hand corner alongside the makers mark, a stamp in pink ink with the artist's initials 'P A' positioned either side of a sword.
Dimensions
  • Width: 69.7cm
  • Height: 100cm
Marks and inscriptions
PCA P.C Allen, 1998 (Artist's initials 'PCA' incorporated into the design. The drawing is also signed and dated on the bottom right hand corner with 'P.C Allen, 1998' alongside the makers mark; a pink ink stamp with the artist's initials 'PA' on either side of a sword.)
Credit line
Given by Paul Allen
Object history
This design relates to a bench in the V&A’s collection (M.23-1998). The bench was commissioned from the Rural Development Commission and designed by their then forgework advisor, Paul Allen. It was made over several months during 1998 by a team of blacksmithing apprentices, many of whom signed the piece.
Subject depicted
Summary
This design relates to a bench in the V&A’s collection (M.23-1998). The bench was commissioned from the Rural Development Commission and designed by their then forgework advisor, Paul Allen. It was made over several months during 1998 by a team of blacksmithing apprentices, many of whom signed the piece.

The bench was designed to display a variety of forgeworking techniques, both constructive and decorative, such as the double heeled tenon joints which form the end frames and the fire-welded flower motifs. The mild steel seat is decorated with repoussé and chased ornament features the arms of the Ironmongers’ Company, including two salamanders, animals reputedly able to withstand fire unscathed.

This drawing, one of four designs, depicts the final design for the bench end, featuring tenon joints and flower motifs.

Together with the other three designs relating to this project (E.809-2014, E.810-2014 and E.807-2014), these drawings show the design process for an object in the V&A’s collection and demonstrate the continuation of hand-drawn design.
Associated object
Collection
Accession number
E.808-2014

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Record createdNovember 19, 2014
Record URL
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