Oil painting, decorative panel for the Waldorf Hotel, Philippe Forbes-Robertson, 1930s

Decorative panel made to look like the view from a balcony, with a water mill perched on a hill, and a stream and bridge below.

Given by Ida Forbes-Robertson, sister of the artist

Given by Ida Forbes-Robertson, the artist's sister, 1986

Historical significance: The illustrator and decorative artist Philippe Forbes-Robertson (1898-1968) was commissioned to paint a series of decorative panels for the Waldorf Hotel, Aldwych, London, in the 1930s. In the event two panels were not used and were given to the museum by the artist's sister, Ida Forbes-Robertson, in 1986. The others were still in situ in the Tea Room of the Waldorf Hotel at the time of acquisition, when the hotel was part of the Forte group. Since that time the hotel has changed ownership twice; it was bought by Le Meridien in 1994 and by the Hilton group in 2005, at which time the hotel was undergoing extensive refurbishment. At some point, probably as a result of the 2005 refurbishment, the murals were removed. Their present whereabouts is unknown.

The two V&A panels are painted in a Chinoiserie style, fashionable in the 1930s, characterised by stylised landscapes of steep rocky mountains and tall, elegant trees.

This panel and P.6-1986 were not used; at the time of acquisition the other panels were in situ in the Tea Room of the Waldorf Hotel, Aldwych, London.

P.5-1986