Design
ca. 1830 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This is a rare design for a chess board which was probably made early in Pugin's career in about 1830 while he was designing and making furniture, metalwork, and decorative details. His passion for reviving Gothic forms is apparent in the headdresses of the people on the chess board, the patterns for the tiles, and the decoration of the borders. The inscriptions of 'Ou bien Faize' (Or well done) and 'Ou bien dize' (Or well said) are in an old form of French.
The frame with its brass label is later and is inscribed 'Bristol & Clifton Chess Assocn first prize won by J. Burt, 1872'. John Burt was vice-president of The Bristol and Clifton Chess Association which was originally known as The Bristol Chess Club. This design raises the question whether Pugin's drawing was commissioned in and around 1830 to mark the foundation in 1829 or 1830 of The Bristol Chess Club.
The frame with its brass label is later and is inscribed 'Bristol & Clifton Chess Assocn first prize won by J. Burt, 1872'. John Burt was vice-president of The Bristol and Clifton Chess Association which was originally known as The Bristol Chess Club. This design raises the question whether Pugin's drawing was commissioned in and around 1830 to mark the foundation in 1829 or 1830 of The Bristol Chess Club.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Pen and ink and wash on paper in a wooden frame |
| Brief description | Design for a chess board by A.W.N. Pugin, about 1830 |
| Physical description | Design for a chess board the squares of which are decorated with heads in medieval-style headdresses alternating with medieval-style patterns with an outer border of acanthus scrollwork. It is painted in brown ochre and blue watercolour. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Production type | Design |
| Marks and inscriptions |
|
| Credit line | Supported by the Friends of the V&A |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This is a rare design for a chess board which was probably made early in Pugin's career in about 1830 while he was designing and making furniture, metalwork, and decorative details. His passion for reviving Gothic forms is apparent in the headdresses of the people on the chess board, the patterns for the tiles, and the decoration of the borders. The inscriptions of 'Ou bien Faize' (Or well done) and 'Ou bien dize' (Or well said) are in an old form of French. The frame with its brass label is later and is inscribed 'Bristol & Clifton Chess Assocn first prize won by J. Burt, 1872'. John Burt was vice-president of The Bristol and Clifton Chess Association which was originally known as The Bristol Chess Club. This design raises the question whether Pugin's drawing was commissioned in and around 1830 to mark the foundation in 1829 or 1830 of The Bristol Chess Club. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | E.422-2008 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
| Record created | April 7, 2008 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest
