Eric Gill, 'Hog and Wheatsheaf'; proof of a design for printing on paper bags for the Hampshire House Bakery Hammersmith; wood-engraving; 1915

Circular print. An image of a pig and a wheatsheaf with address of Bakery around it.

Given by Mrs Mary Gill, widow of the artist

Design for printing on paper bags for the Hampshire House Bakery, Doves Place, Hammersmith. The block was subsequently used for illustration on the back cover of 'A Statement of Aim', issued by the Hampshire House Workshops, No.8 of the publications of the St. Dominic's Press, Ditchling, Sussex, 1916; on page 19 of 'Wood-engravings', St Dominic's Press Publication No.44, 1924; as plate 3 of 'Engravings by Eric Gill', with a preface by the artist, printed by the Fanfare Press, London, published by Douglas Cleverdon, Bristol, 1929.
The artist refers to the 'Hampshire Hog' in a letter to Evan R. Gill, dated 29 November 1938, on p. 412 of 'Eric Gill', edited by walter Shewring, published by Messrs. Jonathan Cape Ltd., 1947.

Eric Gill studied lettering under Edward Johnston at the Central School of Art and was first drawn to wood engraving for its lettering possibilities. This is an early example of his interest in combining type and image. Gill was later to become a founder member of the Society of Wood Engravers, for whom he designed their burin and box tree device in 1921. The Hampshire House was a working men's club in Hampshire Hog Lane and was founded both as a social centre and to provide opportunities for cultural improvement including art and craft workshops. Outside the workshops Gill carved a Hampshire Hog in stone and then used the hog in various printed devices in 1915-16.

E.844-1952