Physical description
Panel of wallpaper depicting the Crystal Palace as seen through a garden archway, with flights of steps and architectural framework, with falsified perspective; Colour machine print, on paper.
Place of Origin
Manchester, England (probably, made)
Date
1853-1855 (made)
Artist/maker
Heywood, Higginbottom & Smith (probably, manufacturer)
Materials and Techniques
Colour machine print, on paper
Dimensions
Height: 99 cm, Width: 53.6 cm
Object history note
This was one of six pictorial wallpapers used to demonstrate 'False Principles of Design' at the Museum of Ornamental Art, Marlborough House, London. It is described in the catalogue to the collection, issued by the Department of Science and Art, as 'Perspective representation of the Crystal Palace and Serpentine; with flights of steps and architectural framework'.
It was included as an example of poor design because it falsified the perspective. This paper was, however, seen by manufacturers as a demonstration of their technical skill. It was printed in eight colours with great accuracy and complexity.
Descriptive line
'False Principle no 28'; Panel of wallpaper depicting the Crystal Palace as seen through a garden archway, with flights of steps and architectural framework, with falsified perspective; Colour machine print, on paper; Used to demonstrate 'False Principles of Design' at the Museum of Ornamental Art, Marlborough House, London; English; 1853-1855.
Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)
Oman, Charles C. and Hamilton, Jean. Wallpapers: a history and illustrated catalogue of the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. London: Sotheby Publications, in association with the Victoria and Albert Museum, 1982.
The full text of the entry is as follows:
'271
Crystal Palace seen through a garden archway
Probably produced by Heywood, Higginbottom & Smith, Manchester
Circa 1853-55
Colour machine print
99.4 x 53.4 cm (panel)
E.158-1934 CT 4209 (see col pl, p 181)
See also no 270A'
NB: The 'no 207A' referred to above is V&A objects E.558-563-1980
Saunders, Gill. Wallpaper in Interior Decoration. V&A Publications. London. 2002. pp. 101. pl 84.
Lambert, Susan (ed.) Pattern & Design: Designs for the Decorative Arts 1480-1980 London: Victoria and Albert Museum, 1983
The full text of the entry is as follows:
'4.1 Wallpapers, English. c.1853.
Five samples used to demonstrate 'False Principles of Decoration' at the Museum of Ornamental Art, Marlborough House, Pall Mall, London: three of the samples bearing labels with the numbers etc. listed in the catalogue of the Marlborough House Collection, issued by the Department of Science and Art, 1853.
Colour prints from wood blocks, and some machine printing.
Average size 53.5 x 53 cm E. 158-1934; 99.4 x 53.3 cm
E.558-1980; E.158-1934; E.560-562-1980
No.27 'Perspective representations of a railway station, frequently repeated and falsifying the perspective.'
Produced by Potters of Darwen.
E.558
No.28 'Perspective representations of the Crystal Palace and Serpentine; with flights of steps and architectural framework, causing the same error as in No.27'. Probably produced by Heywood, Higginbottom & Smith, Manchester, c.1853-55.
E.158-1934
[No.32]? 'Imitation of a picture repeated all over a wall, although it could be correctly seen from only one point.'
E.560
No.35 'Horses, water, and ground floating in the air; landscape in perspective.'
E.561
No. 36 'Objects in high relief; perspective representations of architecture employed as decoration for a flat surface.'
E.562
Literature: C.C. Oman and J. Hamilton, Wallpapers, a history and illustrated catalogue of the collection in the Victoria and Albert Museum, 1982, nos.270A, 271.
Obviously the Museum of Ornamental Art concentrated on what those involved saw as objects displaying the 'correct principles of design', but for a short while the first room was devoted to a demonstration of what was termed Examples of False Principles in Decoration: 'a collection of articles such as are of daily production, which are only remarkable for their departure from every law and principle, and some even from the plainest common sense, in their decoration'. The correct principles for paper-hangings were said to be:
'1 The decoration of paper-hangings bears the same relation to the objects in a room, that a background does to the objects in a picture.
2 It should not, therefore, be such as to invite attention to itself - but be subdued in effect, and without strong contrasts either of form, colour or light and dark.
3 Nothing should be introduced which disturbs the sense of flatness.
4 All natural objects, therefore, when used as ornament for these manufactures, should be rendered conventionally flat and in simple tints.
5 While the decorative details should be arranged on symmetrical bases, these should be so resolved into the minor forms as not to be intrusively prominent.
6 Colour should be broken over the whole surface so as to give a general negative hue - rather than masses of positive colour.'
How the wallpaper exhibited here departed from these principles was explained in the catalogue entries, quoted in the descriptions given above.
Other objects submitted to this derisive treatment included a pair of scissors in imitation of a stork with the beak opening the reverse way, 'glass tortured out of its true quality to make it into a cup of a lily or an anemone' and a gas burner with 'Gas flaming from the petal of a convolvulus'. 9
9 Quotations from a Department of Science and Art, A Catalogue of the Museum of Ornamental Art, at Marlborough House, Pall Mall, For the use of Students and Manufacturers, and the Public, 1853.'
Labels and date
British Galleries:
Pictorial wallpapers which commemorated historic events were popular novelties between 1850 and 1880. Various examples survive which show battles, royal anniversaries and international exhibitions. [27/03/2003]
Materials
Paper
Techniques
Colour machine print
Subjects depicted
Trees; People; Crystal Palace; Steps; Archways; Rowing boat; Great Exhibition Building; The Crystal Palace; Serpentine
Categories
British Galleries; Architecture; Wall coverings; Great Exhibition; The Great Exhibition
Collection code
PDP
