Image of Gallery in South Kensington
Request to view at the Prints & Drawings Study Room, level E , Case I, Shelf 189, Box A

Is there a plumber in the house?

Drawing
late 1940s to early 1950s (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Wilfrid R. Addey (1912-1999) worked as a commercial artist for over sixty years, working for Dorland Advertising and Mitchells among other London advertising firms. His work shows the range of products and illustration styles, from aeroplanes and cars, beer and perfume, to satirical cartoons and calendar pin-up girls and is representative of the post war boom in advertising during the late 1940s and 1950s.

This pen and ink illustration is for a cartoon. Four surgeons are shown turning out to the audience from an operating table which they are gathered around. They all looked perplexed and the centre right figure seems to be calling out the title, which is written above the composition "Is there a plumber in the house?" This pun on the common call for help "Is there a doctor in the house?" when some one is ill reflects British post war humour.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleIs there a plumber in the house? (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Pen and ink drawing
Brief description
Illustration for a cartoon titled "Is there a plumber in the house?"
Physical description
Illustration in pen and ink showing four surgens in front of an operating table looking perplexed. The title of the cartoon "Is there a Plumber in the House?" is written in pencil at the top of the page.
Dimensions
  • Height: 23.1cm
  • Width: 25.2cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • 'IS THERE A PLUMBER IN THE HOUSE?' (Written in pencil at the top of the page.)
  • 'addey' (Signed in pen and ink at the bottom right of the page.)
Credit line
Given by K. D. and E. F. Law
Subjects depicted
Summary
Wilfrid R. Addey (1912-1999) worked as a commercial artist for over sixty years, working for Dorland Advertising and Mitchells among other London advertising firms. His work shows the range of products and illustration styles, from aeroplanes and cars, beer and perfume, to satirical cartoons and calendar pin-up girls and is representative of the post war boom in advertising during the late 1940s and 1950s.

This pen and ink illustration is for a cartoon. Four surgeons are shown turning out to the audience from an operating table which they are gathered around. They all looked perplexed and the centre right figure seems to be calling out the title, which is written above the composition "Is there a plumber in the house?" This pun on the common call for help "Is there a doctor in the house?" when some one is ill reflects British post war humour.
Collection
Accession number
E.185-2003

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Record createdMay 20, 2009
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