Architectural Fittings
1780-1800
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This capital was removed from a house which formed part one of the eighteenth-century terraces on Great George Street, London, prior to its demolition in 1910. No. 29, from which this capital comes, was built c.1780. It formed part of an alcove in the front room of the ground floor, a room considered by the museum to be the best and most complete surviving example of this period in the terrace. Originally painted, the paint has been remvoved to reveal the fine quality of the softwood carving.
As well as the capital, the museum also acquired from No. 29 the column on which it sat, a door frame, a section of a frieze, an architrave soffit, chair rails and skirting rails. Great George Street was redeveloped by H. M. Office of Works, with the building of the New Government Offices between 1899 and 1915 on the North side, and the demolition of much of the South side to create Parliament Square.
As well as the capital, the museum also acquired from No. 29 the column on which it sat, a door frame, a section of a frieze, an architrave soffit, chair rails and skirting rails. Great George Street was redeveloped by H. M. Office of Works, with the building of the New Government Offices between 1899 and 1915 on the North side, and the demolition of much of the South side to create Parliament Square.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 7 parts.
|
| Materials and techniques | Carved pine; once painted, now stripped |
| Brief description | Plaster and wood framework of a doorway from No. 29 George Street, Westminster; English, late 18th century |
| Physical description | Framework of a doorway consisting of a cornice with dentel, fluted an dother mouldings; a freize of honeysuckles alternating with vases, with an urn at each side; fluted pilasteres with capitals. |
| Gallery label | Corinthian capital
About 1780
England (London)
Softwood with carved and punched decoration, originally painted
From 29 Great George Street, Westminster
Museum no. W.5A-1910
This capital does not consist of a single block but is ‘pieced-out’ from sixteen vertical sections, visible from above. These were glued together before carving took place. The joints inside are strengthened with sixteen triangular glued blocks, creating a stable and lightweight structure.
A punched background sets off the smooth surfaces of the carved acanthus leaves.(01/12/2012) |
| Credit line | Given by H M Office of Works |
| Object history | Taken from the front room on the ground floor of no. 29 George Street, Westminster, London. |
| Summary | This capital was removed from a house which formed part one of the eighteenth-century terraces on Great George Street, London, prior to its demolition in 1910. No. 29, from which this capital comes, was built c.1780. It formed part of an alcove in the front room of the ground floor, a room considered by the museum to be the best and most complete surviving example of this period in the terrace. Originally painted, the paint has been remvoved to reveal the fine quality of the softwood carving. As well as the capital, the museum also acquired from No. 29 the column on which it sat, a door frame, a section of a frieze, an architrave soffit, chair rails and skirting rails. Great George Street was redeveloped by H. M. Office of Works, with the building of the New Government Offices between 1899 and 1915 on the North side, and the demolition of much of the South side to create Parliament Square. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | W.5-1910 |
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| Record created | June 24, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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