Dagger sheath base
Dagger Sheath Base
ca. 1850 (made)
ca. 1850 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This is a base of a dagger sheath for a hunting knife made by Alfred Stevens in ca. 1850.
Stevens was commissioned by the cutlers George Wostenholm & Son Ltd of Sheffield to produce a set of daggers and sheaths as showpieces, specifically for their stand at the 1851 International Exhibition. According to Stannus (Stannus 1891, p. 12) they 'were much admired'.
A sculptor, designer and painter, Alfred Stevens (1817/18-1875) rejected contemporary distinctions between fine art and design. From 1850 to 1857 he was chief designer to Hoole & Co., Sheffield, where he produced award-winning designs for metalwork, majolica, terracotta ornaments and chimney-pieces. Perhaps his two greatest works were the decorations for the dining-room at Dorchester House, London (about 1856), for which he made countless drawings inspired by the Italian High Renaissance style, in particular the work of Michelangelo and the monument to the Duke of Wellington for St Paul's Cathedral, London, which was completed after his death. The two allegorical groups from this monument made a lasting impact on the New Sculpture movement.
The influence of the Italian Renaissance is evident in much of Steven's work, and is perhaps best reflected in the Wellington monument.
Stevens was commissioned by the cutlers George Wostenholm & Son Ltd of Sheffield to produce a set of daggers and sheaths as showpieces, specifically for their stand at the 1851 International Exhibition. According to Stannus (Stannus 1891, p. 12) they 'were much admired'.
A sculptor, designer and painter, Alfred Stevens (1817/18-1875) rejected contemporary distinctions between fine art and design. From 1850 to 1857 he was chief designer to Hoole & Co., Sheffield, where he produced award-winning designs for metalwork, majolica, terracotta ornaments and chimney-pieces. Perhaps his two greatest works were the decorations for the dining-room at Dorchester House, London (about 1856), for which he made countless drawings inspired by the Italian High Renaissance style, in particular the work of Michelangelo and the monument to the Duke of Wellington for St Paul's Cathedral, London, which was completed after his death. The two allegorical groups from this monument made a lasting impact on the New Sculpture movement.
The influence of the Italian Renaissance is evident in much of Steven's work, and is perhaps best reflected in the Wellington monument.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Dagger sheath base (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Plaster |
| Brief description | Dagger sheath base, plaster cast, by Alfred Stevens, English, ca. 1850 |
| Physical description | Bands of decorated mouldings supported by conventional animals, symmetrically placed back to back. |
| Dimensions |
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| Object history | Purchased from Mrs Ada Gamble, 12 Stanlake Villas, Shepherd's Bush, London, together with a range of other objects by Stevens, for £175. Mrs Gamble was the widow of James Gamble, a pupil of Stevens, who had a large collection of designs and drawings by his former master. Historical significance: Stevens was commissioned by the cutlers George Wostenholm & Son Ltd of Sheffield to produce a set of daggers and sheaths as showpieces, specifically for their stand at the 1851 International Exhibition. According to Stannus (Stannus 1891, p. 12) they 'were much admired'. |
| Historical context | This is a base of a dagger sheath for a hunting knife. |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | This is a base of a dagger sheath for a hunting knife made by Alfred Stevens in ca. 1850. Stevens was commissioned by the cutlers George Wostenholm & Son Ltd of Sheffield to produce a set of daggers and sheaths as showpieces, specifically for their stand at the 1851 International Exhibition. According to Stannus (Stannus 1891, p. 12) they 'were much admired'. A sculptor, designer and painter, Alfred Stevens (1817/18-1875) rejected contemporary distinctions between fine art and design. From 1850 to 1857 he was chief designer to Hoole & Co., Sheffield, where he produced award-winning designs for metalwork, majolica, terracotta ornaments and chimney-pieces. Perhaps his two greatest works were the decorations for the dining-room at Dorchester House, London (about 1856), for which he made countless drawings inspired by the Italian High Renaissance style, in particular the work of Michelangelo and the monument to the Duke of Wellington for St Paul's Cathedral, London, which was completed after his death. The two allegorical groups from this monument made a lasting impact on the New Sculpture movement. The influence of the Italian Renaissance is evident in much of Steven's work, and is perhaps best reflected in the Wellington monument. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | A.49-1911 |
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| Record created | June 24, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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