One of three rectangular porcelain plaques painted by Miss E. Cambridge, student of the Porcelain Class, South Kensington, 1870, after a watercolour 'May Day in the Olden Time', painted by Henry Stacy Marks in 1867, depicting procession, from left to right: boy musician, bride or May Queen, woman, 3 men with whips. English, 1870
Each end 21" square

Three rectangular porcelain plaques painted by Miss E. Cambridge, student of the Porcelain Class, South Kensington, 1870, after a watercolour 'May Day in the Olden Time', painted by Henry Stacy Marks in 1867. English, 1870.

In 1868 Henry Cole had recommended that the Department of Science and Art buy a watercolour entitled May Day in the Olden Time from the artist, Henry Stacy Marks. Marks gave Cole permission to use the watercolour in any way he wished for the decoration of the Museum interiors. The design was enlarged and painted on porcelain panels by Amy E. Black of the South Kensington Art School porcelain class. These panels were incorporated into a buffet in Renaissance Revival style, designed by F.W, Moody and made by Gillow & Co. The buffet was intended for the window bay facing the door from the Green Dining Room into the gallery.

These three panels by another student, Miss E. Black, were also painted in the porcelain class and aquired by the South Kensington Museum as copies in 1872.

321-1872