Shield from Albert Hall
Shield
between 1861-1866 (made), before 1901 (cast)
between 1861-1866 (made), before 1901 (cast)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Shield by Godfrey Sykes, forming part of the exterior decoration of the Royal Albert Hall, Kensington. It shows a portcullis on a wreath, below which is a scroll inscribed DE BON VOULOIR SERVIR LE ROY. Sykes created these designs while employed by the architect Francis Fowke (1823-1865). Fowke also contracted Sykes to design the terracotta columns, stained glass, bronze, ironwork, decorations in majolica and mosaic, and tile pavements for the South Kensington Museum (now the V&A), beginning in 1861. Neither Sykes nor Fowke lived to see the finished construction of the Royal Albert Hall in 1871.
The present cast is one of a group of 25 reproductions of Sykes's shields for the Royal Albert Hall: from REPRO.1901-4 to REPRO.1901-27, and REPRO.1904-9.
The present cast is one of a group of 25 reproductions of Sykes's shields for the Royal Albert Hall: from REPRO.1901-4 to REPRO.1901-27, and REPRO.1904-9.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Titles |
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| Materials and techniques | Plaster cast |
| Brief description | Shield forming part of the exterior decoration of the Royal Albert Hall, South Kensington. |
| Physical description | This shield shows a crowned portcullis with chains. |
| Dimensions |
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| Styles | |
| Marks and inscriptions | DE BON VOULOIR SERVIR LE ROY
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| Object history | Historical significance: Fowke called Sykes 'master and inventor of English cinque-cento decoration'. |
| Historical context | These casts were copied after the terracotta shields produced by Godfrey Sykes (1824 or 1825 - 1866) the British designer and painter, for the exterior decoration of Royal Albert Hall. Sykes was trained by Alfred Stevens (1817-1875) at the Sheffield School of Art in the Renaissance Revival manner. He created these designs while employed by the architect Francis Fowke (1823-1865). Fowke also contracted Sykes to design the museum terracotta columns, stained glass, bronze, ironwork, decorations in majolica and mosaic, and tile pavements for the South Kensington Museum (now the V&A) beginning in 1861. Neither Sykes nor Fowke lived to see the finished construction of Royal Albert Hall in 1871. Sykes's many assistants continued using and modifying his designs after his death. |
| Production | 20th-century plaster cast after 19th-century British original |
| Summary | Shield by Godfrey Sykes, forming part of the exterior decoration of the Royal Albert Hall, Kensington. It shows a portcullis on a wreath, below which is a scroll inscribed DE BON VOULOIR SERVIR LE ROY. Sykes created these designs while employed by the architect Francis Fowke (1823-1865). Fowke also contracted Sykes to design the terracotta columns, stained glass, bronze, ironwork, decorations in majolica and mosaic, and tile pavements for the South Kensington Museum (now the V&A), beginning in 1861. Neither Sykes nor Fowke lived to see the finished construction of the Royal Albert Hall in 1871. The present cast is one of a group of 25 reproductions of Sykes's shields for the Royal Albert Hall: from REPRO.1901-4 to REPRO.1901-27, and REPRO.1904-9. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Other number | SCP.LOST.788 - Previous number |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | REPRO.1901-24 |
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| Record created | June 24, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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