Not currently on display at the V&A

Pilaster

ca. 1855 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This pilaster and its pair were shown at the Paris International Exhibition in 1855. Their maker, Michel-Victor Cruchet, was a celebrated carver, who supplied many pieces of furniture to the households of both King Louis-Philippe and Emperor Napoleon III.

Carving was extremely fashionable throughout Europe from about 1840 to 1870. The curators of the newly formed South Kensington Museum, which later became the V&A, bought many pieces from the various international exhibitions of the period. Their declared intention was to show these as examples of excellent craftsmanship, with the aim of improving the skills of British woodcarvers. At the time, woodcarving was practised as a craft by both men and women, though most carvers in commercial workshops were men. The painted cartouche shows a figure of Venus with cupids, illustrated on the right of the image.


Object details

Category
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 4 parts.
(Some alternative part names are also shown below)
  • Pilaster
  • Pilaster Base
  • Pilaster Top
  • Fragment
  • Pilaster (Whole Object)
Materials and techniques
Carved limewood, with painting <i>en grisaille</i> on canvas
Brief description
Of carved limewood, in Louis XIV style, with arabesques and a central painted cartouche showing Venus and cupids
Physical description
Pilaster of carved limewood, in Louis XIV style, with arabesque ornament and naturalistic carving of birds, flowers and musical instruments. The central cartouche is painted en grisaille with a figure of Venus and cupids.
Dimensions
  • Height: 382.1cm
  • Width: 66cm
Dimensions taken from departmental catalogue. Not checked on object
Marks and inscriptions
Cruchet Sculpteur Paris (Carved in script below the carved trophy of musical instruments)
Gallery label
TWO PILASTERS Manufacturer: Michel-Victor Cruchet Paris: about 1855 Carved limewood with applied paintings on canvas 2714&a-1856 'American and European Art and Design 1800-1900' These pilasters were purchased from the Paris 1855 Exhibition for £240 when they were described as 'in the style of Louis XIV'. In 1856 Cruchet, a famous ornamental sculptor, decorated the Emperor Napoleon III's petit salon at the Château de Saint Cloud in the Louis XVI style. One is dated and signed 'CRUEHET Sculpteur rue Ntre. Dme. de Lorette Paris', the other signed CRUCHET Sculpteur Paris'.(1987-2006)
Object history
Shown at the 1855 Paris Exhibition and purchased directly by the Museum
Subjects depicted
Summary
This pilaster and its pair were shown at the Paris International Exhibition in 1855. Their maker, Michel-Victor Cruchet, was a celebrated carver, who supplied many pieces of furniture to the households of both King Louis-Philippe and Emperor Napoleon III.

Carving was extremely fashionable throughout Europe from about 1840 to 1870. The curators of the newly formed South Kensington Museum, which later became the V&A, bought many pieces from the various international exhibitions of the period. Their declared intention was to show these as examples of excellent craftsmanship, with the aim of improving the skills of British woodcarvers. At the time, woodcarving was practised as a craft by both men and women, though most carvers in commercial workshops were men. The painted cartouche shows a figure of Venus with cupids, illustrated on the right of the image.
Collection
Accession number
2714A/1 to 4-1856

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Record createdFebruary 22, 2001
Record URL
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