Balcony Panel
ca. 1775 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Object Type
This balcony has a curved front with three leaf-like panels. The main motif is based on the Greek anthemion ornament, adapted by Robert Adam (1728-1792) for casting in metal. According to the authors of A History of Cast Iron in Architecture (John Gloag and Derek Bridgewater), this was 'a far more inventive treatment of cast iron by Adam, than his normal habit of using decorative forms that were common alike to wood, plaster, stone or iron, and were interchangeable, deriving neither originality of form nor distinctive character from the material employed'. This design was used for the Adelphi in London, a massive luxury apartment and warehousing complex situated between the Strand and the River Thames, designed and built by the Adam brothers between 1768 and the late 1770s. Most of it was destroyed in 1936.
Materials & Making
Here Adam was obviously conscious of the properties and possibilities of cast iron as a new material . The Adam brothers took a particular interest in cast iron (the eldest of the four brothers, John, was a director of the Carron Iron Company from 1764), and their designs at the Adelphi did much to accelerate the popularity of this material. The fashion for cast-iron balconies caught on after the building of the Adelphi, and the pattern seen on this one became one of the most popular balcony panel designs in the country , copied not only in London but all over the country.
People
Robert Adam was a prolific designer, and through his association with the Carron Ironworks he acquired a good knowledge of the possibilities of cast iron. He often mixed it with wrought iron, brass and steel. Unfortunately, some of his best schemes were never carried out, such as his entrances to London's Hyde Park (1778). However, he left good examples of the use, or partial use, of cast iron in this kind of work in the gates at houses in Portman Square and the Adelphi.
This balcony has a curved front with three leaf-like panels. The main motif is based on the Greek anthemion ornament, adapted by Robert Adam (1728-1792) for casting in metal. According to the authors of A History of Cast Iron in Architecture (John Gloag and Derek Bridgewater), this was 'a far more inventive treatment of cast iron by Adam, than his normal habit of using decorative forms that were common alike to wood, plaster, stone or iron, and were interchangeable, deriving neither originality of form nor distinctive character from the material employed'. This design was used for the Adelphi in London, a massive luxury apartment and warehousing complex situated between the Strand and the River Thames, designed and built by the Adam brothers between 1768 and the late 1770s. Most of it was destroyed in 1936.
Materials & Making
Here Adam was obviously conscious of the properties and possibilities of cast iron as a new material . The Adam brothers took a particular interest in cast iron (the eldest of the four brothers, John, was a director of the Carron Iron Company from 1764), and their designs at the Adelphi did much to accelerate the popularity of this material. The fashion for cast-iron balconies caught on after the building of the Adelphi, and the pattern seen on this one became one of the most popular balcony panel designs in the country , copied not only in London but all over the country.
People
Robert Adam was a prolific designer, and through his association with the Carron Ironworks he acquired a good knowledge of the possibilities of cast iron. He often mixed it with wrought iron, brass and steel. Unfortunately, some of his best schemes were never carried out, such as his entrances to London's Hyde Park (1778). However, he left good examples of the use, or partial use, of cast iron in this kind of work in the gates at houses in Portman Square and the Adelphi.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Cast iron |
| Brief description | Balcony front made of cast iron, designed by James and Robert Adam and probably cast by the Carron Co. of Falkirk, about 1773. |
| Physical description | Balconette from 12 John Adam Street. A curved front made of cast iron, with three heavy leaf-like panels |
| Dimensions |
|
| Gallery label | British Galleries:
During the 1760s and 1770s cast iron began to replace wrought iron for architectural use. The balconies and railings designed by Robert Adam for the speculative development at the Adelphi, London, not only helped to establish the material in architecture, but set a balcony design that remained popular into the 19th century.(27/03/2003) |
| Credit line | Given by the Adelphi Development Co. |
| Object history | Designed by Robert Adam (born in Kirkcaldy, Fife, 1728, died in London, 1792); probably made by the Carron Iron Co. near Falkirk. The balcony front is from 12 John Adam Street, Adelphi, London. Much of the Adelphi in London was demolished for redevelopment in 1936. |
| Summary | Object Type This balcony has a curved front with three leaf-like panels. The main motif is based on the Greek anthemion ornament, adapted by Robert Adam (1728-1792) for casting in metal. According to the authors of A History of Cast Iron in Architecture (John Gloag and Derek Bridgewater), this was 'a far more inventive treatment of cast iron by Adam, than his normal habit of using decorative forms that were common alike to wood, plaster, stone or iron, and were interchangeable, deriving neither originality of form nor distinctive character from the material employed'. This design was used for the Adelphi in London, a massive luxury apartment and warehousing complex situated between the Strand and the River Thames, designed and built by the Adam brothers between 1768 and the late 1770s. Most of it was destroyed in 1936. Materials & Making Here Adam was obviously conscious of the properties and possibilities of cast iron as a new material . The Adam brothers took a particular interest in cast iron (the eldest of the four brothers, John, was a director of the Carron Iron Company from 1764), and their designs at the Adelphi did much to accelerate the popularity of this material. The fashion for cast-iron balconies caught on after the building of the Adelphi, and the pattern seen on this one became one of the most popular balcony panel designs in the country , copied not only in London but all over the country. People Robert Adam was a prolific designer, and through his association with the Carron Ironworks he acquired a good knowledge of the possibilities of cast iron. He often mixed it with wrought iron, brass and steel. Unfortunately, some of his best schemes were never carried out, such as his entrances to London's Hyde Park (1778). However, he left good examples of the use, or partial use, of cast iron in this kind of work in the gates at houses in Portman Square and the Adelphi. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | M.429-1936 |
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| Record created | August 31, 2001 |
| Record URL |
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