Not currently on display at the V&A

Ass and a foal

Relief
ca. 1800 - ca. 1830 (carved)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

It is thought that this early 19th-century limestone relief, together with seven other reliefs, originally came from a now unidentifiable house in the City of London that was about to be demolished. Between 1878 and 1916 they were positioned over fireplaces in 1 Lowther Gardens, Princes Gate, London. The original scheme that included this relief of an ass and foal and the others is unknown.

On acquisition this group of reliefs was thought by the then Keeper of the Department of Architecture and Sculpture, Eric Maclagan, to be related to the work of John Bacon the Elder (1740-1799), but he considered them to be probably early 19th century. The original contexts are unknown.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleAss and a foal (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Limestone
Brief description
Relief, limestone, an ass and a foal, unknown artist, English, ca. 1800-1830
Physical description
Relief in limestone depicting an ass and a foal. The ass stands in the centre facing the left, and is eating leaves. The foal on the right.
Dimensions
  • Height: 8cm
  • Width: 42cm
Credit line
Given by Mrs W. Woodbine Parish
Object history
According to the donor, the present piece, together with Mus. Nos. A.72-1926 to A.79-1926, originally came from an unidentified house in the City of London, which was to be demolished. Between 1878 and 1916 they were placed over fireplaces in 1 Lowther Gardens, Prince's Gate, London. Given by Mrs W. Woodbine Parish, 9 Courtfield Road, London in 1926.
Subjects depicted
Summary
It is thought that this early 19th-century limestone relief, together with seven other reliefs, originally came from a now unidentifiable house in the City of London that was about to be demolished. Between 1878 and 1916 they were positioned over fireplaces in 1 Lowther Gardens, Princes Gate, London. The original scheme that included this relief of an ass and foal and the others is unknown.

On acquisition this group of reliefs was thought by the then Keeper of the Department of Architecture and Sculpture, Eric Maclagan, to be related to the work of John Bacon the Elder (1740-1799), but he considered them to be probably early 19th century. The original contexts are unknown.
Associated objects
Bibliographic reference
Bilbey, Diane and Trusted Marjorie. British Sculpture 1470 to 2000. A Concise Catalogue of the Collection at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, 2002, p. 441, cat. no. 723
Collection
Accession number
A.77-1926

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Record createdJanuary 13, 2003
Record URL
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