Panel Fragment thumbnail 1
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
British Galleries, Room 118; The Wolfson Gallery

Panel Fragment

ca. 1790 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Object Type
This fragment is decorated with anthemia (stylised honeysuckle) and other ornaments. Its use is not clear, but the narrow, vertical nature of the design suggests that it probably served as the shaft of a pilaster (a flattened column against a wall) or the side of a chimney-piece. Although the materials would have been cheap, the elaborate decoration indicates that the room for which the piece was made would have been important.

Subjects Depicted
The panel is made up of a repeat pattern of anthemia, sprouting from scrolls, which terminate in acanthus flowers and drops of husks. These motifs were derived from ancient Roman carving and stuccowork (fake marble). Robert Adam and other architects working in the Neo-classical style used this form of decoration for interiors, furniture and gilt-bronze door fittings.

Time
From about 1770 fashion turned against the extravagant, asymmetrical Rococo motifs that had dominated interiors in the middle of the 18th century. Robert Adam, armed with a large repertoire of ornament that he had studied first-hand in Rome, helped create a new vogue for classical motifs, particularly in interiors. These did not merely copy engravings by Andrea Palladio (1508-1580), the great Italian architect who had so influenced English architects of the earlier periods.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Pinewood, with stamped and applied pewter
Brief description
Panel fragment, pinewood with stamped and applied pewter, England, ca. 1790
Physical description
Pinewood panel fragment with stamped and applied pewter decoration. The panel is made up of a repeat pattern of anthemia, sprouting from scrolls, which terminate in acanthus flowers and drops of husks.
Dimensions
  • Height: 71.12cm
  • Width: 11.11cm
Marks and inscriptions
'English Pewter work temp 1800' (handwritten; pencil)
Gallery label
British Galleries: The softness of pewter made it a popular material for the production of repeating Neo-classical ornament in imitation of wood carving. This panel was originally painted, so both wood and metal were concealed.(27/03/2003)
Credit line
Given by Col. Harold Malet
Subjects depicted
Summary
Object Type
This fragment is decorated with anthemia (stylised honeysuckle) and other ornaments. Its use is not clear, but the narrow, vertical nature of the design suggests that it probably served as the shaft of a pilaster (a flattened column against a wall) or the side of a chimney-piece. Although the materials would have been cheap, the elaborate decoration indicates that the room for which the piece was made would have been important.

Subjects Depicted
The panel is made up of a repeat pattern of anthemia, sprouting from scrolls, which terminate in acanthus flowers and drops of husks. These motifs were derived from ancient Roman carving and stuccowork (fake marble). Robert Adam and other architects working in the Neo-classical style used this form of decoration for interiors, furniture and gilt-bronze door fittings.

Time
From about 1770 fashion turned against the extravagant, asymmetrical Rococo motifs that had dominated interiors in the middle of the 18th century. Robert Adam, armed with a large repertoire of ornament that he had studied first-hand in Rome, helped create a new vogue for classical motifs, particularly in interiors. These did not merely copy engravings by Andrea Palladio (1508-1580), the great Italian architect who had so influenced English architects of the earlier periods.
Collection
Accession number
516B-1908

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdMarch 27, 2003
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest