Image of Gallery in South Kensington
Request to view at the Prints & Drawings Study Room, level D , Case DR, Shelf 101

Design for a panel to be done in tiles - Refreshment Room. S.K.M.

Design
1869 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Object Type
This detailed design is highly finished and even the stonework of the fountain is painted to imitate marble. It could thus have served as a presentation drawing to Sir Henry Cole, the Director of the South Kensington Museum.

Design & Designing
The division of this design into squares is a process called 'squared for transfer'. This technique facilitates the enlargement of a design. A grid containing an equal number of squares is ruled on the original drawing and on the surface destined for the enlarged design. The design is then transferred, square by square. The number of squares in this design, however, does not match the number of tiles in the tile panel. There are, in fact, 104 squares in the design and 33 tiles and five parts of tiles in the tile panel.

People
Henry Scott, a Royal Engineer officer employed on building the new Museum, compiled a list of the ladies he was employing as porcelain painters. They were Amy E. Black, Miss Walker, Miss Judd, Miss Earle, Miss Hall, Miss Cambridge, who were all paid at the rate of 6d an hour, except Amy Black who received 9d.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleDesign for a panel to be done in tiles - Refreshment Room. S.K.M. (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Drawing in pencil and watercolour on paper squared for transfer
Brief description
E. J. Poynter, design for tile panel in V&A Grill Room: fountain with peacocks and ducks. 1869.
Physical description
Drawing in pencil and watercolour on paper squared for transfer. Design for a panel showing a fountain with peacock and duck encircled by an arcaded structure
Dimensions
  • Height of paper at greatest extent height: 65.8cm
  • Width of paper at greatest extent width: 40.3cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • '18 EJP 69' (Monogram signature of Edward John Poynter within the date 1869.)
  • 'Design for a panel to be done in tiles - Refreshment Room. S.K.M. / Edward J. Poynter. / May 26th/69'
Gallery label
British Galleries: This panel was designed by Edward Poynter, who became Principal of the National Art Training School. Female students painted the designs on to ceramic tiles which were used to decorate the Grill Room on the ground floor of the South Kensington Museum, now the V&A. That room is now called the Poynter Room.(27/03/2003)
Object history
Poynter was invited to tender for the decoration of the V&A Grill Room in November 1865. This particular design bears Poynter's monogram signature with the date 1869. It also includes a descriptive note signed by Poynter and dated 26th May 1869.
Subject depicted
Summary
Object Type
This detailed design is highly finished and even the stonework of the fountain is painted to imitate marble. It could thus have served as a presentation drawing to Sir Henry Cole, the Director of the South Kensington Museum.

Design & Designing
The division of this design into squares is a process called 'squared for transfer'. This technique facilitates the enlargement of a design. A grid containing an equal number of squares is ruled on the original drawing and on the surface destined for the enlarged design. The design is then transferred, square by square. The number of squares in this design, however, does not match the number of tiles in the tile panel. There are, in fact, 104 squares in the design and 33 tiles and five parts of tiles in the tile panel.

People
Henry Scott, a Royal Engineer officer employed on building the new Museum, compiled a list of the ladies he was employing as porcelain painters. They were Amy E. Black, Miss Walker, Miss Judd, Miss Earle, Miss Hall, Miss Cambridge, who were all paid at the rate of 6d an hour, except Amy Black who received 9d.
Bibliographic references
  • Physick, John. The Victoria and Albert Museum: The History of Its Building. London: The Victoria & Albert Museum, 1982, pp. 139-141 and pls. XXVII-XXIX
  • Sheppard, F. H. W. (general ed.). Survey of London, vol. XXXVIII: The Museums Area of South Kensington and Westminster. London: Athlone Press, University of London, 1975, p. 111 and pl. 15
Collection
Accession number
7917B

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Record createdMarch 27, 2003
Record URL
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