Design thumbnail 1
Design thumbnail 2
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
Request to view at the Prints & Drawings Study Room, level C , Case T, Shelf 30

Design

1863 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Object Type
This design is one of a group of six similar designs for tiles in different colours. Each design has a tiny printed monogram depicting an arrangement of the letters 'NAL' within a circle. The monogram is in the bottom right corner. It is a collection mark for the National Art Library, to which this design belonged before transfer to what is now the V&A's Department of Prints, Drawings and Paintings. The National Art Library collected drawings for the applied arts from 1852. This example was bought to be used as a teaching aid by the School of Design (now the Royal College of Art).

Design & Designing
This design is in an opaque water-soluble pigment known as bodycolour, which is similar to the strong, colourful glazes on 19th-century tiles. This design is painted on a hexagon so that the tile, for which it is intended, could form part of an interlocking pattern on a floor or wall.

Time
In the 19th century new technology made possible the mass production of tiles. In the latter part of the century this productive capacity was matched by high demand, caused by a building boom.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Bodycolour on paper
Brief description
Tile Design by Kate Greenaway, 1863
Physical description
Design for a hexagonal tile.
Dimensions
  • Mount height: 22.6cm
  • Mount width: 21.4cm
Dimensions checked: Measured; 10/10/2000 by PaperCons
Marks and inscriptions
A label on the back of the mount is printed 'Examined 1863' and signed
Gallery label
British Galleries: This design won a prize for Kate Greenaway in the first year of the National Competition, established in 1863. The competition provided funds for 15 students annually to study at the National Art Training School at South Kensington. Kate Greenaway later became most famous for her illustrations for children's books.(27/03/2003)
Object history
By Kate Greenaway (born in London, 1846, died there in 1901)
Summary
Object Type
This design is one of a group of six similar designs for tiles in different colours. Each design has a tiny printed monogram depicting an arrangement of the letters 'NAL' within a circle. The monogram is in the bottom right corner. It is a collection mark for the National Art Library, to which this design belonged before transfer to what is now the V&A's Department of Prints, Drawings and Paintings. The National Art Library collected drawings for the applied arts from 1852. This example was bought to be used as a teaching aid by the School of Design (now the Royal College of Art).

Design & Designing
This design is in an opaque water-soluble pigment known as bodycolour, which is similar to the strong, colourful glazes on 19th-century tiles. This design is painted on a hexagon so that the tile, for which it is intended, could form part of an interlocking pattern on a floor or wall.

Time
In the 19th century new technology made possible the mass production of tiles. In the latter part of the century this productive capacity was matched by high demand, caused by a building boom.
Collection
Accession number
D.1800-1904

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Record createdMarch 27, 2003
Record URL
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