Mould
1790-1810 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Object Type
This mould is carved with a band of the egg and dart motif, so called because the shape is reminiscent of alternating ovals and arrowheads. Below this is a band of bead and reel decoration. These enrichments were often used as separating devices or as borders on walls. The actual plaster ornament was produced by pressing 'composition' into the mould.
Design & Designing
These motifs were frequently used in ancient Greek and Roman art and architecture. They were revived in Europe from the Renaissance onwards and became especially popular in 18th-century Neo-classical decorative schemes.
Materials & Making
The mould was made by a specialist carver for firms making composition ornament. Boxwood is very hard and can take a great deal of detailed carving. Its hardness also makes it robust, necessary for a mould such as this which has been reused countless times.
Composition ('comp' for short) is a type of paste or putty made from glue, rosin (resin), linseed oil and whiting (chalk). It was pressed into the oiled mould and squeezed in a screw press. The pressing was removed from the mould while still flexible and applied to a backing.
Time
Moulds of this kind were used widely from about 1780 until about 1900. The use of moulds to make plaster reproductions reduced the demand for ornamental carvings in wood. After about 1850 the manufacturing process became more mechanised, though moulds continued to be used.
People
The mould was part of a collection owned by George Jackson & Sons, Ltd, a firm founded by George Jackson (1756-1840).
This mould is carved with a band of the egg and dart motif, so called because the shape is reminiscent of alternating ovals and arrowheads. Below this is a band of bead and reel decoration. These enrichments were often used as separating devices or as borders on walls. The actual plaster ornament was produced by pressing 'composition' into the mould.
Design & Designing
These motifs were frequently used in ancient Greek and Roman art and architecture. They were revived in Europe from the Renaissance onwards and became especially popular in 18th-century Neo-classical decorative schemes.
Materials & Making
The mould was made by a specialist carver for firms making composition ornament. Boxwood is very hard and can take a great deal of detailed carving. Its hardness also makes it robust, necessary for a mould such as this which has been reused countless times.
Composition ('comp' for short) is a type of paste or putty made from glue, rosin (resin), linseed oil and whiting (chalk). It was pressed into the oiled mould and squeezed in a screw press. The pressing was removed from the mould while still flexible and applied to a backing.
Time
Moulds of this kind were used widely from about 1780 until about 1900. The use of moulds to make plaster reproductions reduced the demand for ornamental carvings in wood. After about 1850 the manufacturing process became more mechanised, though moulds continued to be used.
People
The mould was part of a collection owned by George Jackson & Sons, Ltd, a firm founded by George Jackson (1756-1840).
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Strip of boxwood, set in beech block |
| Brief description | Mould for plaster ornament and composition pressing, 1790-1810, English |
| Physical description | Carved boxwood mould with a repeating linear egg and dart motif pattern |
| Gallery label | British Galleries:
The Adam style demanded a large amount of delicate low-relief ornament. These moulds are for the production of such ornament in plaster, or in composition, usually a combination of whiting, glue, rosin and oil. The finished ornament was used on furniture and other objects as well as in the decoration of rooms.(27/03/2003) |
| Credit line | Given by Clark and Fenn Ltd. |
| Object history | Unknown |
| Summary | Object Type This mould is carved with a band of the egg and dart motif, so called because the shape is reminiscent of alternating ovals and arrowheads. Below this is a band of bead and reel decoration. These enrichments were often used as separating devices or as borders on walls. The actual plaster ornament was produced by pressing 'composition' into the mould. Design & Designing These motifs were frequently used in ancient Greek and Roman art and architecture. They were revived in Europe from the Renaissance onwards and became especially popular in 18th-century Neo-classical decorative schemes. Materials & Making The mould was made by a specialist carver for firms making composition ornament. Boxwood is very hard and can take a great deal of detailed carving. Its hardness also makes it robust, necessary for a mould such as this which has been reused countless times. Composition ('comp' for short) is a type of paste or putty made from glue, rosin (resin), linseed oil and whiting (chalk). It was pressed into the oiled mould and squeezed in a screw press. The pressing was removed from the mould while still flexible and applied to a backing. Time Moulds of this kind were used widely from about 1780 until about 1900. The use of moulds to make plaster reproductions reduced the demand for ornamental carvings in wood. After about 1850 the manufacturing process became more mechanised, though moulds continued to be used. People The mould was part of a collection owned by George Jackson & Sons, Ltd, a firm founded by George Jackson (1756-1840). |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | W.46:1-1989 |
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| Record created | March 27, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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