Panel
ca. 1540 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Object Type
During the Tudor period heraldic motifs and mottoes were often incorporated into the interior and exterior decoration of a building. Craftsmen exploited the motifs for their intrinsic decorative qualities, though it was the information that they conveyed about the status and wealth of the owner that was most important. This panel would have originally formed part of a richly painted and gilded scheme of carved wall decoration.
Places
The panel is one of a set of four which are said to have come from Windsor Castle. Henry VIII (reigned 1509-1547) encouraged the use of heraldry in the decoration of his residences, as well as in the dress of his subjects and servants. At Hampton Court Palace the principal decorative motifs were the coats of arms and badges of the King and Queen. Set in windows, moulded on ceilings, embroidered on hangings and upholstery and carved in stone above gate and doorways, they had to be changed each time Henry remarried.
Design & Designing
During Henry VIII's reign legislation was passed relating to the use of armorial devices. To ensure that they used the correct forms, carvers and painters owned and consulted pattern books. Unfortunately, none of these books survives. However, there are surviving royal records of arms and heraldic beasts, for example, those by Sir Thomas Wriothesley (died 1534), Henry VIII's Garter King of Arms. These records would have been used to give advice to painters involved in the decoration of the royal palaces.
During the Tudor period heraldic motifs and mottoes were often incorporated into the interior and exterior decoration of a building. Craftsmen exploited the motifs for their intrinsic decorative qualities, though it was the information that they conveyed about the status and wealth of the owner that was most important. This panel would have originally formed part of a richly painted and gilded scheme of carved wall decoration.
Places
The panel is one of a set of four which are said to have come from Windsor Castle. Henry VIII (reigned 1509-1547) encouraged the use of heraldry in the decoration of his residences, as well as in the dress of his subjects and servants. At Hampton Court Palace the principal decorative motifs were the coats of arms and badges of the King and Queen. Set in windows, moulded on ceilings, embroidered on hangings and upholstery and carved in stone above gate and doorways, they had to be changed each time Henry remarried.
Design & Designing
During Henry VIII's reign legislation was passed relating to the use of armorial devices. To ensure that they used the correct forms, carvers and painters owned and consulted pattern books. Unfortunately, none of these books survives. However, there are surviving royal records of arms and heraldic beasts, for example, those by Sir Thomas Wriothesley (died 1534), Henry VIII's Garter King of Arms. These records would have been used to give advice to painters involved in the decoration of the royal palaces.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Oak, carved, painted and gilded. |
| Brief description | English 1540 painted and carved oak |
| Physical description | Panel of carved oak with traces of colour and gilding. The upper part is carved with leafy scrollwork. On the lower part is a shield with the letters 'I H S' and 'I C' united by a cord. Around the shield amid interlacing stalks and leaves are four human figures, one with a bow and arrow. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Gallery label |
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| Object history | Said to have come from Windsor Castle. Purchased from Mr G R Harding of St James's Square along with W.73, 74 and 76-1911. Notes from R.P. 11/3883, 4201M One of four carved oak Tudor panels, of English work, inspected and recommended for purchase by H. Clifford Smith on 8/7/11. Purchase Form Condition is noted as "worm-eaten & damaged". 27 July 1911 Minutes of Lehfeldt describes the four panels "forming a series, carved with shields and scrollwork in high relief. One panel bears the date 1540". The whole surface was originally painted in colours, but the colour has partially perished. He does not doubt their genuineness and recommends purchase of this "interesting set" based on their early date and fine character. |
| Production | Said to have come from Windsor Castle |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Association | |
| Summary | Object Type During the Tudor period heraldic motifs and mottoes were often incorporated into the interior and exterior decoration of a building. Craftsmen exploited the motifs for their intrinsic decorative qualities, though it was the information that they conveyed about the status and wealth of the owner that was most important. This panel would have originally formed part of a richly painted and gilded scheme of carved wall decoration. Places The panel is one of a set of four which are said to have come from Windsor Castle. Henry VIII (reigned 1509-1547) encouraged the use of heraldry in the decoration of his residences, as well as in the dress of his subjects and servants. At Hampton Court Palace the principal decorative motifs were the coats of arms and badges of the King and Queen. Set in windows, moulded on ceilings, embroidered on hangings and upholstery and carved in stone above gate and doorways, they had to be changed each time Henry remarried. Design & Designing During Henry VIII's reign legislation was passed relating to the use of armorial devices. To ensure that they used the correct forms, carvers and painters owned and consulted pattern books. Unfortunately, none of these books survives. However, there are surviving royal records of arms and heraldic beasts, for example, those by Sir Thomas Wriothesley (died 1534), Henry VIII's Garter King of Arms. These records would have been used to give advice to painters involved in the decoration of the royal palaces. |
| Associated objects | |
| Bibliographic reference | Clifford Smith, H., Catalogue of English furniture & woodwork. Vol. I, Gothic and early Tudor, (Percy Lund, Humphries & Co., London, 1929)
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | W.75-1911 |
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| Record created | March 27, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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