Not currently on display at the V&A

Napkin Ring

ca. 1840 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

In Victorian Britain the applications of brass were almost endless. Its physical qualities--toughness, hardness and colour which varied according to the zinc content of the alloy--meant brass was extremely versatile and inexpensive. The uses ranged from utility to ornament--from engineers’ grease cups to hearth furniture and tableware, like these napkin rings decorated with cherubs in a landscape.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Brass, stamped and lined
Brief description
Brass napkin ring with a design of cherubs and a shield mounted with ribbons and roses, English, ca. 1840
Physical description
In the form of a brass ring machine-stamped with a design of cherubs sporting ina leafy landscape; in the centre a blank shield mounted with ribbons and roses supported by cherubs each side. The interior has been lined with a plain brass sheet turned over at the edge.
Dimensions
  • Height: 3.4cm
  • Diameter: 4.8cm
Credit line
Francoise Crichton Gift
Subjects depicted
Summary
In Victorian Britain the applications of brass were almost endless. Its physical qualities--toughness, hardness and colour which varied according to the zinc content of the alloy--meant brass was extremely versatile and inexpensive. The uses ranged from utility to ornament--from engineers’ grease cups to hearth furniture and tableware, like these napkin rings decorated with cherubs in a landscape.
Collection
Accession number
M.39-1993

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Record createdFebruary 16, 2004
Record URL
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