Lectern thumbnail 1
On display
Image of Gallery in South Kensington

This object consists of 26 parts, some of which may be located elsewhere.

Lectern

ca. 1899 (made)
Artist/Maker
Jones & Willis (maker)
Place of origin
Birmingham (made)

Lecterns with a standing figure supporting the book-rest became popular in the late 19th century in Britain. The makers of this lectern, Jones and Willis, were among the most successful Victorian church furnishers, and they exhibited and won commendation at London’s 1851 and 1862 International Exhibitions. The firm’s catalogue ran to 80 editions with nearly 200 illustrated pages. They could fit out a whole church, from the priest’s robes to the weathercock on the spire. This angel lectern, made for Worcester Cathedral in west central England, cost £110 in 1899.

Object details

Categories
Religion
Christianity
Metalwork
Object type
Lectern
Parts
This object consists of 26 parts.
(Some alternative part names are also shown below)
  • Lectern
  • Pulpit Base W/ Steps
  • Railing
  • Railing (Worcester Cathedral Loan)
  • Fitment
  • Sculpture
  • Fitment
  • Sculpture
  • Fitment
  • Finial (From Base of Lecturn)
  • Part of Finial (Tube Support)
  • Finial (From Base of Lecturn)
  • Part of Finial (From Base of Lecturn)
  • Finial
  • Part of Finial
  • Part of Finial
  • Finial
  • Long Screw Fittment
  • Long Screw Fittment
  • Long Screw Fittment
  • Long Screw Fittment
  • Screw
  • Screw
  • Screw
  • Rail
  • Candle-Holder
  • Candle-Holder
  • Candle-Holder
Materials and techniques
Brass
Brief description
Brass lectern, made by Jones& Willis, Birmingham, about 1894
Physical description
Brass lectern.
Dimensions
  • Height: 191cm
  • Maximum width: 73cm
  • Maximum depth: 72.5cm
  • Weighed by MC 13 9 06 weight: 280kg
Marks and inscriptions
No marks
Credit line
On loan from Worcester Cathedral
Object history
Lecterns with a standing figure supporting the book-rest became popular in the late 19th century. The maker, Jones and Willis was one of the most successful Victorian church furmishers. Their catalogue ran to 80 editions with nearly 200 illustrated pages. The Angel lectern cost £110 in 1899.
Summary
Lecterns with a standing figure supporting the book-rest became popular in the late 19th century in Britain. The makers of this lectern, Jones and Willis, were among the most successful Victorian church furnishers, and they exhibited and won commendation at London’s 1851 and 1862 International Exhibitions. The firm’s catalogue ran to 80 editions with nearly 200 illustrated pages. They could fit out a whole church, from the priest’s robes to the weathercock on the spire. This angel lectern, made for Worcester Cathedral in west central England, cost £110 in 1899.
Bibliographic references
  • John Culme, The Directory of Gold and Silversmiths, Jewellers and Allied Traders 1838-1914, Antique Collector's Club, Vol. 1 1987, p.263
  • Victorian Church Art. London, H.M.S.O, 1971 The catalogue entry describes the lectern thus: 'An openwork geometric and foliage tracery book-rest is held up by an angel standing upon a hemisphere, set on an embattled cylinder, with panels of mouchettes forming roundels with quatrefoil centres. Four pinnacled buttresses, with openwork foliage tracery, set at right angles to each other, extend from this. The whole is set on a mounded plinth supported by four seated lions. The side rails to the steps and platform consist of five columns with base mouldings, on each side. Their upper portions are rounded, and their lower portions are octagonal. The openwork tracery consists of Tudor roses, honeysuckle, leaves, and cusped ogee arches. The sides and end of the oak steps and platform are designed like a gothic arcade, but with openwork tracery under the arches. The arches rest on octagonal columns with foliated capitals.'
Collection
Metalwork Collection
Accession number
LOAN:WORCESTER.1:1 to 26-1971

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Record createdNovember 4, 2004
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O107071/lectern-jones--willis/
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