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Wallpaper

1911 (made)
Artist/Maker
Jeffrey & Co. (manufacturers)
Crane, Walter (designer)
Place of origin
England (made)

Walter Crane (1845-1915) was a prolific designer of wallpapers, most of which were produced by Jeffrey & Co. This is one of his last designs, and is in the neoclassical revival style which was then popular. It was designed for use with the 'Classic' pilaster paper, also in the V&A (E.5039-1919). The frieze itself was produced in at least two different colourways.


Object details

Categories
Wall Coverings
Prints
Musical Instruments
Object type
Wallpaper
Materials and techniques
Colour woodblock print, on paper
Paper
Colour Woodblock Print
Brief description
Portion of wallpaper frieze with a lyre motif, with an egg and dart molding pattern running above, on a red ground; This frieze shows an ancient lyre made of tortoise shell and goats' horns; Designed by Walter Crane; Colour woodblock print, on paper; Produced by Jeffrey & Co.; England, 1911.
Physical description
Portion of wallpaper frieze with a lyre motif, an egg and dart molding pattern running above, on a red ground; This frieze shows an ancient lyre made of tortoise shell and goats' horns; Colour woodblock print, on paper.
Dimensions
  • Height: 45.2cm
  • Width: 83.8cm
Dimensions from: Oman, Charles C., and Hamilton, Jean. Wallpapers: a history and illustrated catalogue of the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. London: Sotheby Publications, in association with the Victoria and Albert Museum, 1982.
Style
Neoclassical Revival
Historical context
In Greek legend the lyre was invented by Hermes (Mercury), who stretched strings over the shell of a tortoise. This frieze, which shows an ancient lyre made of tortoise shell and goats' horns, is from a set of wallpapers called 'classic'.
Subjects depicted
Classicism
Lyre
Tortoise Shell
Horn
Summary
Walter Crane (1845-1915) was a prolific designer of wallpapers, most of which were produced by Jeffrey & Co. This is one of his last designs, and is in the neoclassical revival style which was then popular. It was designed for use with the 'Classic' pilaster paper, also in the V&A (E.5039-1919). The frieze itself was produced in at least two different colourways.
Associated objects
Bibliographic references
  • Oman, Charles C., and Hamilton, Jean. Wallpapers: a history and illustrated catalogue of the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. London: Sotheby Publications, in association with the Victoria and Albert Museum, 1982.
  • Victoria and Albert Museum, Department of Engraving, Illustration and Design & Department of Paintings, Accessions 1919, London: Printed Under the Authority of His Majesty's Stationery Office, 1921
Collection
Prints, Drawings & Paintings Collection
Accession number
E.5134-1919

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Record createdJune 6, 2005
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O112649/wallpaper-crane-walter/
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