Lily Pond thumbnail 1
Not on display

Lily Pond

Table
1913-1919 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Roger Fry set up the Omega Workshops in 1913 to produce a wide range of textiles, clothes, furniture and pottery. Duncan Grant and Vanessa Bell were involved as co-directors of the Workshops and artists such as Wyndham Lewis, Edward Wadsworth, Nina Hamnett and the sculptor, Henri Gaudier-Brzeska also produced designs. Some pieces were made by the artists themselves. However, the designs were often given over to specialist craftsmen such as John Joseph Kallenborn, who was responsible for much of the marquetry work for the Omega Workshop.

The table was made for George M. Booth and probably designed by Roger Fry and painted by Duncan Grant.

Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleLily Pond (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Painted pine wood
Brief description
Table, Lily Pond, probably designed by Roger Fry and probably painted by Duncan Grant for the Omega Workshops, English, c.1913-9
Physical description
Painted wood. Oblong with curved ends supported on slightly tapered legs united by square end stretchers and one flat central stretcher. The top is painted in oils with the lily-pond design consisting of a variety of abstract forms in polychrome on a black ground, the panel being outlined by a red border within an outer border of dive green. The framework is painted olive green and the legs have chamfers at the angles painted dull red.
Dimensions
  • Height: 74cm
  • Width: 149.5cm
  • Depth: 91.8cm
Marks and inscriptions
omega stamp
Gallery label
(2006)
'Lily Pond' rectangular table.
Probably designed by Roger Fry (British 1866-1934) and painted by Duncan Grant (British 1885-1978) for Omega Workshops, London.
Painted wood, 1913-1919.
This table was made for the donor. The decoration is based on Fry's painting of the same subject.
Given by George M. Booth.
Credit line
Given by George M. Booth
Object history
This table was comissioned for the George M. Booth who later donated it to the V&A. It was probably designed by Roger Fry and painted by Duncan Grant for the Omega Workshops, London.

The Courtauld Gallery have a four-fold screen of a seemingly corresponding design called the Lilypond Screen (F.1961.XX.1)
Historical context
This is one of 4 extant tables and is the only one bearing the omega stamp.
Production
Probably painted by Duncan Grant at the Omega workshops though not made there.
Subject depicted
Summary
Roger Fry set up the Omega Workshops in 1913 to produce a wide range of textiles, clothes, furniture and pottery. Duncan Grant and Vanessa Bell were involved as co-directors of the Workshops and artists such as Wyndham Lewis, Edward Wadsworth, Nina Hamnett and the sculptor, Henri Gaudier-Brzeska also produced designs. Some pieces were made by the artists themselves. However, the designs were often given over to specialist craftsmen such as John Joseph Kallenborn, who was responsible for much of the marquetry work for the Omega Workshop.

The table was made for George M. Booth and probably designed by Roger Fry and painted by Duncan Grant.
Collection
Accession number
W.3-1942

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Record createdNovember 21, 2006
Record URL
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