Sideboard
1913-1914 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Sir Ambrose Heal (1872-1959) was a designer and businessman celebrated for raising standards in design and craftsmanship in British manufacturing, and in1933 he was knighted for his efforts. Like William Morris before him he championed good craftsmanship, fitness for purpose and reasonable prices. He sought to bring the values of the Arts and Crafts movement to industrial production.
This sideboard was made for the Exhibition des Arts Décoratifs de Grande Bretagne held at the Louvre, Paris in 1914. Its simplicity of form and decoration contrasts starkly with elaborate historicist styles of furniture that were popular before the First World War. As an exhibition piece the sideboard adheres to the highest standards of craftsmanship which could only have been achieved at considerable expense. Cheaper pieces of furniture in the same simplified style but with less expensive detailing would have been available in Heals’ stores in London.
This sideboard was made for the Exhibition des Arts Décoratifs de Grande Bretagne held at the Louvre, Paris in 1914. Its simplicity of form and decoration contrasts starkly with elaborate historicist styles of furniture that were popular before the First World War. As an exhibition piece the sideboard adheres to the highest standards of craftsmanship which could only have been achieved at considerable expense. Cheaper pieces of furniture in the same simplified style but with less expensive detailing would have been available in Heals’ stores in London.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 9 parts.
|
| Materials and techniques | Walnut with inlay of mother-of-pearl and various woods |
| Brief description | Sideboard of walnut with inlay of mother-of-pearl; designed by Ambrose Heal, made by William Jones at Heal and Son, London 1913-1914 |
| Physical description | Sideboard of walnut with inlay of mother-of-pearl and various woods; single square cupboard at either end, central section houses one large drawer with two small square drawers either side, trellis back board. |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Marks and inscriptions | 'THIS SIDEBOARD / designed by / AMBROSE HEAL / executed by / HEAL & SON ld / was made for the Exposition des / Arts Decoratifs de Grande Bretagne / held at the Palais du Louvre 1914 / It was pretected in the cellars of / the Louvre during the whole of / the Great War; / Aug 1914-Nov 1918.' (Yellowing paper label with black hand written text, stuck to underside of sideboard in centre.) |
| Gallery label | SIDEBOARD
Designed by Ambrose Heal (British, 1872-1959)
Made by William Jones at Heal and Son, London
Walnut with inlay of mother-of-pearl and various woods
1913-1914
W.81-1975
These objects were designed and made for an exhibition of British Arts and Crafts held at the Louvre, Paris in 1914.(1989-2006) |
| Object history | Purchased with W.82 to 83a-1975. |
| Summary | Sir Ambrose Heal (1872-1959) was a designer and businessman celebrated for raising standards in design and craftsmanship in British manufacturing, and in1933 he was knighted for his efforts. Like William Morris before him he championed good craftsmanship, fitness for purpose and reasonable prices. He sought to bring the values of the Arts and Crafts movement to industrial production. This sideboard was made for the Exhibition des Arts Décoratifs de Grande Bretagne held at the Louvre, Paris in 1914. Its simplicity of form and decoration contrasts starkly with elaborate historicist styles of furniture that were popular before the First World War. As an exhibition piece the sideboard adheres to the highest standards of craftsmanship which could only have been achieved at considerable expense. Cheaper pieces of furniture in the same simplified style but with less expensive detailing would have been available in Heals’ stores in London. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | W.81:1to 9 -1975 |
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| Record created | February 7, 2007 |
| Record URL |
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