Nineteenth century box of charcoal from Kennedy and Francis, 17 Oxford Street, London
Box of Charcoal
1870-1885 (made)
1870-1885 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
The V&A collects artists tools and materials. This is the first example of a box of charcoal to enter the collection. Charcoal is a blackish residue of impure carbon produced by slowly heating animal and vegetable substances to high temperatures to remove water. It has been used as a drawing material since prehistoric times. Charcoal can be recognised in drawings by its soft tones and uneven lines that are worked up to create varying depth. Kennedy and Francis advertised as "The Only Complete Art Store" in The Year's Art magazine between 1887-88, and this box of charcoal must date from then. The business had traded as "Kennedy and Brown, artists' colourmen" from 1881 until 1885, when the partnership dissolved. Kennedy and Francis is documented at 17 Oxford Street, London, between 1887 and 1900.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Nineteenth century box of charcoal from Kennedy and Francis, 17 Oxford Street, London (popular title) |
| Materials and techniques | Charcoal |
| Brief description | Box of Charcoal, Kennedy and Francis, London, 1870-1885 |
| Physical description | Light brown cardboard box containing sticks of French charcoal. On the lid of the box a cream label has been pasted with the name and address of the art suppliers, Kennedy and Francis, of 17 Oxford Street London. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Marks and inscriptions | "French Charcole [sic].
Threepence. Kennedy and Francis.
The only complete art store,
17, Oxford Street, London, W." (This is printed on a cream label that has been pasted on to the lid.) |
| Credit line | Given by Katherine Stewart |
| Summary | The V&A collects artists tools and materials. This is the first example of a box of charcoal to enter the collection. Charcoal is a blackish residue of impure carbon produced by slowly heating animal and vegetable substances to high temperatures to remove water. It has been used as a drawing material since prehistoric times. Charcoal can be recognised in drawings by its soft tones and uneven lines that are worked up to create varying depth. Kennedy and Francis advertised as "The Only Complete Art Store" in The Year's Art magazine between 1887-88, and this box of charcoal must date from then. The business had traded as "Kennedy and Brown, artists' colourmen" from 1881 until 1885, when the partnership dissolved. Kennedy and Francis is documented at 17 Oxford Street, London, between 1887 and 1900. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | E.258-2008 |
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| Record created | May 21, 2008 |
| Record URL |
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