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Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Europe 1600-1815, Room 3

Gate
ca. 1740 (made)
Artist/Maker
Unknown
Place of origin
Nuremberg (made)

These gates have been restored to their original colour, which was revealed by tests on small fragments of paint that remained. They were also originally partially gilded. The trailing rose sprays and the basket of fruit are typical elements of Rococo style, but they also suggest that the gates were made for a garden. The come from Nuremberg, renowned for metalworking of all kinds.



Object details

Categories
Architectural Fittings
Ironwork
Metalwork
Object type
Gate
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.

  • Gate
  • Gate
Title
Materials and techniques
Wrought iron, originally painted and partially gilded.
Wrought Iron
Gold
Forging
Gilding
Brief description
Pair of gates, wrought iron, embossed, Germany (Nuremberg), about 1740
Physical description
Pair of gates, wrought iron, the top of each gate surmounted by C scrolls and foliage, the base of each of lattice work, C scrolls and foliage; the upright bars within each frame embellished with foliage midway, the central pillar surmounted by a cornucopia of wrought iron flowers. The lock plates at the centre of the central shaft have foliated edges. A basket of fruit is also featured. The gates were originally painted a dark blue with gilded details, they have been restored to their original colour.
Dimensions
  • Length: 183cm
  • Width: 153.5cm
  • Depth: 2cm
Combined width of the two gates when closed.
Style
Rococo
Gallery label
  • Ironwork gates About 1740 Gates, screens and balconies were made from iron because it can be forged into elaborate shapes and it is very strong. By the middle of the 18th century, blacksmiths throughout Europe were able to produce astonishing and apparently lightweight effects in this heavy metal. These gates would originally have been enhanced with gilding. The city of Nuremberg was renowned for metalworking of all kinds. Germany (Nuremberg) Wrought iron, repainted in original colour (09/12/2015)
  • GATES Wrought iron Germany; around 1750 These gates have been restored to their original colour, which was revealed by tests on small fragments of paint that remained. They were also originally partially gilded. The trailing rose sprays and the basket of fruit are typical elements of Rococo style, but they also suggest that the gates were made for a garden. The come from Nuremberg, renowned for metalworking of all kinds. Museum No. M.58 & A-1981(1994)
Object history
These gates have been restored to their original colour (dark blue), which was revealed by tests on small fragments of paint that remained. They were also originally partially gilded. The trailing rose sprays and the basket of fruit are typical elements of Rococo style, but they also suggest that the gates were made for a garden. The come from Nuremberg, renowned for metalworking of all kinds.
Subjects depicted
Scroll-Work
Latticework
Foliage
Summary
These gates have been restored to their original colour, which was revealed by tests on small fragments of paint that remained. They were also originally partially gilded. The trailing rose sprays and the basket of fruit are typical elements of Rococo style, but they also suggest that the gates were made for a garden. The come from Nuremberg, renowned for metalworking of all kinds.

Associated object
Bibliographic references
  • Campbell, Marian Decorative Ironwork, London, 1997, p.58 ill. ISBN. 1851771956
  • Höver, Otto. Das Eisenwerk: Die Kunstformen des Schmiedeeisens vom Mittelalter bis zum ausgang des 18 Jahrhunderts. Tubingen, 1961.
  • Encyclopaedia of Ironwork: Examples of hand wrought iron from the Middle Ages to the end of the Eighteenth century. 1927. Pl.287.
Other number
LOST 2768 + 2
Collection
Metalwork Collection
Accession number
M.5A-1981

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Record createdDecember 10, 2008
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O178847/-gate-unknown/
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