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Barrows of Birmingham

Print
ca. 1955 (made)
Artist/Maker
Barrows (commissioned by)
O'Connor, John Scorrer (A.R.E., A.R.C.A.) (artist)
Place of origin
Great Britain (made)

John O'Connor (born 1942) belongs to a small group of wood engravers who took up the technique after its heyday in the 1920s and 1930s. He was a student of Eric Ravilious at the RCA between 1934 and 1937 and also worked for a short while for the Curwen Press.

Object details

Categories
Prints
Illustration
Advertising
Images Online
Object type
Print
TitleBarrows of Birmingham (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Wood-engraving on paper
Ink
Paper
Wood-Engraving
Brief description
Proof of a wood-engraved illustration for an advertising folder for the department store Barrows of Birmingham, by John O'Connor; British, ca. 1955.
Physical description
Proof of a wood-engraved illustration for an advertising folder for the department store Barrows of Birmingham. The image features a table set for tea with teapots, mugs, plates and napkins, bowls of bread rolls and celery, and a vase of flowers. The table is set at a window with transparent curtains overlooking a garden and there is a Windsor armchair set facing towards the viewer. The table is set for two but the second chair is not visible.
Dimensions
  • Folded sheet height: 14.3cm
  • Folded sheet width: 11.2cm
  • Image height: 8.7cm
  • Image width: 7cm
Production typeArtist's proof
Marks and inscriptions
  • J O'C (Inscribed in pencil)
  • For Barrows of Birmingham 1950s (Inscribed in pencil on back)
Gallery label
John O'CONNOR (born 1913)
...
Barrows of Birmingham
Proof for an advertising folder. c.1955
Wood engraving
E.674-1994

The artist's first wood engraving for Barrows was done when he was
working for a few months at the Curwen Press in the 1930s to gain
some experience of commercial printing. He also gained a number
of commissions through Robert Harling when he was working at
Everett Advertising. Within these sympathetic conditions he could
explore his interest in pattern and light, an interest he shared with
his ex-tutor Ravilious.
Credit line
Given by the artist
Object history
Acquired in connection with the display A Fine Line - Commercial Wood Engraving in Britain, V&A, 10 October 1994 - 26 March 1995.
Subjects depicted
Teapot
Salt Cellar
Mugs
Plates
Napkin
Vase
Flowers
Sash Window
Garden
Bowls
Celery
Curtains
Table
Windsor Chairs
Summary
John O'Connor (born 1942) belongs to a small group of wood engravers who took up the technique after its heyday in the 1920s and 1930s. He was a student of Eric Ravilious at the RCA between 1934 and 1937 and also worked for a short while for the Curwen Press.
Bibliographic reference
A Fine Line - Commercial Wood Engraving in Britain, Victoria and Albert Museum, 10 Oct 1994 - 26 Mar 1995
Collection
Prints, Drawings & Paintings Collection
Accession number
E.674-1994

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Record createdDecember 16, 2008
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O179838/barrows-of-birmingham-print-oconnor-john-scorrer/
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