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Alcestis

Wallpaper
1876 (made)
Artist/Maker
Jeffrey & Co. (manufacturer)
Crane, Walter (R.W.S.) (designer)
Place of origin
England (made)

Portion of 'Alcestis' wallpaper frieze, depicting two caryatids, one labelled 'HOSPITALITA' holding a dish and a vase, the other labelled 'PROVIDENCIA' holding some fish and a basket of (?)bread, on a dark ground; Lettered within the design TO-WHOM-DO-YE-OWE- -YOUR-SERVIC[E]; Colour print from wood blocks, on paper.

Object details

Categories
Wall Coverings
Prints
Object type
Wallpaper
TitleAlcestis (manufacturer's title)
Materials and techniques
Colour woodblock print, on paper
Paper
Colour Woodblock Print
Brief description
Portion of 'Alcestis' wallpaper frieze, depicting two caryatids, one labelled 'HOSPITALITA' holding a dish and a vase, the other labelled 'PROVIDENCIA' holding some fish and a basket of (?)bread, on a dark ground; Colour print from wood blocks, on paper; Designed by Walter Crane; Colour print from wood blocks, on paper; Produced by Jeffrey & Co.; England; 1876.
Physical description
Portion of 'Alcestis' wallpaper frieze, depicting two caryatids, one labelled 'HOSPITALITA' holding a dish and a vase, the other labelled 'PROVIDENCIA' holding some fish and a basket of (?)bread, on a dark ground; Lettered within the design TO-WHOM-DO-YE-OWE- -YOUR-SERVIC[E]; Colour print from wood blocks, on paper.
Dimensions
  • Height: 565mm
  • Width: 507mm
Style
Greek Revival
Marks and inscriptions
HOSPITALITA / PROVIDENCIA / ER? –TO-WHOM-DO-YE-OWE- -YOUR-SERVIC[E] (Lettered within design.)
Credit line
Given by Wallpaper Manufacturers Ltd
Object history
Given by Wallpaper Manufacturers Ltd.
Production
A detail of the block for this frieze is reproduced in Art Journal, November 1901, plate on p 333.
Subjects depicted
Women
Vases
Flowers
Robes
Caryatids
Dish
Vase
Fish
Basket
Bread
Associated objects
Bibliographic references
  • Oman, Charles C., and Hamilton, Jean. Wallpapers: a history and illustrated catalogue of the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. London: Sotheby Publications, in association with the Victoria and Albert Museum, 1982.
  • Art Journal, November 1901, p 333.
  • Victoria & Albert Museum Department of Engraving, Illustration and Design & Department of Paintings Accessions 1934 London: Published under the Authority of the Board of Education, 1935
Collection
Prints, Drawings & Paintings Collection
Accession number
E.1845-1934

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Record createdApril 2, 2009
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O218295/alcestis-wallpaper-crane-walter-rws/
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