Writing tablets with Chinoiserie scenes thumbnail 1
Not currently on display at the V&A

Writing tablets with Chinoiserie scenes

Writing Tablets
ca. 1750 (made)
Place of origin

This set of six ivory writing tablets is held in a cover. When the case is opened, six paper-thin ivory tablets, each with pierced floral borders, and held by a metal pivot, fan out. The set would probably have been in fact a luxury courtly item, perhaps never intended for use. Such items were made in Dieppe during the 18th century. The two leading cities for ivory carving were Paris and Dieppe. Luxury items, such as this and combs, mirror cases, boxes and gravoirswere often made in Paris, especially during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. During the seventeenth century Dieppe became increasingly significant for small-scale sculpture in ivory, perhaps because it was a port.


Object details

Category
Object type
TitleWriting tablets with Chinoiserie scenes (named collection)
Materials and techniques
Carved ivory, partly gilded, with brass mounts with paper backing
Brief description
Set of writing tablets, ivory, with Chinoiserie decoration, France (Dieppe), ca. 1750
Physical description
This set of six ivory writing tablets is held in a cover with pierced ivory scenes of buildings, figures and foliage in Chinoiserie style against a backing of pink paper. The figures and building on each side of the cover are partly gilded. One one side are a man holding a fan and a boy, seated in a garden with a European-style pagoda in the background; the boy seems to be playing a drum. The scene on the other side is practically identical, although here the boy does not have a drum. When the case is opened, six paper-thin ivory tablets, each with pierced floral borders, and held by a metal pivot, fan out. The cylindrical cavity at one side of the writing case may have been used to hold a stick of graphite, or other material suitable for writing on ivory. X-radiographs show what could be a stick of graphite inside.
Dimensions
  • Height: 9.7cm
  • Width: 5.2cm
Credit line
Alfred Williams Hearn Gift
Object history
Given by Mrs Ellen Hearn, Villa St Louis, Menton in 1923; this and other objects presented at the same time were labelled as the Alfred Williams Hearn gift.
Subjects depicted
Summary
This set of six ivory writing tablets is held in a cover. When the case is opened, six paper-thin ivory tablets, each with pierced floral borders, and held by a metal pivot, fan out. The set would probably have been in fact a luxury courtly item, perhaps never intended for use. Such items were made in Dieppe during the 18th century. The two leading cities for ivory carving were Paris and Dieppe. Luxury items, such as this and combs, mirror cases, boxes and gravoirswere often made in Paris, especially during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. During the seventeenth century Dieppe became increasingly significant for small-scale sculpture in ivory, perhaps because it was a port.
Bibliographic references
  • Longhurst, Margaret H. Catalogue of Carvings in Ivory. London: Published under the Authority of the Board of Education, 1927-1929, Part II, p. 81
  • Trusted, Marjorie, Baroque & Later Ivories, Victoria & Albert Museum, London, 2013, cat. no. 261, pp. 272, 3
Collection
Accession number
A.58-1923

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdMay 20, 2009
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest