Mould

1790-1810 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Object Type
This mould features a stylised covered cup or vase. The handles are formed like acanthus leaves and are embellished with drapery swags. The rim of the bowl is decorated with the Greek wave pattern, and the body of the bowl with gadrooning, a pattern of sweeping, concave flutes. The actual plaster ornament was produced by pressing 'composition' into the mould.

Design & Designing
This motif is derived from the shape and decoration of cups and vases used in ancient Greece and Rome. It was revived in Europe from the Renaissance onwards and became especially popular in 18th-century Neo-classical decorative schemes.

Materials & Making
The mould was made by a specialist carver for firms making composition ornament. Boxwood is very hard and can take a great deal of detailed carving. Its hardness also makes it robust, necessary for a mould such as this which has been reused countless times.

Composition ('comp' for short) is a type of paste or putty made from glue, rosin (resin), linseed oil and whiting (chalk). It was pressed into the oiled mould and squeezed in a screw press. The pressing was removed from the mould while still flexible and applied to a backing.

Time
Moulds of this kind were used widely from about 1780 until about 1900. The use of moulds to make plaster reproductions reduced the demand for ornamental carvings in wood. After about 1850 the manufacturing process became more mechanised, though moulds continued to be used.

People
The mould was part of a collection owned by George Jackson & Sons, Ltd, a firm founded by George Jackson (1756-1840).

Object details

Category
Object type
Materials and techniques
Strip of boxwood, set in beech block
Brief description
Mould for plaster ornament and composition pressing, 1790-1810, English
Physical description
Mould for plaster ornament and composition pressing with a double-handled covered cup or vase design
Gallery label
VASE REVERSE CARVED MOULD
Boxwood
English, probably 19th century
W.37:1-1989
(27/03/2003)
British Galleries:
The Adam style demanded a large amount of delicate low-relief ornament. These moulds are for the production of such ornament in plaster, or in composition, usually a combination of whiting, glue, rosin and oil. The finished ornament was used on furniture and other objects as well as in the decoration of rooms.
Credit line
Given by Clark and Fenn Ltd.
Object history
Unknown
Summary
Object Type
This mould features a stylised covered cup or vase. The handles are formed like acanthus leaves and are embellished with drapery swags. The rim of the bowl is decorated with the Greek wave pattern, and the body of the bowl with gadrooning, a pattern of sweeping, concave flutes. The actual plaster ornament was produced by pressing 'composition' into the mould.

Design & Designing
This motif is derived from the shape and decoration of cups and vases used in ancient Greece and Rome. It was revived in Europe from the Renaissance onwards and became especially popular in 18th-century Neo-classical decorative schemes.

Materials & Making
The mould was made by a specialist carver for firms making composition ornament. Boxwood is very hard and can take a great deal of detailed carving. Its hardness also makes it robust, necessary for a mould such as this which has been reused countless times.

Composition ('comp' for short) is a type of paste or putty made from glue, rosin (resin), linseed oil and whiting (chalk). It was pressed into the oiled mould and squeezed in a screw press. The pressing was removed from the mould while still flexible and applied to a backing.

Time
Moulds of this kind were used widely from about 1780 until about 1900. The use of moulds to make plaster reproductions reduced the demand for ornamental carvings in wood. After about 1850 the manufacturing process became more mechanised, though moulds continued to be used.

People
The mould was part of a collection owned by George Jackson & Sons, Ltd, a firm founded by George Jackson (1756-1840).
Associated object
Collection
Accession number
W.37:1-1989

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 createdMarch 27, 2003
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest